Configuring the formatting options

The Format tab on the Annotation Properties window controls general formatting options for the selected annotation component. You can set these options within this tab:

• Absolute Value—The absolute numeric value is displayed. Even if the value is negative, the minus sign is not displayed.
• Annotation Weight—Determines the priority of one piece of annotation text over another. Takes any number that indicates when two or more annotation features share the same point; the one with the lower value is be removed.
• Delimiting Character(s)—Characters that precede the annotation. Any specified character string can be entered. This text string is then displayed between each group in the specified style.
  Note:

  The delimiting characters and decimal places options defined on this tab determine the specific decimal place location for each style's annotation groups on the Anno General tab.

• Decimal Places—The number of digits to display after the decimal. If a numeric style is chosen, the number of decimal places can be specified.
• Prefix—Allows a character string to be entered and a symbol assigned before the first annotation grouping.
• Suffix—Allows a character string to be entered and a symbol assigned after the last annotation grouping.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Cartography to add the Production Cartography toolbar.
3. Click the Grids and Graticules Designer window button on the Production Cartography toolbar.
4. Create or load a grid that has annotation.
5. Expand nodes in the Grid tree view until you find an annotation node.
6. Double-click the annotation node.

   The Annotation Properties

7. Click the Format tab.
8. If necessary, check the Absolute Value check box.
9. If necessary, click the Annotation Weight drop-down arrow or type a value in the field.
10. If necessary, type a character string in the Delimiting Characters text box.
11. If necessary, type the number of digits to display after the decimal in the Decimal Places/Precision text box.
12. If necessary, type a prefix in the Prefix text box.
13. If necessary, type a suffix in the Suffix text box.
14. If necessary, choose a symbol for the prefix and suffix.