Moving annotation along the edge of a line or polygon

You can move standard and feature-linked annotation so they follow along an edge.

Feature-linked annotation automatically follows its related line feature by default, but you can use the steps below to move feature-linked annotation along a different feature. You can turn off this setting on the Annotation tab of the Editing Options dialog box.

1. Click the Edit Annotation tool on the Editor toolbar and select the annotation.
2. Optionally, right-click the map, point to Follow, then click Follow Feature Options to set options for how the feature should be placed relative to the edge.
   1. For feature-linked annotation, check whether to use the placement properties defined in the annotation class. When unchecked, the individual settings specified on the Follow Feature Options dialog box are used. (This check box only applies to feature-linked annotation and is not used with standard annotation.)
   2. Click Straight or Curved to set whether the annotation follows the feature as a straight line through the end points of the text string or as a curve.
   3. Click Parallel or Perpendicular to set the annotation to follow parallel along the feature or perpendicular to the feature.
   4. Click one of the Constrain Placement buttons to determine how annotation is placed along a feature when you drag the annotation. Side cursor is on constrains annotation to the same side as the cursor. Left side or Right side constrains relative to the digitized direction of the feature. With On the line, annotation is placed on top of the feature.
   5. Optionally, type a value to offset the annotation from the feature.
   6. Click OK.
3. Right-click the feature you want the annotation to follow and click Follow This Feature. The feature the annotation is going to follow flashes on the screen and the annotation is moved.

The feature the annotation follows is determined by the position of the cursor when you right-click. The first selectable and visible feature under your cursor is followed. The feature must be from a line or polygon layer. Feature-linked annotation automatically follows its related line feature by default.

4. Click and drag the annotation to the position you want along the feature.