Annotation from Labels Not Showing Up

Question

I have StreetName labels that reference a StreetMidline feature class in a GDB.  The labels came into the project when I imported from an MXD.  Those labels have a few named Classes to display at different sizes when the map is at different scales.

My problem is this:  When I right click the StreetMidline in the Contents and click Convert Labels to Annotation, the labels are cleared away (as I would expect) but the new Annotation never displays in my Map.

Can you convert Labels that have multiple Classes?

Anyone know why the Annotation is not displaying??

Jesse Wickizer · Answer

Thanks for the clarifications - the results you describe are expected.

When you convert labels to annotation, you only convert them at 1 scale - the conversion scale. While all label classes from the source layer become annotation annotation classes in the new annotation feature class, annotation features will only be created in classes that are visible at the conversion scale. In your example, the features are all created using the "HseNum < 9k" label class because that's the only class visible at the conversion scale of 1:8,500.

New annotation features could still be created in those other annotation classes, but annotation layers have a single reference scale and annotation font sizes are accurate only at that reference scale so annotation features viewed at a different scale will appear larger or smaller than the stated font size.

In your case if you want annotation at different scales to be the same size, I recommend creating separate annotation layers for each of the intended map scales that will be used. The Tiled Labels to Annotation geoprocessing tool could be used to create annotation layers at multiple scales. You would need to create a polygon index layer with an attribute for the scale denominator for each feature's conversion scale. Then draw separate features covering the desired extent of each scale's output annotation layer (or duplicate the same polygon), updating the Scale field value for each polygon. For example, here is a polygon feature class with different Scale attribute values for each polygon:

That layer is used by the Polygon Index Layer parameter of the Tiled Labels to Annotation tool, with the Reference Scale Field set to Scale.

And this produces 3 separate annotation feature classes:

DaveMartin1 · Answer

Jesse,

I've got 5 classes of labels defined for Parcel HseNum labels.  Each class is for a different scale range from 750 to 1:9000.  All label classes display properly.  Answers to your questions follow:  A) Labels are added to the ToC. B)  The conversion scale is set to match the scale of the map view at time of conversion. That conversion scale IS within the limits of the min & max range. C) the Draw up to and including checkbox is checked.  D) No parcels are selected.  E) For Extent I hit the yellow polygon icon and select the extent of the Parcel FC.

Results:  1. The Annotation is placed for the class that corresponds to the scale of the map view when the the labels are converted (in my case 1:8500).  2. The ParcelAnno FC is added to the ToC.  The 5 annotation classes show up in the ToC for ParcelAnno FC.  3. The annotation is ONLY placed for the HseNum < 9K class.  When I zoom in on the map, displaying scales below 1:6000, none of the various lower classes displays.  It's only displaying between 1:6001 & 1:9000.

Again: When the map is scaled below 1:6000, none of the other annotation classes displays the HseNums.

I'm attaching a snip photo to show the ToC & part of the Map view with the HseNums displaying.

Any thoughts about what setting I've got wrong?

ToC & HseNums.jpg

Jesse Wickizer · Answer

Yes, it is possible to convert labels to annotation when the labels have multiple classes.

There are a few things you can look at to troubleshoot this.

* Are annotation feature classes added to the Contents pane after converting the line layer to annotation? If so, does the attribute table contain features or is it empty. If it contains features and they just too small to see at the current scale, you likely need to adjust the conversion scale to match your intended map scale.
* When you convert labels to annotation, is the Conversion scale within the visibility scale ranges defined for at least one of the label classes?

* Is the conversion scale exactly same as one of the visibility range scale boundaries? If so, check the status of the Draw up to and including the maximum scale in scale ranges checkbox on the Map properties. Or change the conversion slightly to be fully within the visibility range of the desired label class. 
* Is there a selection on the feature layer that is being converted? Convert Labels to Annotation will honor selection sets and only create annotation for features that are selected.
* Does the Extent for conversion match the map extent or area of interest? Use to Extent control's Current display extent button on the tool to specify the map's current visible extent.