diff --git a/include/mapnik/evaluate_global_attributes.hpp b/include/mapnik/evaluate_global_attributes.hpp
index 3df6772be..c2f6a75f2 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/evaluate_global_attributes.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/evaluate_global_attributes.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #define MAPNIK_EVALUATE_GLOBAL_ATTRIBUTES_HPP
 
 #include <mapnik/map.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/rule.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature_type_style.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/attribute.hpp>
diff --git a/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp
index 14472484a..32c7b9c7b 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp
@@ -146,7 +146,8 @@ enum class property_types : std::uint8_t
     target_text_transform,
     target_horizontal_alignment,
     target_justify_alignment,
-    target_vertical_alignment
+    target_vertical_alignment,
+    target_upright
 };
 
 inline bool operator==(symbolizer_base const& lhs, symbolizer_base const& rhs)
diff --git a/include/mapnik/symbolizer_enumerations.hpp b/include/mapnik/symbolizer_enumerations.hpp
index adb4cc24a..11ec98df4 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/symbolizer_enumerations.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/symbolizer_enumerations.hpp
@@ -172,17 +172,17 @@ enum justify_alignment_enum
 
 DEFINE_ENUM(justify_alignment_e, justify_alignment_enum);
 
-enum text_upright
+enum text_upright_enum
 {
     UPRIGHT_AUTO,
     UPRIGHT_LEFT,
     UPRIGHT_RIGHT,
     UPRIGHT_LEFT_ONLY,
     UPRIGHT_RIGHT_ONLY,
-    text_upright_MAX
+    text_upright_enum_MAX
 };
 
-DEFINE_ENUM(text_upright_e, text_upright);
+DEFINE_ENUM(text_upright_e, text_upright_enum);
 
 
 }
diff --git a/include/mapnik/symbolizer_keys.hpp b/include/mapnik/symbolizer_keys.hpp
index c8ba04a46..27b9bd0dd 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/symbolizer_keys.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/symbolizer_keys.hpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ enum class keys : std::uint8_t
     simplify_tolerance,
     halo_rasterizer,
     text_placements_,
+    label_placement,
     markers_placement_type,
     markers_multipolicy,
     point_placement_type,
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ enum class keys : std::uint8_t
     horizontal_alignment,
     justify_alignment,
     vertical_alignment,
+    upright,
     MAX_SYMBOLIZER_KEY
 };
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/text/text_properties.hpp b/include/mapnik/text/text_properties.hpp
index eb218019d..a1d673887 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text/text_properties.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text/text_properties.hpp
@@ -122,7 +122,21 @@ struct MAPNIK_DECL text_layout_properties
 
 class text_layout;
 
-struct text_properties_expressions : symbolizer_base {};
+struct text_properties_expressions
+{
+    symbolizer_base::value_type label_placement = enumeration_wrapper(POINT_PLACEMENT);
+    symbolizer_base::value_type label_spacing = 0.0;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type label_position_tolerance = 0.0;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type avoid_edges = false;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type minimum_distance = 0.0;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type minimum_padding = 0.0;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type minimum_path_length = 0.0;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type max_char_angle_delta = 22.5;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type force_odd_labels = false;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type allow_overlap = false;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type largest_bbox_only = true;
+    symbolizer_base::value_type upright = enumeration_wrapper(UPRIGHT_AUTO);
+};
 
 // Contains all text symbolizer properties which are not directly related to text formatting and layout.
 struct MAPNIK_DECL text_symbolizer_properties
@@ -138,7 +152,8 @@ struct MAPNIK_DECL text_symbolizer_properties
 
     // Takes a feature and produces formated text as output.
     // The output object has to be created by the caller and passed in for thread safety.
-    void process(text_layout &output, feature_impl const& feature, attributes const& vars) const;
+    void process(text_layout &output, feature_impl const& feature, attributes const& vars);
+    void evaluate_text_properties(feature_impl const& feature, attributes const& attrs);
     // Automatically create processing instructions for a single expression.
     void set_old_style_expression(expression_ptr expr);
     // Sets new format tree.
diff --git a/src/symbolizer_keys.cpp b/src/symbolizer_keys.cpp
index a61b418f4..6756c5052 100644
--- a/src/symbolizer_keys.cpp
+++ b/src/symbolizer_keys.cpp
@@ -83,11 +83,14 @@ static const property_meta_type key_meta[to_integral(keys::MAX_SYMBOLIZER_KEY)]
     property_meta_type{ "halo-rasterizer", enumeration_wrapper(HALO_RASTERIZER_FULL),
                         [](enumeration_wrapper e) { return enumeration<halo_rasterizer_enum,halo_rasterizer_enum_MAX>(halo_rasterizer_enum(e.value)).as_string();}, property_types::target_halo_rasterizer },
     property_meta_type{ "text-placements", false, nullptr, property_types::target_double },
-    property_meta_type{ "placement", enumeration_wrapper(MARKER_POINT_PLACEMENT),
-                        [](enumeration_wrapper e) { return enumeration<marker_placement_enum,marker_placement_enum_MAX>(marker_placement_enum(e.value)).as_string();}, property_types::target_markers_placement }, // FIXME - rename to "markers-placement-type"
+    property_meta_type{ "placement", enumeration_wrapper(POINT_PLACEMENT),
+                        [](enumeration_wrapper e)
+                        { return enumeration<label_placement_enum,label_placement_enum_MAX>(label_placement_enum(e.value)).as_string();}, property_types::target_placement },
+    property_meta_type{ "placement", enumeration_wrapper(MARKER_POINT_PLACEMENT), // FIXME - change property name
+                        [](enumeration_wrapper e) { return enumeration<marker_placement_enum,marker_placement_enum_MAX>(marker_placement_enum(e.value)).as_string();}, property_types::target_markers_placement },
     property_meta_type{ "multi-policy", enumeration_wrapper(MARKER_EACH_MULTI),
                         [](enumeration_wrapper e) { return enumeration<marker_multi_policy_enum,marker_multi_policy_enum_MAX>(marker_multi_policy_enum(e.value)).as_string();}, property_types::target_markers_multipolicy },
-    property_meta_type{ "placement", enumeration_wrapper(CENTROID_POINT_PLACEMENT),
+    property_meta_type{ "placement", enumeration_wrapper(CENTROID_POINT_PLACEMENT), // FIXME - change property name
                         [](enumeration_wrapper e) { return enumeration<point_placement_enum,point_placement_enum_MAX>(point_placement_enum(e.value)).as_string();}, property_types::target_double },
     property_meta_type{ "colorizer", nullptr, nullptr, property_types::target_colorizer},
     property_meta_type{ "halo-transform", false, nullptr, property_types::target_transform },
@@ -109,7 +112,10 @@ static const property_meta_type key_meta[to_integral(keys::MAX_SYMBOLIZER_KEY)]
                         property_types::target_justify_alignment},
     property_meta_type{ "vertical-alignment", enumeration_wrapper(V_TOP), [](enumeration_wrapper e)
                         {return enumeration<vertical_alignment_enum,vertical_alignment_enum_MAX>(vertical_alignment_enum(e.value)).as_string();},
-                        property_types::target_vertical_alignment}
+                        property_types::target_vertical_alignment},
+    property_meta_type{ "upright", enumeration_wrapper(UPRIGHT_AUTO), [](enumeration_wrapper e)
+                        {return enumeration<text_upright_enum,text_upright_enum_MAX>(text_upright_enum(e.value)).as_string();},
+                        property_types::target_upright}
 
 };
 
diff --git a/src/text/symbolizer_helpers.cpp b/src/text/symbolizer_helpers.cpp
index 81afe6a6a..860a65ada 100644
--- a/src/text/symbolizer_helpers.cpp
+++ b/src/text/symbolizer_helpers.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ base_symbolizer_helper::base_symbolizer_helper(
       clipped_(get<bool>(sym_, keys::clip, feature_, vars_, false)),
       placement_(get<text_placements_ptr>(sym_, keys::text_placements_)->get_placement_info(scale_factor))
 {
+    placement_->properties.evaluate_text_properties(feature_, vars_);
     initialize_geometries();
     if (!geometries_to_process_.size()) return; // FIXME - bad practise
     initialize_points();
diff --git a/src/text/text_properties.cpp b/src/text/text_properties.cpp
index cd1b7618b..c6f1af561 100644
--- a/src/text/text_properties.cpp
+++ b/src/text/text_properties.cpp
@@ -53,14 +53,33 @@ text_symbolizer_properties::text_symbolizer_properties()
       largest_bbox_only(true),
       upright(UPRIGHT_AUTO),
       layout_defaults(),
-      format_defaults(),//std::make_shared<format_defaults>()),
+      format_defaults(),
       tree_() {}
 
-void text_symbolizer_properties::process(text_layout & output, feature_impl const& feature, attributes const& attrs) const
+
+void text_symbolizer_properties::evaluate_text_properties(feature_impl const& feature, attributes const& attrs)
+{
+    label_placement = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<label_placement_enum>(feature,attrs), expressions.label_placement);
+    label_spacing = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_double>(feature,attrs), expressions.label_spacing);
+    label_position_tolerance = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_double>(feature,attrs), expressions.label_position_tolerance);
+    avoid_edges = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_bool>(feature,attrs), expressions.avoid_edges);
+    minimum_distance = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_double>(feature,attrs), expressions.minimum_distance);
+    minimum_padding = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_double>(feature,attrs), expressions.minimum_padding);
+    minimum_path_length = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_double>(feature,attrs), expressions.minimum_path_length);
+    max_char_angle_delta = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_double>(feature,attrs), expressions.max_char_angle_delta) * M_PI/180;
+    force_odd_labels = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_bool>(feature,attrs), expressions.force_odd_labels);
+    allow_overlap = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_bool>(feature,attrs), expressions.allow_overlap);
+    largest_bbox_only = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<value_bool>(feature,attrs), expressions.largest_bbox_only);
+    upright = boost::apply_visitor(extract_value<text_upright_enum>(feature,attrs), expressions.upright);
+}
+
+void text_symbolizer_properties::process(text_layout & output, feature_impl const& feature, attributes const& attrs) //const
 {
     output.clear();
+
     if (tree_)
     {
+        evaluate_text_properties(feature, attrs);
         //evaluate format properties
         evaluated_format_properties_ptr format = std::make_shared<detail::evaluated_format_properties>();
 
@@ -97,33 +116,18 @@ formatting::node_ptr text_symbolizer_properties::format_tree() const
 
 void text_symbolizer_properties::text_properties_from_xml(xml_node const& node)
 {
-    optional<label_placement_e> placement_ = node.get_opt_attr<label_placement_e>("placement");
-    if (placement_) label_placement = *placement_;
-    optional<double> label_position_tolerance_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("label-position-tolerance");
-    if (label_position_tolerance_) label_position_tolerance = *label_position_tolerance_;
-    optional<double> spacing_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("spacing");
-    if (spacing_) label_spacing = *spacing_;
-    else {
-        // https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/1427
-        spacing_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("label-spacing");
-        if (spacing_) label_spacing = *spacing_;
-    }
-    optional<double> minimum_distance_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("minimum-distance");
-    if (minimum_distance_) minimum_distance = *minimum_distance_;
-    optional<double> min_padding_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("minimum-padding");
-    if (min_padding_) minimum_padding = *min_padding_;
-    optional<double> min_path_length_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("minimum-path-length");
-    if (min_path_length_) minimum_path_length = *min_path_length_;
-    optional<mapnik::boolean_type> avoid_edges_ = node.get_opt_attr<mapnik::boolean_type>("avoid-edges");
-    if (avoid_edges_) avoid_edges = *avoid_edges_;
-    optional<mapnik::boolean_type> allow_overlap_ = node.get_opt_attr<mapnik::boolean_type>("allow-overlap");
-    if (allow_overlap_) allow_overlap = *allow_overlap_;
-    optional<mapnik::boolean_type> largest_bbox_only_ = node.get_opt_attr<mapnik::boolean_type>("largest-bbox-only");
-    if (largest_bbox_only_) largest_bbox_only = *largest_bbox_only_;
-    optional<double> max_char_angle_delta_ = node.get_opt_attr<double>("max-char-angle-delta");
-    if (max_char_angle_delta_) max_char_angle_delta=(*max_char_angle_delta_)*(M_PI/180);
-    optional<text_upright_e> upright_ = node.get_opt_attr<text_upright_e>("upright");
-    if (upright_) upright = *upright_;
+    set_property_from_xml<label_placement_e>(expressions.label_placement, "placement", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<value_double>(expressions.label_spacing, "spacing", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<value_double>(expressions.label_position_tolerance, "label-position-tolerance", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<value_double>(expressions.minimum_distance, "minimum-distance", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<value_double>(expressions.minimum_padding, "minimum-padding", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<value_double>(expressions.minimum_path_length, "minimum-path-length", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<boolean_type>(expressions.avoid_edges, "avoid-edges", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<boolean_type>(expressions.allow_overlap, "allow-overlap", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<boolean_type>(expressions.largest_bbox_only, "largest-bbox-only", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<boolean_type>(expressions.force_odd_labels, "force-odd-labels", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<value_double>(expressions.max_char_angle_delta, "max-char-angle-delta", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<text_upright_e>(expressions.upright, "upright", node);
 }
 
 void text_symbolizer_properties::from_xml(xml_node const& node, fontset_map const& fontsets)
@@ -146,49 +150,49 @@ void text_symbolizer_properties::to_xml(boost::property_tree::ptree &node,
                                         bool explicit_defaults,
                                         text_symbolizer_properties const& dfl) const
 {
-    if (label_placement != dfl.label_placement || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.label_placement == dfl.expressions.label_placement) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "placement", label_placement);
+        serialize_property("placement", expressions.label_placement, node);
     }
-    if (label_position_tolerance != dfl.label_position_tolerance || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.label_position_tolerance == dfl.expressions.label_position_tolerance) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "label-position-tolerance", label_position_tolerance);
+        serialize_property("label-position-tolerance", expressions.label_position_tolerance,node);
     }
-    if (label_spacing != dfl.label_spacing || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.label_spacing == dfl.expressions.label_spacing) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "spacing", label_spacing);
+        serialize_property("spacing", expressions.label_spacing, node);
     }
-    if (minimum_distance != dfl.minimum_distance || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.minimum_distance == dfl.expressions.minimum_distance) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "minimum-distance", minimum_distance);
+        serialize_property("minimum-distance", expressions.minimum_distance, node);
     }
-    if (minimum_padding != dfl.minimum_padding || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.minimum_padding == dfl.expressions.minimum_padding) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "minimum-padding", minimum_padding);
+        serialize_property("minimum-padding", expressions.minimum_padding, node);
     }
-    if (minimum_path_length != dfl.minimum_path_length || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.minimum_path_length == dfl.expressions.minimum_path_length) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "minimum-path-length", minimum_path_length);
+        serialize_property("minimum-path-length", expressions.minimum_path_length, node);
     }
-    if (avoid_edges != dfl.avoid_edges || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.avoid_edges == dfl.expressions.avoid_edges) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "avoid-edges", avoid_edges);
+        serialize_property("avoid-edges", expressions.avoid_edges, node);
     }
-    if (allow_overlap != dfl.allow_overlap || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.allow_overlap == dfl.expressions.allow_overlap) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "allow-overlap", allow_overlap);
+        serialize_property("allow-overlap", expressions.allow_overlap, node);
     }
-    if (largest_bbox_only != dfl.largest_bbox_only || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.largest_bbox_only == dfl.expressions.largest_bbox_only) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "largest-bbox-only", largest_bbox_only);
+        serialize_property("largest-bbox-only", expressions.largest_bbox_only, node);
     }
-    if (max_char_angle_delta != dfl.max_char_angle_delta || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.max_char_angle_delta == dfl.expressions.max_char_angle_delta) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "max-char-angle-delta", max_char_angle_delta/(M_PI/180));
+        serialize_property("max-char-angle-delta", expressions.max_char_angle_delta, node);
     }
-    if (upright != dfl.upright || explicit_defaults)
+    if (!(expressions.upright == dfl.expressions.upright) || explicit_defaults)
     {
-        set_attr(node, "upright", upright);
+        serialize_property("upright", expressions.upright, node);
     }
 
     layout_defaults.to_xml(node, explicit_defaults, dfl.layout_defaults);
@@ -199,6 +203,19 @@ void text_symbolizer_properties::to_xml(boost::property_tree::ptree &node,
 
 void text_symbolizer_properties::add_expressions(expression_set & output) const
 {
+    if (is_expression(expressions.label_placement)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.label_placement));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.label_spacing)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.label_spacing));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.label_position_tolerance)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.label_position_tolerance));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.avoid_edges)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.avoid_edges));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.minimum_distance)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.minimum_distance));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.minimum_padding)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.minimum_padding));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.minimum_path_length)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.minimum_path_length));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.max_char_angle_delta)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.max_char_angle_delta));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.force_odd_labels)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.force_odd_labels));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.allow_overlap)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.allow_overlap));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.largest_bbox_only)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.largest_bbox_only));
+    if (is_expression(expressions.upright)) output.insert(boost::get<expression_ptr>(expressions.upright));
+
     layout_defaults.add_expressions(output);
     format_defaults.add_expressions(output);
     if (tree_) tree_->add_expressions(output);
@@ -220,8 +237,8 @@ void text_layout_properties::from_xml(xml_node const &node)
     set_property_from_xml<double>(dy, "dy", node);
     set_property_from_xml<double>(text_ratio, "text-ratio", node);
     set_property_from_xml<double>(wrap_width, "wrap-width", node);
-    set_property_from_xml<mapnik::boolean_type>(wrap_before, "wrap-before", node);
-    set_property_from_xml<mapnik::boolean_type>(rotate_displacement, "rotate-displacement", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<boolean_type>(wrap_before, "wrap-before", node);
+    set_property_from_xml<boolean_type>(rotate_displacement, "rotate-displacement", node);
     set_property_from_xml<double>(orientation, "orientation", node);
     set_property_from_xml<vertical_alignment_e>(valign, "vertical-alignment", node);
     set_property_from_xml<horizontal_alignment_e>(halign, "horizontal-alignment", node);
@@ -260,7 +277,6 @@ void text_layout_properties::add_expressions(expression_set & output) const
 }
 
 // text format properties
-
 format_properties::format_properties()
     : face_name(),
       fontset(),