tut Pro: Labels Annotation

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Labels and Annotation in ArcGIS Pro

In ArcGIS Pro, Labels are automatically generated (from attributes stored in an attribute table) and placed. Label properties (size, color, font) can be specified from the Labeling ribbon. Annotation are text features that are stored in a geodatabase and can be manually created, edited, positioned, etc. Labels are much easier, as the software generates and places them for you. Annotation gives you much more control over the appearance and placement of the text.

See also Notes on using halos with labels or annotation.

              Converting Labels to Annotation (ESRI)

 

DISPLAYING LABELS FOR A DATA LAYER 

  • Right-click on a layer (in the Map Contents) to choose Labels (to turn Labels on for that layer)

 

MODIFYING DISPLAY PROPERTIES FOR LABELS  

  • With labels turned on for a specific layer, select that layer in the Map Contents
  • Choose the Labeling ribbon:
    • Specify the Field to be used for the labels for that layer
    • Set other labeling properties (scale, font, size, color...) as desired
    • Optionally create additional Label Classes (the default is to have a single Class for all of the labels and for this class to be called "Class 1")

 

CONVERTING LABELS TO ANNOTATION

  • NOTE 1: The Convert Labels To Annotation tool (in ArcGIS Pro) converts all Labels in the entire Map to Annotation. Any Labels that are turned on will be converted. Turn individual layers on or off before running the tool to convert just the desired labels... 
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  • NOTE 2: In order to run the Convert Labels to Annotation tool you cannot be in an Edit mode. If you have been editing features (or annotation) you will need to Save (or Discard) your edits prior to running the tool
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  • Turn on the desired layers / labels 
  • Turn off  the undesired layers / labels
  • Make sure the labels are symbolized appropriately (size, color, font, etc.)...
  • Right-click on the Map name (the top-most item in the Map Contents, which is the name of the Map itself, not a data layer) and choose Convert Labels to Annotation...
    • Or from the Geoprocessing Search box search for Convert Labels
  • In the Convert Labels to Annotation pane
    • Choose (or confirm) that the name of the Input Map is the Map you wish to convert labels from
    • Specify the Conversion Scale (you can use the scale of your Map if you like the appearance / size of the labels)
    • Specify the Output Geodatabase (you can use the Browse icon to browse to your desired geodatabase)
    • Optionally modify the Anno Suffix (the default is Anno)
    • Optionally check specification boxes as desired...
    • Specify an Output Layer for the annotation when added to the Map (the default is GroupAnno)
      • If you already have a GroupAnno layer in your Map you will need to either choose a new name OR running the tool will remove (replace) the existing GroupAnno layer with the new GroupAnno layer...)
    • Click Run
  • The newly created annotation feature class should be added to the map (which can then be turned on / off, etc.) and can likewise be added to other maps...
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  • NOTE 3: Having converted your labels to annotation you should be able to see the newly created annotation feature class in the specified geodatabase (in the Catalog pane). You may, however, need to refresh the Catalog before you can actually see it. To do this (if you can't see your annotation), right-click on the geodatabase and choose Refresh

 

Converting ALL OF THE LABELS to ANNOTATION

  • When ArcGIS Pro is displaying Labels if there is not enough room to display all of the labels. If there isn't enough room to fit all of the labels without them overlapping each other, Pro will simply not label everything...
  • You can see which Labels aren't being displayed by clicking View Unplaced on the Labeling ribbon (this will add any unplaced Labels to the Map, showing them in red)
  • You can also control (somewhat) which Labels are shown or not shown by setting the Labeling Priorities and Weights (available from the More drop-down list of the Map group in the Labeling ribbon - just below the View Unplaced command)
  • If some Labels are not being drawn (based on the amount of labels and the space available at the current map scale) only the currently displayed Labels will be converted to Annotation (resulting in an incomplete Annotation set...)
  • To convert ALL of the Labels to Annotation (regardless of whether they are currently being displayed or not) check the box for Convert Unplaced Labels to Unplaced Annotation in the Convert Labels To Annotation geoprocessing pane
  • Having converted your Labels to Annotation, what were Unplaced Labels will become Unplaced Annotation: it still isn't shown on the map, but at least it exists (i.e., it is in the database, just not being shown)
    • If you open the Attribute table (for the newly created Annotation feature class) you will note a Status field
    • In the Status field, annotation can be either Placed or Unplaced
    • Placed annotation is (by default) shown on the map
    • Unplaced annotation is (by default) not shown on the map
  • To show all of the Unplaced Annotation:
    • Open the Symbology pane for the newly created converted Annotation feature class
    • Check the box beside Draw Unplaced Annotation
    • Optionally change the color of the Unplaced annotation (to distinguish it from the rest of the (Placed) annotation)
  • To convert a single Unplaced annotation text string to Placed annotation:
    • Select an annotation text string (using the Select tool from the Edit ribbon
    • Click Attributes (on the Edit ribbon) to open the Attributes pane
    • In the Attribute tab of the Attribute pane change the value of the Status field from Unplaced to Placed (using the drop-down menu in the field)
  • To convert multiple (or all) Unplaced annotation text strings to Placed annotation:
    • Select the Unplaced text strings to be Placed
    • Open the Attribute table for the Annotation feature class
    • Right-click on the Status field in the attribute table and choose Calculate Field
    • In the Geoprocessing Calculate Field pane, enter 0 for the Status field 
      • Status field = 0 = Placed annotation
      • Status field = 1 = Unplaced annotation

 

CREATING A NEW (BLANK) ANNOTATION FEATURE CLASS (without converting from labels)

  • You can also create a blank annotation feature class in a geodatabase
  • In the Catalog pane, right-click on the geodatabase and choose New / Annotation Feature Class
  • In the Create Annotation Feature Class pane:
    • In the Basic Properties tab:
      • Specify a Name (the name cannot have spaces or dashes)
      • Optionally specify an Alias (spaces are OK)
      • Specify a Reference Scale
      • Specify the Map Units
    • In the Coordinate System tab:
      • Choose an XY Coordinate System
    • Optionally, in the XY Tolerance tab
      • Specify an XY Tolerance (the default is probably fine)
    • Click Create Feature Class
  • If you have a Map open, the new annotation feature class should be added to your Map. You can also add the annotation feature class to any map you like.

 

EDITING / MODIFYING ANNOTATION

  • Unlike labels (which are automatically generated and placed by ArcGIS Pro) annotation text strings can be individually modified and positioned via manual editing of the annotation. You can also create new annotation or delete existing annotation.
  • With an annotation feature class added and turned on in a Map, choose the Edit ribbon
  • To create NEW annotation:
    • From the Edit ribbon choose Create
      • In the Create Feature pane:
        • Choose the annotation feature class you wish to add to, which should open a Text dialog box
        • In the Text dialog box enter the text you wish for the new annotation
        • Click once in the Map view to locate a new annotation text
        • Repeat as desired (either with new text or the same text)
  • To DELETE existing annotation:
    • From the Edit ribbon choose the Select tool 
    • Select a piece of annotation text (in the Map) - once selected it should be highlighted in blue
    • With the annotation text selected, right-click and choose Delete or click the Delete button on the Edit ribbon
  • To MOVE existing annotation:
    • From the Edit ribbon choose the Move tool
    • Select an annotation text string (in the Map) - once selected in should be highlighted in blue with a large Yellow dot (the anchor point)
      • Also, the modify toolbar should appear on the Map
    • Click and drag the Yellow spot to relocate the annotation text
    • Click F2 or choose Finish from the modify toolbar
  • To alter the text of existing annotation:
    • From the Edit ribbon choose the Select tool
    • Select a piece of annotation text (in the Map)
    • With the annotation text selected, click the Attributes button on the Edit ribbon
    • In the Attributes pane:
      • Choose the Annotation sub-tab (as opposed to the Attributes sub-tab)
      • In the text dialog box, modify the text string as desired
      • Optionally modify the formatting (left justified vs. center justified, etc.) 
      • Click Apply
  • To change the font or style of existing annotation:
    • From the Edit ribbon choose the Select tool
    • Select a piece of annotation text (in the Map)
    • With the annotation text selected, click the Attributes button on the Edit ribbon
    • In the Attributes pane:
      • Choose the Attributes sub-tab (as opposed to the Annotation sub-tab)
      • Modify Attributes fields as desired...
      • Commonly modified fields include:
        • TextString (another place where you can modify the text)
        • FontName (Arial vs Times, etc.)
        • FontStyle (Regular vs Bold vs Italic)
        • FontSize
        • Underline (Yes vs No)
        • Angle
        • CharacterWidth
        • CharacterSpacing
      • If the Auto Apply box (at the bottom) is checked, modifications will take effect as soon as you click out of a field
        • Otherwise you will need to click Apply
    • NOTE that all of these Attributes edits can also be made by opening the Attribute table for the annotation feature class. This can be helpful if you want to modify a bunch of annotation text at the same time.
  • SAVE your Edits
    • From the Edit ribbon choose Save