Annotation feature class editing properties
When you create an annotation feature class, you set properties that affect how it can be edited. After the annotation feature class has been created, you can change any of these properties with the Feature Class Properties dialog box.
Require symbol to be selected from the symbol table
This places a restriction on what text symbol properties can be edited in ArcMap.
If you check this box, you only allow edits to symbol properties that enable annotation features to maintain reference to their associated text symbol in the collection. If you check this box, you will only be able to edit the following text symbol properties for any annotation feature:
- X- and y-offset
- Horizontal and vertical alignment
- Flip angle
- Font type, size, color, character spacing, and background symbol
- Font bold, italic, and underlined
- Word spacing
- Leading property
For example, if you check this box, you would be able to reduce an annotation feature's font size from 12 to 8. After the edit, the annotation feature still references a text symbol in the collection; however, it stores its own font size of 8.
If you leave this box unchecked, you allow any text symbol property to be edited. If you change a property not listed above, such as giving the annotation feature a halo, the annotation feature loses reference to its associated text symbol in the collection. When this happens, the annotation feature stores all its symbol properties. This increases the storage requirement and reduces display and query performance for the annotation.
If the annotation is not text but consists of graphic elements, such as lines, circles, polygons, or marker symbols, uncheck this box; otherwise, the feature class will not be able to store the graphic elements.
Learn more about managing text symbols in an annotation feature class
Create annotation when new features are added (feature-linked only)
Check this box if you want a new piece of annotation to be created when you add a new feature to the linked feature class. This process is described in Editing feature-linked annotation.
Leave this box unchecked if you want to create annotation after new features have been added.
Update annotation when feature's shape is modified (feature-linked only)
Check this if you want the position of annotation to be automatically updated when the shape of the linked feature is modified.
When checked, the annotation automatically repositions according to the modified feature's new shape, saving you from having to move it yourself. However, if you've manually positioned a piece of annotation, making even the slightest edit to the linked feature's shape repositions the annotation back to its default placement position relative to the linked feature. So if you want greater control over the placement of annotation, leave this box unchecked. This keeps the annotation in its original position, letting you move the annotation manually if needed.