Import coverage or SDE 3 annotation into a geodatabase

Summary

Instructions provided describe how to import coverage or SDE 3 annotation into a geodatabase. If ArcGIS Desktop version 9.0 or later is used, the ArcToolbox Geoprocessing tool 'Import Coverage Annotation' can be used to import coverage or SDE 3 annotation to geodatabase annotation. For additional help with this, see the ArcGIS Desktop Help topic "Importing coverage of CAD annotation into geodatabase annotation".

If ArcGIS Desktop version 8.3 or prior is used, ArcMap's 'Convert Coverage Annotation' tool can be used to convert coverage or SDE 3 annotation to geodatabase annotation. An annotation feature class in a geodatabase is required to store the converted annotation. Create a new annotation feature class using ArcCatalog, if necessary.

Procedure

1. Start ArcMap and add the coverage or SDE 3 annotation to be converted to geodatabase annotation.
2. Right-click the layer, select 'Properties' and click the Symbols tab. Set up the display of the annotation as it should appear when converted.
3. Print some maps with the annotation to verify that the text symbology is correct before continuing.
4. Add the 'Convert Coverage Annotation' tool to ArcMap.
   <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/24238' target='_blank'>How To: Add the Convert Coverage Annotation tool to ArcMap</a>
5. If 'SIZE' equals zero for any of the annotation, zoom to the reference scale of the target annotation feature class.
   
6. Verify that a geodatabase annotation feature class exists to store the converted annotation.
   
   

   Note:
   Create a new annotation feature class in ArcCatalog, if necessary. If converting to feature-linked annotation when creating a new new annotation class, specify a default text symbol and an annotation reference scale. This text symbol should be the same as the symbol used to symbolize the coverage annotation in ArcMap. The reference scale should be the scale at which the annotation is converted.

   
   
7. Click the 'Convert Coverage Annotation' button.
   
8. Check the coverage or SDE 3 annotation that will be converted.
   
   

   Note:
   It is possible to convert multiple coverages or SDE 3 annotation classes simultaneously, but they will all be converted into a single geodatabase annotation feature class. All converted annotation will have the same reference scale, because all annotation in a geodatabase annotation feature class has the same reference scale. To learn more about annotation reference scales, see 'Converting labels to annotation' in the ArcGIS Desktop Help.

   
   
9. Click the 'Browse' button and navigate to an existing geodatabase annotation feature class where the annotation will be stored.
   
10. Click 'Convert.'
    
11. Click 'Yes' to add the converted annotation to the map.
    
12. Click 'Close' to close the 'Convert Coverage Annotation' dialog box when the conversion is complete, or repeat the above steps to convert more coverages or SDE 3 annotation.