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Converting geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Converting geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)
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About converting geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation

Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

NOTE: Although you can convert geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation in ArcInfo or ArcEditor, this functionality is not available in ArcView.

Both ArcMap and ArcCatalog let you convert annotation stored in a geodatabase annotation feature class to coverage annotation. The attributes in the geodatabase annotation feature class will be converted to a corresponding coverage annotation subclass, Text Attribute Table (TAT). The coverage annotation pseudo items ($ALIGN, $FIT, $ID, $JUSTIFY, $LEVEL, $OFFSETX, $OFFSETY, $SIZE, $SYMBOL, $TEXT, and $WORD) will be populated as well.

The size of each annotation feature will be converted from the unit points to a corresponding size in map units.

ArcMap provides many text symbol properties that are unavailable in ArcInfo Workstation, such as fill pattern, advanced background options, and drop shadows. Therefore, only those properties supported by ArcInfo Workstation can be retained.

The command to convert geodatabase annotation is available through the Customize dialog box in ArcMap. ArcCatalog also has a tool for the conversion of geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation. This tool has added capabilities for batch conversion and merging annotation feature classes.

How to convert geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation

Adding the Convert Geodatabase Annotation command to ArcMap

  1. In ArcMap, click the Tools menu and click Customize.

  2. Click the Commands tab.

  3. Click the Label category.

  4. Drag the Convert Geodatabase Annotation command from the Commands list and drop it onto any toolbar or menu.

  5. Click Close on the Customize dialog box.

Converting geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation in ArcMap (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

  1. Add the geodatabase annotation feature classes you want to convert to your map.

  2. Click the Convert Geodatabase Annotation command (that you added to ArcMap using the steps above).

  3. Check the annotation feature classes that you want to convert. You can convert multiple geodatabase annotation classes into a single coverage (each will be converted into a corresponding annotation subclass).

  4. Click the Browse button to browse for an existing coverage.

    5. The annotation will be converted into a new coverage annotation subclass if it doesn't already exist. The name of this subclass will be the same as the input geodatabase annotation feature class (limited to 13 characters in length).

  5. Click Convert.

  6. Click Close to close the Convert Geodatabase Annotation dialog box when your conversion is complete.

Tips

  • You can convert a subset of features in a geodatabase annotation feature class by making a selection and checking the Convert only selected annotation option in the Convert Geodatabase Annotation dialog box.

  • When converting into an existing coverage annotation subclass, you will be asked whether or not you want to delete the existing annotation. Click Yes to delete any existing annotation in the subclass before converting. Click No to leave the existing annotation and append to it your converted geodatabase annotation. Click Cancel to leave the existing coverage annotation and stop the conversion.

  • You can use the information in a text file that is created in the same directory as the output coverage to create a corresponding text set for use with ArcInfo Workstation (ArcPlot and ArcEdit). This file contains a list of the unique symbols used by the annotation features. It specifies the font, style, color, and so on for each symbol. The file is named <output coverage>_<subclass>.sym.

  • You can find a sample AML that automates this process by going to http://arcscripts.esri.com/, entering "Annotation" as a search word, and choosing Language: AML and Software: ArcInfo Workstation.

Converting geodatabase annotation to coverage annotation in ArcCatalog (ArcInfo only)

  1. In ArcCatalog, right-click the annotation feature class you want to export.

  2. Point to Export.

  3. Click To Coverage.

  4. Add any additional annotation feature classes you want to export.

  5. Navigate to the coverage to which you want to export.

  6. Click OK.

See Also

  • Annotation in the geodatabase
  • What is a coverage