Some of the annotation that was placed by the ESRI Maplex Label Engine may not be exactly where you want it. Because annotation is editable, unlike labels, you can select these annotation features and move, modify, or delete them.

The Z key is an editing shortcut that lets you zoom in while you are using the editing tools. There are several other useful editing shortcut keys. For a complete list, search the ArcGIS Desktop Help for “Shortcut Keys”.

In this example the E 12TH ST annotation feature will be moved to a new location and constrained to follow the corresponding street feature.

First the feature is selected. It has multiple parts, but to make it follow the feature it needs to be a single part. After making it single part, the parts of the annotation feature are aligned along the same path. You can constrain an annotation feature to follow another feature.

The O key opens of the Follow Feature Options dialog box. In this case, the line you want the annotation feature to follow is curved, so you set it to follow curves. You want the annotation to be placed on the centerline of the street, so you click the On the line option. Aftre these options are set, the next step is to indicate which feature the annotation should follow. To do so, move the pointer over the middle of the street feature, right-click, and click Follow This Feature.

Now when you drag the annotation feature it is constrained to follow the street feature.