Annotation options for editing

On the project Options dialog box, on the Editing tab, the Annotation group contains options for follow feature settings for feature linked annotation, alignment, and placement. These options are also available on the context menu when you edit annotation.

Feature linked annotation

Enable automatic following when you want feature-linked annotation to follow its linked line or polygon feature by default. These settings do not change the relationship to which the annotation is linked.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group, click the Options dialog box launcher .
2. On the Options dialog box, click Editing.
3. Click and expand the Annotation group.
4. In the Feature Linked Annotation section, check or uncheck the following settings:
   • Automatically follow linked line features—Feature-linked annotation automatically follows the contours of its related line features. This is turned on by default.
   • Automatically follow linked polygon features— Feature-linked annotation automatically follows the contours of its related polygon features.
   • Use placement properties defined in the annotation class

Tip:

To see which relationship class is associated with an annotation feature class, right-click the feature class in the Catalog pane, click Properties , and click Relationships.

Annotation alignment

Choose how new annotation aligns to the line or boundary feature it is following.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group, click the Options dialog box launcher .
2. On the Options dialog box, click Editing.
3. Click and expand the Annotation group.
4. In the Make Annotation section, choose a default alignment for new annotation.
   • Parallel — Creates straight annotation that is aligned parallel to the feature. As you create new annotation, you can switch this to perpendicular on the toolbar.
   • Perpendicular —Creates straight annotation that is aligned perpendicular to the feature.
   • Curved — Creates curved annotation that follows the contours of the feature. This setting disables Parallel/Perpendicular that appears on the toolbar.

Placement constraints

Choose a default placement constraint for new annotation relative to the direction of the line or boundary feature it is following.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group, click the Options dialog box launcher .
2. On the Options dialog box, click Editing.
3. Click and expand the Annotation group.
4. In the Constraint Placement section, choose a default placement constraint for new annotation.
   • Side cursor is on —Dynamically constrains annotation to follow the pointer as you hover to either side of a segment. This setting disables Left/Right that appears on the toolbar.
   • Left —Constrains annotation to the left side of the feature based on the direction of the segment.
   • Right —Constrains annotation to the right side of the feature based on the direction of the segment.
   • On Line — Constrains annotation centered on the feature segment. This setting disables Left/Right that appears on the toolbar.