Labeling and annotating parcel fabric sublayers

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

You can label and use geodatabase annotation on parcel fabric sublayers. Labels are automatically generated and are not editable or selectable. Labeling can be a fast way to add text to your parcel map where manual editing of the text is not necessary. If you need more flexibility with your labeling, you can use annotation to select, move, and edit text on your map. To work with annotation, labels are typically generated for the layer and then converted to annotation. You can store your annotation either in the map document or in a related geodatabase feature class.

If working with annotation, you can create feature-linked annotation. Feature-linked annotation is a type of geodatabase annotation that is directly linked to features. Feature-linked annotation moves and updates with the feature to which it is linked. For example, if the distance on a parcel line is updated, feature-linked annotation updates to show the new distance value.

Feature-linked annotation can be created for the following parcel fabric feature classes:

• Control points
• Lines
• Parcels
• Points

Feature-linked annotation links to parcel fabric feature classes through a composite relationship. The parcel fabric feature classes are the origin feature classes in the relationship. When editing parcels in the parcel fabric, any feature-linked annotation is updated when edits are made to the data referenced by the annotation. For example, if you change the dimension of a parcel boundary (bearing, distance), the feature-linked annotation updates to reflect the change once the parcel changes are saved.

Tip:

You can create a new, empty, feature-linked annotation class, load it into the map and use the Annotate Parcel Courses tool to label and annotate a selection of parcels in a single process. The Annotate Parcel Courses tool is located on the Parcel Editor toolbar.

Running a fabric least-squares adjustment can result in a large number of parcel fabric features being moved. Feature-linked annotation will automatically be repositioned for adjusted parcel fabric features.

Similarly, adjusting associated features using the feature adjustment tool can also result in a large number of standard features being moved. If a feature class is associated with the parcel fabric, it is recommended that its corresponding annotation also be associated with the parcel fabric. In this way, any annotation, whether it is feature linked or not, is repositioned consistently with its feature classes when they are adjusted using the feature adjustment tool.

Learn more about converting to geodatabase annotation, converting to map annotation, and placing unplaced annotation

See this blog post for more information on labeling parcel lines in the fabric.

Steps:

To create labels for a parcel fabric sublayer and then convert them to feature-linked annotation, follow these steps:
1. In ArcMap, add the Labeling toolbar and open the Label Manager.
2. On the Label Manager dialog box, turn on labeling for the parcel fabric sublayer to which you want to add text.
For example, to add labels to the lines sublayer, click the empty check box next to the Lines sublayer listed under Label Classes.
3. Choose the attribute field you want to use to generate labels from the Label Field drop-down box.
For example, to label distance on the lines sublayer, choose the Distance field.
4. To label features differently—for example, use different attribute fields to label different features in the same layer—you need to create new label classes for each set of labels. On the Label Manager dialog box, choose the layer to create a new label class.
The current label class used is the Default label class.
5. To customize the labels generated from the attribute field, use label expressions.
For example, to insert an "ft" next to the distance labels on your parcel fabric lines sublayer, click Expression and add
[Distance] & " ft"
to the Expression text box.
Tip:

You can also use label expressions to combine attribute fields to create one label. For example, the expression

[Bearing] & " " & [Distance]

displays the bearing and the distance in the same label.

Learn more about building label expressions

You can further customize your labels by changing the label text symbol and label placement options.
Once your labels have been generated and customized, they can be converted to annotation.
6. Ensure that the label scale and properties have been appropriately set as they determine the size, position, and appearance of the converted annotation.
Tip:

Before converting to annotation, zoom to a scale in the map that displays the labels at the size you want to use for annotation.

7. Right-click the parcel fabric sublayer that has the labels you want to convert and click Convert Labels to Annotation.
8. On the Convert Labels to Annotation dialog box, choose whether to store the annotation in the geodatabase or in the map.
9. Choose whether you want to create annotation for all features, features in the current map extent, or selected features.
10. Make sure the Feature Linked check box is checked.
11. Make sure Convert unplaced labels to unplaced annotation is checked so that you don't lose labels that were unplaced.
12. Click Convert to convert labels to annotation.