Creating a feature-linked annotation feature class in a feature dataset

Steps:

1. In the Catalog tree, right-click the feature dataset in which you want to create the new annotation feature class.
2. Point to New > Feature Class.
3. Type the Name.
4. Click the Type drop-down arrow and click Annotation Features.
5. Check the check box to link the annotation to a feature class.
6. Click the drop-down arrow and click the feature class to which you want to link the new annotation feature class. The feature class must be in the same feature dataset as the annotation feature class you are creating. You cannot change this property later.
7. Click Next.
8. Enter a reference scale.

The scale should be equal to the scale at which the annotation will normally display.

Map units are automatically set for you, because the annotation feature class is inside a feature dataset. The units match the units of the feature dataset's coordinate system. If the feature dataset coordinate system is unknown, the units default to meters.

9. For information on how to set the next three options (Require symbol to be selected from the symbol table, Create annotation when new features are added, and Update annotation when feature's shape is modified), see Annotation feature class editing properties.
10. If Maplex is installed, choose a labeling engine. Click Properties to specify labeling properties.
11. Click Next.
12. Specify the linked feature class fields that contain text for the first annotation class. You can choose a Label Field or click Expression to specify more than one field.
13. Set the default text symbol and placement properties for the annotation class.

You can either set these properties one at a time or click the Label Styles button to load an existing label style.

14. Click Scale Range to specify the scale range annotation that this class displays.
15. Click SQL Query to specify that only certain features in the linked feature class will be annotated by the annotation class.
16. If you want to add an additional annotation class, click New and specify the name of the annotation class. Repeat steps 12 through 15 to set its properties.
17. Repeat step 16 until you have specified all the annotation classes and their properties.
18. Click Next.
19. If you are creating the new annotation feature class in a file or ArcSDE geodatabase and you want to use a custom storage keyword, click Use configuration keyword, then choose the keyword you want to use from the drop-down menu.
20. Click Next.
21. You don't have to change any of the field properties. The feature class resides in a feature dataset, so the spatial reference will automatically be that of the feature dataset.

By default, there are several fields that are added to an annotation feature class. Some of these are required, whereas others are optional. If you don't require the optional fields, you can delete them now or delete them with the Feature Class Properties dialog box after you've created the feature class. To see a list of the required fields, see Managing annotation feature class properties.

If you want to bring in fields from another feature class (geodatabase, coverage, and so on), click Import. You can also manually add fields to your annotation feature class.

22. Click Finish.

Tip:

A relationship class is automatically created to link the annotation feature class to the feature class it is annotating. To see which relationship class is associated with an annotation feature class, double-click the annotation feature class and click the Relationships tab.

Tip:

Specifying a visible scale range for each annotation class improves performance when working with annotation in ArcMap. You can also specify a visible scale range in ArcMap.