Annotation feature classes

Annotation feature classes are similar to other geodatabase feature classes. Like other feature classes, annotation feature classes have attributes (annotation attributes define how the text is to be displayed) and a spatial reference, and they can be added as a layer to ArcMap.

In this example, the annotation feature class was created for a map in the Mercator projected coordinate system. When the data frame's coordinate system is changed to the Albers Equal Area projection, the annotation is reprojected on the fly and displays correctly.

You can create an annotation feature class in ArcMap by converting labels to annotation. Or, you can create an empty annotation feature class in ArcCatalog, then add annotation features to it in ArcMap. Once created, annotation feature classes are managed the same way as other feature classes. They can be renamed, copied, and deleted using ArcCatalog.

All annotation feature classes have at least one annotation class. An annotation class has a set of properties such as text symbology and alignment. If you have an ArcEditor or ArcInfo license, you can create multiple annotation classes within one annotation feature class and specify different annotation display properties for different types of features.

World Water Bodies is an annotation feature class that has three annotation classes. In ArcMap, annotation classes display in the Table of Contents. Each class can be turned on or off individually.