Carriage returns in stacked annotation expressions appear as squares

Description

Stacking characters in annotation expressions, including vbnewline, appear as multiple squares and the text is not stacked.

Cause

The coordinate system of the data frame is different from the coordinate system of the data. In other words, annotation projecting is on the fly.

In ArcGIS versions 8.2 and earlier, when annotation is projected on the fly, it becomes curved as part of the projection process, sometimes referred to 'densification'. Since stacking characters are not supported for curved text, while projecting annotation on the fly, carriage returns appear as squares and the text is not stacked.

In ArcGIS versions 8.3 and later, densification is an option. Also, by default, annotation is no longer densified when projecting on the fly, meaning that stacked annotation will appear correct when projected on the fly. If you are seeing this problem, change an ArcMap Advanced Setting to turn off densification when the annotation is projected on the fly.

Solution or Workaround

1. Open the Editor toolbar and click Editor > Start Editing.
   
2. Select the at fault annotation element with the Select Elements tool. Then activate the Edit Vertices tool on the Draw Toolbar.
3. The underlying cause of this problem is related to the geometry of text elements. The geometry of a text element is a line. With normal straight text this line has only two vertices. However, when projected, extra vertices are added to the baseline geometry, and these extra vertices cause stacking to not work.
   
   
4. With the Edit Vertices tool still active, hover over one of the vertices, right-click, and select Delete Vertex from the popup menu.
5. Continue deleting vertices from the text baseline until there are only two left; the text stacking will take effect. Refresh the map , if necessary, to see the text update properly.
   
   

   Note:
   Do not move any vertices or new vertices will be inserted.

   
   
6. Save your edits.
7. Repeat with other at fault annotations.
8. Stop editing.