HOW TO

Update feature-linked annotations by modifying label expressions in ArcGIS Pro

Last Published: January 13, 2025

Summary

In ArcGIS Pro, feature-linked annotations are linked to attributes of the features they represent and are updated or customized to reflect changes in the data or in the formatting of the labels. Feature-linked annotations can be updated by modifying existing label expressions or adding a new one, and this article describes the workflow to update the annotations by modifying the label expression.

The image below shows the original label expression for a feature-linked annotation. In this example, the expression is updated to change the numbers displayed on the labels by replacing the DISTINSTID field with the DISTNO field.

The original label expression for the feature-linked annotation on the map

Procedure

Note:
Depending on modifications to the label expression, the label's position on the map may shift.
  1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project.
  2. In the Catalog pane, right-click the feature-linked annotation feature class and select Annotation Feature Class Properties.
  3. Modify the label expression of the feature-linked annotation feature class.
    1. In the Feature Class Properties pane, click the Annotation Classes tab.
    2. Click the Edit this annotation class The Edit this annotation class icon button found beside the annotation class.
    3. In the Expression section, modify the label expression. In this example, the DISTINSTID field is deleted from the label expression and replaced by the DISTNO field. The following is a sample expression:
$feature.<field_name1> + ‘-’ + $feature.<field_name1>
The modified label expression in the Feature Class Properties pane
  1. Click Apply.
  2. In the Feature Class Properties pane, click Apply.
  1. Remove and re-add the feature-linked annotation layer.
    1. In the Contents pane, right-click the feature-linked annotation layer and select Remove.
    2. In the Catalog pane, right-click the feature-linked annotation feature class and select Add To Current Map to add the annotation layer back to the map.
  2. Repopulate the values in the field referenced in the label expression to update the feature-linked annotation.
    1. In the Contents pane, right-click the feature layer and select Attribute Table to open the attribute table.
    2. Right-click the column header of the first field in the updated label expression and select Calculate Field. In this example, the DISTNO field is the first field in the expression.
    3. In the Calculate Field dialog box, for Expression Type, select Python.
    4. For Expression, under Fields, double-click the field name of the first field in the new label expression.
The configured expression in the Calculate Field dialog box
  1. Click Apply and click OK.
Note:
Optionally, modify the annotations on the map. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Edit annotation text or change formatting for instructions.

The map shows the updated feature-linked annotation after the label expression is modified.

The updated annotation on the map

Article ID: 000034271

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 3
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 2
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 4

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