Convert Labels To Annotation (Cartography Tools)

Summary

Converts labels to annotation for a single layer or the entire map. Both standard annotation and feature-linked annotation can be created.

Usage

• Labels can be converted to annotation for a single layer or the entire map. If the single layer option is chosen, the layer must be specified and it must be in the map.

• Selections are honored by the tool. If features are selected, only labels for those features are converted to annotation.

• Label class scale ranges are respected. When the tool generates annotation for a specific map scale, it will only convert label classes that are turned on and visible at that scale.

  Note:

  Label class scale ranges are set on the Labeling tab in ArcGIS Pro.

• Annotation feature classes will not be overwritten if an existing suffix is specified. In this case, a number will be added to the annotation feature class suffix (for example, CitiesAnno, CitiesAnno_1, and so on). The complete format for naming is as follows:

  <layer name> <duplicate feature class count> <anno suffix> <running number>

• If you are producing annotation at a variety of reference scales, design the map for each of those scales and avoid setting a reference scale in the map. You can then convert the labels to annotation for each scale and name them appropriately, for example, CitiesAnno_1000, CitiesAnno_100000, and so on.

• One output of this tool is a group layer. When working in the Catalog pane, the Python window, or a stand-alone Python script, you can use the Save To Layer File tool to write the output group layer to a layer file. When using ArcGIS Pro, the tool adds the group layer to the display. The group layer that is created is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the project is saved.

• An existing group layer will be overwritten if the same layer name is specified and you explicitly state that overwriting output is allowed.

• If the Create feature-linked annotation parameter is not checked, the Convert labels from all layers to a single output feature class parameter can be used to create a single annotation feature class for the entire map.

  When creating a single annotation feature class for the map, label classes with similar properties can be merged into one annotation class using the Merge similar label classes parameter.

• Feature-linked annotation is associated with a specific feature in another feature class in the geodatabase. If the Create feature-linked annotation parameter is checked, a relationship class will be automatically generated when you create the output annotation feature class.

• When creating feature-linked annotation, the output workspace must be the same as that of the feature classes to which they are linked.

• Some labels may not display on the map because there is no room. To convert these labels, check the Convert unplaced labels to unplaced annotation parameter. This saves the unplaced labels in the annotation feature class, allowing you to position them later in an ArcGIS Pro edit session.

• Memory and in_memory workspaces do not support feature-linked annotation.

• This tool honors the Annotation Text String Field Length environment. When set, it will override the default field length on the TextString field in any annotation feature classes created in a database.

Parameters

• Dialog
• Python

Label	Explanation	Data type
Input Map	The input map.	Map
Conversion Scale	The scale at which labels will be converted. If a reference scale is set on the map, the reference scale will be used for symbol sizing and annotation feature class creation, but conversion will occur at this scale.	Double
Output Geodatabase	The workspace where the output feature classes will be saved. The workspace can be an existing geodatabase or an existing feature dataset. If this is not the same database used by all the layers in the map, the feature-linked option will be disabled.	Workspace; Feature Dataset
Annotation Suffix (Optional)	The suffix that will be added to each new annotation feature class. This suffix will be appended to the name of the source feature class for each new annotation feature class.	String
Extent (Optional)	Specifies the extent that contains the labels to convert to annotation. Current Display Extent —The extent will be based on the active map or scene. Draw Extent —The extent will be based on a rectangle drawn on the map or scene. Extent of a Layer —The extent will be based on an active map layer. Choose an available layer or use the Extent of data in all layers option. Each map layer has the following options: All Features —The extent of all features. Selected Features —The extent of the selected features. Visible Features —The extent of visible features. Browse —The extent will be based on a dataset. Intersection of Inputs —The extent will be the intersecting extent of all inputs. Union of Inputs —The extent will be the combined extent of all inputs. Clipboard —The extent can be copied to and from the clipboard. Copy Extent —Copies the extent and coordinate system to the clipboard. Paste Extent —Pastes the extent and coordinate system from the clipboard. If the clipboard does not include a coordinate system, the extent will use the map's coordinate system. Reset Extent —The extent will be reset to the default value. When coordinates are manually provided, the coordinates must be numeric values and in the active map's coordinate system. The map may use different display units than the provided coordinates. Use a negative value sign for south and west coordinates.	Extent
Convert unplaced labels to unplaced annotation (Optional)	Specifies whether unplaced annotation will be created from unplaced labels. Checked—Unplaced annotation will be stored in the annotation feature class. The status field for this annotation is set to Unplaced. Unchecked—Annotation will only be created for features that are currently labeled. This is the default.	Boolean
Require symbols to be selected from the symbol table (Optional)	Specifies whether all text symbol properties can be edited. Checked—Only symbol properties that enable annotation features can be edited to maintain reference to their associated text symbol in the collection. Unchecked—All text symbol properties can be edited. This is the default.	Boolean
Create feature-linked annotation (Optional)	Specifies whether the output annotation feature class will be linked to the features in another feature class. Checked—The output annotation feature class will be linked to the features in another feature class. Unchecked—The output annotation feature class will not be linked to the features in another feature class. This is the default.	Boolean
Create annotation when new features are added (Optional)	Specifies whether annotation will be created when new features are added to the linked feature class and the Create feature-linked annotation parameter is checked. Checked—Feature-linked annotation will be created when new features are added to the linked feature class. This is the default. Unchecked—Feature-linked annotation will not be created when new features are added to the linked feature class.	Boolean
Update annotation when feature's shape is modified (Optional)	Specifies whether the position of annotation will be updated when the shape of the linked feature is modified and the Create feature-linked annotation parameter is checked. Checked—The position of the annotation will be updated when the shape of the linked feature is modified. This is the default. Unchecked—The position of the annotation will not be updated when the shape of the linked feature is modified.	Boolean
Output Layer (Optional)	The group layer that will contain the generated annotation. When working in the Catalog pane, you can use the Save To Layer File tool to write the output group layer to a layer file. When using ArcGIS Pro with a map open, the tool adds the group layer to the display if this option is checked in the geoprocessing options. The group layer that is created is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the project is saved.	Group Layer
Convert (Optional)	Specifies whether annotation will be converted for all layers in the map or for a single layer. The single layer must be specified. All layers in map—Labels will be converted to annotation for all layers in the map. This is the default. Single layer—Labels will be converted to annotation for a single layer. The layer must be specified.	String
Feature Layer (Optional)	The layer with the annotation that will be converted when the Convert parameter is set to Single layer. This layer must be in the map.	Feature Layer
Convert labels from all layers to a single output feature class (Optional)	Specifies whether labels will be converted to individual annotation feature classes or to a single annotation feature class. If converting to a single annotation feature class, the annotation cannot be feature-linked. Checked—Labels from all layers will be converted to a single annotation feature class. Unchecked—Labels will be converted to individual annotation feature classes that correspond to their layers. This is the default.	Boolean
Merge similar label classes (Optional)	Specifies whether similar label classes will be merged when the Convert labels from all layers to a single output feature class parameter is checked. Checked—Label classes with similar properties will be merged when converting to a single feature class. Unchecked—Label classes with similar properties will not be merged. This is the default.	Boolean

Derived output

Label	Explanation	Data type
Updated Geodatabase	The workspace where the output feature classes will be saved.	Workspace

Environments

Output CONFIG Keyword, Annotation Text String Field Length

Licensing information

• Basic: Yes
• Standard: Yes
• Advanced: Yes

Related topics

• An overview of the Annotation toolset
• Convert labels to annotation
• Convert Labels To Graphics
• Find a geoprocessing tool