Displaying annotation features in ArcGlobe

Available with 3D Analyst license.

Annotation feature classes are added, by default, to ArcGlobe as draped on the surface of the globe. When draped, all the features and graphic elements in the annotation feature class, such as paragraph elements, leader lines, and halos, are drawn.

Annotation features can also be displayed as floating 3D text in ArcGlobe, which will display the annotation always facing the viewer, or billboarded. When displaying annotation layers this way, certain effects, such as leader lines and paragraph elements, are not shown.

When displaying annotation layers as billboarded text, the application can optionally remove overlapping text. This ensures a clear display of vector annotation text on the globe. When using this text conflict detection functionality, the layer order is important. The text displayed from annotation layers at the top of the table of contents will be rendered first, and subsequently rendered annotation layers will not be able to display their text in the same screen space. This rendering priority is given to draped layers first, then floating. The example table of contents below shows the layer priority ordering for multiple billboarded annotation feature layers in ArcGlobe, with Layer 1 being the highest priority.

Learn more about managing annotation feature classes

There are no other rules to prioritize the display of annotation features within the same layer in ArcGlobe. Conflict detection at the layer level is the only mechanism for billboarded annotation rendering.

You can display labels in ArcGlobe by right-clicking a layer in the table of contents, clicking Properties, and checking Label features in this layer on the Labels tab. Adjust the label properties to show the appropriate information and symbology.

Note:

• Changing the label's visibility, symbology, or display string will invalidate the disk cache for the layer

Learn more about labeling

Learn more about how to convert labels to annotation features

To display annotation feature layers as billboarded text, do the following:

1. Right-click the annotation feature layer in the table of contents and click Properties.
2. Click the Globe Display tab.
3. Uncheck Rasterize feature layer.
4. Click OK.
Note that text can be partially or wholly blocked by changes in the terrain, such as mountains. If elevated terrain is closer in the view, any parts of the annotation text that fall behind the mountain will not be visible.

Tip:

• Check the Rasterize features option to return the annotation features to being draped on the surface of the globe.
• You can convert feature labels into annotation feature classes using the right-click context menu. Then display the draped annotation features as 3D text using the steps above.
• Interactive editing of annotation feature layers is not supported as part of the 3D editing experience in ArcGlobe.