topic Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Creating Annotation for Map Series

LaurenJohns — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 20:59:01 GMT

Apologies if this has already been asked, but I have a map series that is based on a pipeline. I made the map series using a strip index so every sheet is rotated slightly differently. I want to create some standard annotation in the map to include notes about different aspects of the route (i.e. annotations are not related to just one feature class). I've tried several methods using the standard annotation and the graphics layers and neither of those were able to be rotated to match the orientation of my map series sheets. Does anyone have a solution that ideally does not involve me manually rotating all my annotations for every page? Thank you.

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

RhettZufelt — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 23:16:12 GMT

When you say you have used standard annotation, are you using an annotation layer, or just adding text/graphics to the map?

If using annotation layer(s), my text rotates with the map itself automagically.

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

LaurenJohns — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 13:45:32 GMT

I tried both methods and neither automatically rotated with the map series. I also hit the option to rotate labels as the data frame rotates but that did not work either.

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

TomBole — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:37:35 GMT

Hi Lauren,

Unlike labels, annotation will not automatically update based on map rotation. You will need to edit the angle property of each annotation accordingly. For more information see https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/data/annotation/annotation.htm

For your case, I would suggest creating a new point feature class that has a field(s) with the text you want to display and using labels instead of annotation. Give the point a null symbol so it does not draw.

Hope this helps,

Tom

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

LaurenJohns — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:57:51 GMT

Thanks Tom, I really want to have full control over where my label goes and I find that I can't get that through the labeling properties. I think I might be able to do some calculations in the annotation attributes for the angle based on the page angle in my map series.

Aside from this one issue, as someone who frequently used ArcMap, I am loving ArcGIS Pro!

Thank you!

Lauren

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

RhettZufelt — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 16:23:26 GMT

That is weird. Mine behaves like @Robert_LeClair post in the link that @TomBole supplied.

Maybe it is different with a map series, but if I make an annotation layer (as stated, is technically a polygon layer), then it will rotate with my map view.

Of course, being an annotation feature class, I can also edit/place each individual label as well.

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

TomBole — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 17:14:07 GMT

Hi Rhett,

Yes, in your example the annotation is rotating with the map frame as expected.

I believe the request was to have the annotation rotation adjust accordingly based on the map rotation of the current map sheet. My interpretation of this is to basically keep the text horizontal regardless of the map rotation. As far as I know, this cannot be done with though the UI.

Tom

Re: Creating Annotation for Map Series

TomBole — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 17:17:00 GMT

Lauren,

I understand the placement limitations of labels, however, if you are creating a point feature class just for labeling you can always move the point feature for better label placement. Though I do like your idea on calculating the angle. That should make for a cleaner solution than creating a new feature class.

Tom