Cannot add one or more of the annotation to the annotation class. No current record

Error Message

When converting labels to annotation using the Convert Labels to Annotation command in ArcMap, this error may appear:

"Cannot add one or more of the annotation to the annotation class. No current record"

This message only appears if the annotation is stored in the Geodatabase, and if an ArcCatalog feature class was created to store the annotation.

After dismissing the error message, the Convert Labels to Annotation dialog box closes and an empty annotation feature class is added to ArcMap.

Cause

You have not defined a spatial reference for your annotation feature class in ArcCatalog.

Solution or Workaround

1. Right-click the empty annotation layer in the Table of Contents and select the Remove option.
2. Start ArcCatalog.
3. Navigate to the location of your annotation feature class and double click it to open the Feature Class Properties dialog box.
   
4. Click the Fields tab.
5. Select the Shape field from the list of fields.
6. Click the ellipsis (...) button next to Spatial Reference at the bottom of the Field Properties. This opens the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box.
7. Define the spatial reference through two options:
   A. Click Select to select a predefined coordinate system;
   B. Click Import to import a coordinate system from an existing dataset.
8. Click OK to dismiss the ArcCatalog dialog boxes and accept the changes to the annotation feature class.
9. Start ArcMap.
10. Convert the labels to annotation specifying this modified annotation feature class as the target.