Allow formatting of leader lines created in annotation

[rburke-bsrc]

I believe this was an option in ArcMap. I can't find any setting to change leader lines from a plain black line when they are created in annotation (via R click>Add Leader). It would be great to be able to format and modify these like other lines in ArcGIS Pro.

[CiaraRowland-Simms]

Hi there, the leaderline symbol is part of the text symbol and there are a couple of ways you can change it.

Option 1 - Most useful for one-off pieces of text

• Activate selection tool on ribbon (map tab or editing tab)
• Select your piece of annotation
• Launch the attributes pane (from the small icon on the ribbon - map tab or editing tab)
• Click the symbol button on attributes pane
  
• Go to callout properties
• Change the line (e.g. using simple line, or background callout for complex lines)
  
• Apply your changes and see the selected annotation update

Option 2 - Useful if you want to reuse the same line for multiple pieces of text

• Ensure you have no unsaved edits
• Open Catalog pane or window
• Navigate to your annotation feature class
• Right click and launch annotation feature class properties from the context menu
• Select 'Add new symbol' option
  
• Under symbol, set the desired leader and/or callout
  
• Save your new symbol into the feature class
• Now, when you come to create a new piece of annotation
  
• or edit an existing piece you can use this symbol to get the desired leader:
  
  
  

Hope that helps! Thanks,
Ciara

[JosphatMutunga]

To add to what Ciara suggested, you can use the Annotation tool to add a leader line to a plane text or make other edits. You can find this tool in the Edit tools gallery in the Edit ribbon tab or within Modify features pane. 

I created a gif to demo the workflow.  

Annotation tool within the Modify Features pane (Edit ribbon tab > Modify Features > Alignment > Annotation)

For additional information, please check our online help here https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/editing/edit-annotation-text.htm

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Josphat.

[rburke-bsrc]

@JosphatMutunga, that was the process I was describing. Thanks!

@CiaraRowland-Simms, I hadn't thought to look there, thank you! I think it would make more sense for the leader line symbol to live in the right click menu with other leader line settings or at least have a link there.

[CiaraRowland-Simms]

Glad that helped! Thank you for the feedback - we will look into making it more intuitive to find. 

Thanks!

Ciara