Lab 3. Type Basics & Geodatabase Annotation

Introduction

This lab focuses on descriptive text used on maps and discusses various type characteristics useful for map design. The material was adapted from both Cynthia Brewer’s Cartographic Design for ArcGIS course and ESRI’s Creating and Editing Labels and Annotation, and Working with Annotation courses.

Copy the Lab3 data folder to your flashdrive.

This lab is due ThursdayFebruary 6. Turn in one document with all of your exported maps.

Part I. Create Geodatabase Annotation

  1. Open Shipwrecks.mxd

This map shows the southern tip of Florida that lies due south of the mainland in Florida Bay and extends southwest. Major roads delineate the Miami metropolitan area, and you can see the highway that connects the mainland with the Keys.

  1. Create geodatabase annotation from dynamic labels

One of the most common workflows for creating geodatabase annotation is to convert dynamic labels to geodatabase annotation. Because label properties are set as a group, it is more productive first to set all the common text display properties as labels, and then convert them to annotations. Individual text elements, as annotations, can be edited as needed.

  1. Open the Label Manager, turn on labels for Shipwrecks, and set the following properties for the default label class:
  • Set the font to Times New Roman
  • Set the font size to 10
  • Set the color to Ultra Blue
  • Make the font bold
  1. In the table of contents, right-click the Shipwrecks layer and choose Convert Labels to Annotation.
  1. In the Convert Labels to Annotation dialog box, under Store Annotation, select ‘In a database’. Choose to create annotation for all features and uncheck Feature Linked.

The conversion uses the data frame reference scale, if set; otherwise, it uses the current reference scale for the map (1:400,000).

  1. Notice that, by default, ArcMap appends Anno to the feature layer name to create the name for the annotation feature class. Accept the default name. Choose to create annotation for all features and uncheck Feature Linked. If necessary, check the box for Convert unplaced labels to unplaced annotation and click convert. Converting dynamic labels to geodatabase annotations is one of the quickest ways to create geodatabase annotation.
  1. The Destination field near the bottom of the dialog box shows the file location and name of the new annotation feature class. The default destination is the same geodatabase in which the layer's data source is stored. For standard annotation, you could choose to save it to a different geodatabase (using the Browse button in the Annotation Feature Class field).
  1. Append lets you add annotation to an existing annotation feature class. For example, after you convert labels for features in one extent, you can pan to another extent and convert labels in that extent to the same annotation feature class.
  1. Select Export Map under the File menu in ArcMap. For file type, select jpeg, and for resolution select 150 dpi. Give the map a recognizable name. After you have exported the map, insert it into your lab document. Make sure that you can see the labels in your exported map. If not, export at a higher resolution.
  1. Using SQL to create different classes of labels
  1. Zoom to the Florida Keys bookmark.
  1. Open the attribute table for the Counties layer. It includes both mainland counties and other features such as the Florida Keys. The IsKey field identifies those features that represent Florida Keys. The FL_Key field contains the names of Keys. Close the table.
  1. Open the Label Manager. Label classes have been created for the Counties layer based on the values contained in the IsKey field within the Counties attribute table. One class is used to label the Florida Keys features and another class is used to label all other features in the Counties layer. This way, the label properties, including scale range, can be set separately for the Keys features from all the other Counties features. If necessary, scroll to the bottom of the Label Classes pane until you can see the two Counties label classes.
  1. Take a look at how the label classes have been set up for the mainland and keys classes. Check the box for the Mainland label class and then select the Mainland title to highlight it. Click SQL Querysee the query. Click Cancel and then click Scale Range. The labels for the Mainland label class do not appear when the map is zoomed in beyond 1:700,000. Click Cancel.
  1. Click the Keys check box, highlight Keys to select it, and then click SQL Query. The Keys Class displays text only for features coded as being a Florida Key. Click Cancel and then click Scale Range. The labels for the Keys label class do not appear when the map is zoomed out beyond 1:699,999. Not only can you apply separate display properties to each of the label classes, you can also use these label classes to create geodatabase annotation classes.
  1. Close the label manager and on the Standard toolbar, set the scale to 1:400,000. This will be the reference scale for the annotation.
  1. To create a permanent feature class for the key annotations, go to the table of contents, right-click the Counties layer and choose Convert Labels to Annotation. Convert the labels to geodatabase annotation using the following criteria:
  • In a database
  • All features
  • Not Feature Linked
  • Accept the default name and destination
  • Check the box for converting unplaced labels
  1. When you convert labels that include label classes to geodatabase annotation, the label classes are converted to geodatabase annotation classes. As part of the conversion, ArcMap automatically adds the new annotation layer, including any annotation classes, to the table of contents.
  1. Right-click Keys and choose Properties. On the General tab, you will see that the Scale Range was inherited from the Keys label class. Click the Annotation Class tab and click Text Symbol. This shows the text symbol properties for the annotation class. The properties are all disabled because they are read-only in this dialog box. Click OK twice to get back to your map.
  1. The annotation layer can be treated like any other layer in terms of drawing sequence: you can move it wherever you like in the table of contents. But remember that other layers, such as those with polygon features, can obscure the annotation features.
  1. Export themap and insert it into your lab document. Make sure that you can see the labels in your exported map.
  1. Adding Unplaced Annotation
  1. Like the other layers in the table of contents, the annotation layer has an attribute table. Open the attribute table for CountiesAnno. The fields you see in this annotation attribute table store values that enable ArcMap to draw the annotation text with the properties you define.
  1. Go to the Status field, which tells you whether an annotation is placed or unplaced. Scroll down in the table. Notice that there are several unplaced annotations. Close the table.
  1. Start an edit session by right-clicking on CountiesAnno>Edit Features>Start Editing. On the Editor drop-down list, choose Editing Windows and then Unplaced Annotation. When you are working with geodatabase annotation, the annotation that will not fit on the map is called unplaced annotation.
  1. In the Unplaced Annotation window, check Draw. Click the drop-down list next to Show and select the Keys annotation class under CoutniesAnno. Click Search Now. You see a list of the unplaced annotation. The Text column contains the actual text for the annotation, and the Class column shows your annotation layer and annotation class. In your map each unplaced annotation now draws inside a red rectangle. This is analogous to viewing unplaced labels. You are seeing where the annotation is attempting to draw.
  1. Right-click the first row in the Unplaced Annotation window and choose Pan to Annotation. Click the same annotation in the first row in the Unplaced Annotation window to see the unplaced annotation flash once on the map to show where the annotation will be placed.
  1. Select all the unplaced annotation entries in the Unplaced Annotation window, right-click the list and choose Place Annotation. All of the unplaced annotation is now placed on the map. Close the Unplaced Annotation window. The newly placed annotation features are all selected in the map.
  1. Reposition each example of annotation text that you just added in order to make your map easier to read. Save your edits and stop editing.
  1. Export the map and insert it into your lab document. Make sure that you can see the newly placed labels in your exported map.

Part II. Edit Geodatabase Annotation

  1. Open ReefTours.mxd

This maps shows Southern Florida including the Florida Keys, coral reefs, lines of bathymetry, and some descriptive text.

b. Convert from Map to Geodatabase Annotation

  1. Go to the Florida Keys bookmark. Find the Tennessee Reef and will notice that it is misspelled. "Ref" should be "Reef." You need to work with the reef data to make this correction, but are not sure what type of text you need to work with. There are a variety of ways in which to identify the type of map text with which you are working:
  • Open the Label Manager and confirm whether the layer is checked.
  • Use the Select Elements tool.
  • Examine the data frame properties for annotation groups.
  1. Turn off visibility for all layers except Reefs. There are various options for making geodatabase annotation. One option is to convert map annotation to geodatabase annotation. To do this, you will need to verify that an annotation feature class has already been created within a geodatabase, in order to store your newly converted annotations. Open the Catalog window and navigate to the SouthFlorida.gdb in your lab3 folder. Open the Coast feature dataset and you should see an annotation feature class named ReefsAnno.
  1. To Verify that no records are already present in the ReefsAnno feature class:
  • Right click ReefsAnno and choose Item Description.
  • Click the Preview tab, and then set the Preview to Table.
  1. Drag ReefsAnno into your map just above the Reefs layer. Find the reference scale for this annotation feature class by going to the properties of the ReefsAnno layer and selecting the Annotation tab. Set both the map scale and the data frame reference scales to match the reference scale for the ReefsAnno annotation.
  1. Open the data frame properties and make sure that both the Default and the ReefsAnno annotation groups are checked. Click OK to close the dialog box.
  1. To update the ReefsAnno annotation class, start an edit session (right-click>edit features>start editing). From the Edit menu, choose Select All Elements. This will make dashed lines around all the reef annotation.
  1. On the Drawing toolbar, from the Drawing menu, set the Active Annotation Target to ReefsAnno (make sure you choose the geodatabase feature class. It will not have a space in its name).From the Edit menu, choose Cut and then paste.
  1. The annotation shifted to the right. So while all the annotation elements are still selected, you can reposition them as a group. Drag the annotation elements slightly to the left, nearer to the point features. Use TENNESSEE REF as your guide. You do not need to be very precise. Save your edits.
  1. Click the display to remove the selection outlines. Open the data frame properties and remove the ReefsAnno annotation group, and then click OK to close the menu. In the ArcMap table of contents, turn ReefsAnno off and on to confirm that you moved the annotation successfully to this annotation feature class.
  1. Export themap and insert it into your lab documentMake sure that you can see the new set of labels in your exported map.

c. Editing Geodatabase Annotation

  1. While you are still editing ReefsAnno, you will update both the Tennessee Reef point attribute table and the annotation attribute table with the correct spelling. On the Editor toolbar, click the Edit tooland then select the Tennessee Refpointfeature.
  1. On the Editor toolbar, click the Attributes button to open the attribute editing window. In the lower panel, click TENNESSEE REF, the value for NAME and correct the spelling to TENNESSEEREEF. Save your edits. To check your work, turn off the Reefs and ReefsAnno layers, and then turn them on again to refresh the display.
  1. The annotation feature has not been updated. In this case, there is nothing in the geodatabase that connects, or links, the annotation to the feature. If you want to keep the annotation data synchronous with the feature data, you will need to edit the annotation, too.
  1. Click the Edit Annotation tooland then click the Tennessee Ref annotation feature. The annotation is enclosed in a box, and the two rotation handles, the red resize handle, and the selection handle appear. In the window that opens, make sure that the Annotation tab is selected. The annotation appears as formatted text, the way it would on the map.
  1. In the lower-right corner of the formatted text window, click the Refresh button to toggle to the unformatted text. Correct the spelling to TENNESSEEREEF. Click the Refresh button again to toggle to the formatted text so you can verify the results. Finally, click the Apply button.
  1. Click the Attributes tab. Notice that the value for the TextString attribute has updated with your change. Save your edits.
  1. Export themap and insert it into your lab document. Make sure that you can see the correctly spelled label in your exported map.

d. Editing Splined Text

  1. In this step, you will reposition annotation for a line feature layer. Zoom to the Continental Shelf bookmark. With the Edit Annotation tool, select the Continental Shelf annotation feature near the U shape.
  1. Right-click the selection, point to Follow, and then choose Follow Feature Options. In the dialog box that opens set the following parameters and when finished click OK:
  • For Make annotation, choose Curved.
  • For Constrain Placement, choose Side cursor is on.
  • For Offset from feature, enter500. This will offset the annotation from the line feature by 500 meters.
  • Uncheck the box for Use placement properties defined in the annotation class.
  1. Move your mouse pointer over the U-shaped line feature near the Continental Shelf annotation feature. Right-click and then choose Follow This Feature. The line feature flashes and the annotation curves to follow the line.
  1. Place the mouse pointer over the annotation feature. The pointer will change to the four-pointed Move Annotation pointer. Drag the Continental Shelf annotation feature back and forth along the line feature and position it just below the U shape. Notice how the annotation closely follows the curve. Drag the annotation so that it lies in a smoother location, just above the line and to the left of the U.
  1. Place the mouse pointer over the red triangle. The pointer will change to the two-pointed Resize Annotation pointer. Drag the resize handle upward to slightly increase the size of the annotation. Save your edits.
  1. Export themap and insert it into your lab document. Make sure that you can see the curved label in your exported map.

e. Creating Geodatabase Annotation Independent of Attributes

  1. You want to create descriptive text for the Gulf of Mexico approximately in the center of the map, south of the Continental Shelf. You can choose to store your new annotation in one of the existing annotation feature classes or create a new one. For now, you will use an existing feature class.
  1. Open the Create Features window if it is not currently displayed. Click ContinentalShelfAnno and in the Construction Tools dialog box, click the Straight tool.
  1. In the Annotation Construction window, typeGulf of Mexico and click inside the blue area below the Continental Shelf annotation. Move your mouse pointer to rotate the annotation until it is horizontal with the map display and click the map to stop the rotation.
  1. Click the Edit Annotation tool to stop adding annotation text, and then click the red triangular resize handle and drag the annotation to increase its size.
  1. Stop editing and save your edits. Refresh the screen to check your work.
  1. Export themap and insert it into your lab document. Make sure that you can see the curved label in your exported map.

Part III. Set Basic Type Characteristics