function obj = setLabels(obj,newLabels,subscripts,fixDups,fixEmpties,fixIllegal)

            %SETLABELS Modify, overwrite, or remove a tabularDimension's labels.

            if isstring(newLabels) 

                % cannot use convertStringsToChars because scalar string

                % must convert to cellstr, not char vector.

                newLabels = cellstr(newLabels);

            end 

            if nargin < 6 

                % Should illegal labels be modified to make them legal?

                fixIllegal = false; 

                if nargin < 5 

                    % Should empty labels be filled in wth default labels?

                    fixEmpties = false; 

                    if nargin < 4 

                        % Should duplicate labels be made unique?

                        fixDups = false; 

                    end 

                end 

            end 

            % Subscripts equal to [] denotes a full assignment while the edge case of a

            % partial assignment to zero labels requires a 1x0 or 0x1 empty.

            fullAssignment = (nargin == 2) || isequal(subscripts,[]); 

            if fullAssignment % replacing all labels 

                indices = 1:obj.length; 

            elseif obj.hasLabels % replacing some labels

                indices = obj.subs2inds(subscripts);

                if islogical(indices)

                    % subs2inds leaves logical untouched, validateAndAssignLabels requires indices

                    indices = find(indices);

                end

            else % don't allow a subscripted assignment to an empty label property

                assert(false,'Partial/Subscripted assignment to empty label is not supported');

            end 

            % Check the type of the new labels, and convert them to the canonical type as

            % necessary (and allowed). If this is a full assignment of a 0x0, and removing

            % the labels is allowed, validateLabels leaves the shape alone, otherwise it

            % reshapes to a vector of the appropriate orientation.

            obj = obj.validateAndAssignLabels(newLabels,indices,fullAssignment,fixDups,fixEmpties,fixIllegal); 

        end