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ArcGIS Pro "Convert Labels to Annotation" hanging

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07-28-2017 02:01 PM
DavidSherman2
New Contributor

I am attempting to convert some labels on a map to annotations in ArcGIS Pro 2.0 using the new Convert Labels to Annotation tool, and the system is hanging for 10+ minutes every open that tool or attempt to change the tool settings ("Input Map", "Output Geodatabase", etc.). This is a fairly big project, but the map I have open is simple- only 10 layers, 4 of which contain labels. We're talking ~18 labels total. 

I tried starting a brand new project just to test the tool, and everything ran very quickly, so what is causing the tool to hang on my project? I suppose a better question is: what is the Convert Labels to Annotation tool attempting to access when it opens? Every map within a project (open or closed)? Every GDB associated with a project? 

23 Replies
DLynch_GCWATER
Occasional Contributor

Still experiencing long delays converting labels to annotation in August 2024. Just watched a process run for 6 mins to convert one label with 20 characters.

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JesseClous
New Contributor

September 2024.  My company, which creates hundreds of environmental figures a month, working on hundreds of projects a year have been using ArcMap since it came out.  As clunky as people think, the software was actually simple to use once you knew it, snappy, and had expected behavior for the most part.  Converting projects to ArcPro was simple, but like any software, there are limitations and "quirks".  The majority of time spent on figures we produce involve labels and displaying data in labels.  I am currently working on a project that will end up having 40 annotative feature classes linked to features.  The anno features all have label classes as well.  To convert 28 features for a single anno class,(my example point feature) takes about 2-3 min to run.  The most frustrating thing, is that updating annotation or creating new annotation on selected features.  Adding a single label takes about 3 min.  Even selecting and moving labels is slow compared to ArcMap.  Everything I have read states that Pro annotation is  buggy and not as solid as the Map version.  We have been converting to Pro, but this issue defiantly causes frustration.  Working every day in a choppy environment with annotation will cause projects to take longer due to simple things like creating and editing labels.  I feel your pain and open to ANYTHING that solves this issue.  We have tried local projects on the local drive, new GDBs, small features, same experience.  We all have 32 GB RAM, and more then enough GPU and graphics to handle the load.  We have basically taken everything out of the equation to conclude that there is something going on with the performance of annotation in the software.  Who else is having issues with annotation? 

JustinJohnston
Frequent Contributor

For me, the conversion of labels to annotation has been hit or miss.  Sometimes, it is quick and sometimes it hangs.  I don't have any feedback or ideas of what causes the situation to work or not work as a result.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason for it working or not.  That said, when I first started using Pro, it drove me nuts how buggy it felt and how slow it was.  I don't know if it is me or improvements in the software over time, but things feel much smoother overall in Pro today than in 2018 when I 1st started using it.  I suspect it will continue to improve over time.  I still wish it could work well as part of one-drive or sharepoint (as in saving projects there) as my #1 improvement. When trying to move or edit annotation, my #1 tip is to make sure you are using the annotation editing tool and not the "move tool", even though the move tool will allow you to move an annotation, it is unpredictable.  

Cheers,

Justin

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JustinRego
Occasional Contributor

Same problem, ArcMap was so much better 😞

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