Common text-related tasks

Below are some common tasks you can perform with text. Instructions are provided to complete each task with labels, map document annotation, and geodatabase annotation.

Task	Labels	Map document annotation	Geodatabase annotation
Create a new set of labels, a new annotation group, or a new annotation feature class.	By default, each feature layer in ArcMap has one set of labels. You can create label classes to subdivide these labels or to label a feature multiple times.	Create a new annotation group in ArcMap with the Drawing menu on the Draw toolbar or with data frame properties.	Create a new annotation feature class in ArcCatalog.
In ArcMap, view the list of sets of labels, annotation groups, or annotation feature classes.	Listed in the Label Manager dialog box.	Listed in the Annotation Groups tab on the Data Frame Properties dialog box.	Listed in the ArcMap table of contents.
View the attribute table for text.	Labels are generated from feature attributes and do not have their own attributes.	Map document annotation does not have attributes.	Open the layer attribute table in ArcMap, or in ArcCatalog, click the annotation feature class and click the Preview tab.
View the reference scale.	In ArcMap, on the General tab of the Data Frame Properties dialog box.	In ArcMap, on the Annotation Groups tab of the Data Frame Properties dialog box.	In ArcMap, on the Annotation tab of the Layer Properties dialog box and also in ArcCatalog on the Annotation tab of the Feature Class Properties dialog box.
Set the reference scale.	In ArcMap, on the General tab of the Data Frame Properties dialog box.	In ArcMap, on the Annotation Groups tab of the Data Frame Properties dialog box.	The reference scale is set when you create a new annotation feature class.
Create new text on your map.	In ArcMap, right-click a layer in the table of contents and click Label Features.	Use the tools on the ArcMap Draw toolbar.	Start editing, then use the Edit Annotation tool on the Editor toolbar. If you have feature-linked annotation, new annotation will be automatically created as you add new features. You can also use Annotate Selected Features.
Select and move text in ArcMap.	You cannot select or move labels.	Use the Select Elements tool.	Start editing and use the Edit Annotation tool.
Change the appearance of text in ArcMap.	On the Label Manager.	Use the Select Elements tool and the Draw toolbar.	Start editing and use the Edit Annotation tool and the Attributes dialog box.
Edit text in the ArcMap layout view.	You cannot select or move labels.	You must be working inside a focused data frame.	If you use the Edit Annotation tool, it is not necessary to work inside a focused data frame.
Link text to features.	By definition, all labels are linked to features.	In ArcMap, you can associate an annotation group with a feature layer on the Annotation Groups tab of the Data Frame Properties dialog box. This turns the annotation group on or off when the layer is turned on or off.	Only annotation stored in feature-linked annotation feature classes can be feature-linked. To link an individual piece of text to a feature, use the Attributes dialog box
Convert text to a different format.	Convert labels to annotation in ArcMap.	Use ArcMap to convert coverage or SDE 3 annotation to map document annotation.	Use ArcMap to convert coverage, CAD, SDE 3, VPF, or PC ARC/INFO coverage annotation.
Improve text performance.	On the Label Manager, ensure there is no duplication in the labeling by checking the Summary dialog box. Also, use feature weights sparingly and set the visible scale ranges for the labels.	Do not use map document annotation if you have more than a few hundred pieces of text.	Use geodatabase annotation to store large amounts of text.

Text-related tasks in ArcMap and ArcCatalog