HOW TO

Edit leader lines for annotations in ArcGIS Pro

Last Published: July 10, 2024

Summary

ArcGIS Pro uses leader lines for annotations to connect text or symbols to their corresponding geographic features. Editing leader lines for annotations enhances the clarity and accuracy of map presentations, especially in complex maps with multiple annotations.

This article provides three workflows for editing leader lines for annotations in ArcGIS Pro. The image below displays three annotations with their respective leader lines before being edited.

Multiple leader lines before edits on a map

Procedure

Use the Annotation tool to edit the position of the leader lines

In this workflow, the Annotation tool is used to modify the starting position of a leader line. In this example, the leader line for the 'station b' annotation is edited.

  1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project.
  2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab, and click Modify in the Features group. The Modify Features pane is displayed.
  3. In the Modify Features pane, select the Annotation tool.
  4. Select the annotation feature with a leader line.
  5. Click and drag the leader line's end point to modify the leader line's position from the annotation.
  6. Click the map to complete the edit.

The image below displays the leader line of an annotation in a new starting position.

The leader line with new starting position on a map

Edit the leader lines positions in the Attributes pane

In this workflow, the position of a leader line is modified with the alignment of the annotation. In this example, the leader line for the 'station e' annotation is edited.

  1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project.
  2. On the ribbon Edit tab, click Attributes in the Selection group. The Attributes pane is displayed.
  3. Click the Select tool and select the annotation feature.
  4. In the Attributes pane, on the Annotation tab, click one of the text alignment options to change the position of the leader line.
The Annotation alignment options
  1. Click Apply.
  2. Click the map to complete the edit.

The image below displays the position of the leader line modified based on the alignment of the annotation.

The leader line aligned with the annotation on a map

Edit the leader lines symbol and style

In this workflow, the symbol and style of a leader line is modified. In this example, the leader line for the 'station c' annotation is edited.

  1. Follow Steps 1 through 3 from the edit the leader lines positions in the Attributes pane method above.
  2. In the Attributes pane, on the Annotation tab, click Symbol.
  3. In the Format Text Symbol pane, click the Properties tab.
  4. Click Callout, click the Callout symbol drop-down arrow, and select Background.
  5. Under Callout, select a symbol for Leader line symbol. In this example, Simple stroke (2 pt) is selected.
  6. Under Callout, select a style for Leader style. In this example, Underline is selected.
  7. In the Format Text Symbol pane, click Apply.
  8. In the Attributes pane, click Apply.
  9. Click the map to complete the edit.

The image below displays the leader line of the annotation with a new symbol and style.

The leader line with new symbol and style on a map

Article ID: 000032877

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 1
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 3
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 2

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