How to Create and Convert annotations into DXF in ArcGIS

Basically there are five steps: (1) create an empty geodatabase annotation feature class in ArcCatalog, (2) create labels in ArcMap, (3) save the labels in the empty geodatabase annotation feature class in ArcMap, (4) export the annotation feature class to annotation coverage in ArcCatalog, and (5) convert the annotation coverage to DXF format in ArcToolbox. 

1. Start ArcCatalog. Check the spatial reference of the theme file (i.e. shapefile, coverage) that you are going to create annotations for. In ArcCatalog, right-click the theme file to browse properties of the file. Click Geometry cell next to the “SHAPE” cell in the data type field. In the same tab, check the spatial reference. Define coordinate system if not defined yet. Then check the X/Y Domains tab and make a note on the following parameters:
• MinX (i.e. citywide shapefile SPC27 case is: 2274993.677928)
• MaxX (i.e. citywide shapefile SPC27 case is: 2824749.49156)
• MinY ( i.e. citywide shapefile SPC27 case is: 102580.771428)
• MaxY (i.e. citywide shapefile SPC27 case is: 652336.58506)
• Precisition (i.e. citywide shapefile SPC27 case is: 3906.24999636202)
2. Start ArcMap.
3. Bring the theme file that you want to create annotations in ArcMap.
4. Make sure that the data frame’s coordinate system has been set correctly.
5. Change view frame spatial reference scale to 1:5,000.
6. Click Properties of the theme file, and click Labels tab. Make sure correct field is selected as Label Field. Make the label font size 2 so that each field value will be fit in each polygon (Click Symbol.. in the Text Symbol box). Also check Label Placement Options in Other Options. Check Remove duplicate labels box in the Placement tab. Click Conflict Detection tab, and change label weight to Low check Place overlapping labels box. The frame should look like this.

7. Start ArcCatalog.
8. Create a new and empty personal geodatabase in the patron’s workspace. Name the file as you like, such as annotation.mdb.
9. Create a new and empty annotation feature class in the new personal geodatabase. Name the new feature class as you like, such as annotation. Change the type option to This feature class will store annotation features, ….  Click Next. Use the reference scale as it appears in the ArcMap view. Change the Map Units to Feet. Click Next. Accept Default in the next tab.

10. Next you have to change the spatial reference of the newly created annotation feature class. This is a very important step. Click Geometry cell next to the SHAPE cell in the data type field. In the same tab, check the spatial reference. It should say unknown at this moment. Click the button next to the unknown cell. Select the coordinate system.

11. Then click the X/Y Domain tab behind the Coordinate System tab. Change the following parameters as you found in the step 1.
• MinX
• MaxX
• MinY
• MaxY
• Precisition
12. Click OK to dismiss the X/Y Domain tab, and click Finish to dismiss the whole New Feature Class wizard. You just created a new but empty annotation feature class within the personal geodatabase.
13. Go back to ArcMap to convert the labels to annotation feature class. Click Convert the Labels to Annotation… by right-clicking over the shapefile in the table of contents. Change Annotation storage options to In a database, and browse to the annotation feature class you just created. Accept other options.

14. You will see the new layer, annotation feature class, in the ArcMap.

15. Close ArcMap and go back to ArcCatalog. Right click the annotation feature class and select Export> Geodatabase to Coverage. Make sure Annotation is the output feature class. Click OK.

16. New annotation coverage should appear in ArcCatalog. Close ArcCatalog.

17. Start ArcToolbox.
18. Select Conversion Tools > Export from Coverage > Coverage to DXF Wizard.
19. Click the browse button next to the Input anno coverage text box and browse to the newly created annotation coverage. Change the Number of decimal places…. to 3. Specify an output DXF file name and location to export the coverage annotation to and click OK.

20. Close ArcToolbox and Start ArcMap. Check the output annotation DXF file.

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