Auto Annotate

This command allows you to select a group of lines, arcs and/or polylines to be labeled. It allows for any combination of line and distance labeling, and also any combination of arc labeling.

You can position the features of the labels, once in the Auto-Annotate dialog, by using the Row, Side, Order, Orientation and Position Types options, all found under Lines tab. For Arcs, you can select the Arcs tab and determine the type of auto-annotating you would prefer for arc entities. As you select different options, you can see the changes in the preview display of the entry dialog. You will select the Angle Format in terms of Bearing, Azimuths and Gons and there is an important feature that allows you to avoid label overlaps. This is done by applying specific, user-defined settings. When labeling arcs, there are options to set the label prefixes for curve annotation. The Settings button will bring you to the Annotation Defaults dialog, as explained in a previous section. Defaults will restore the prior settings.

Apply Label Settings by Layer brings up another dialog box which allows you to import from file, or load, predetermined configurations. There is an option to have different label settings applied by layer. Apply Label Settings By Layer allows you to set, load, and save your preferred variables.

The Avoid Label Overlap option can bring up a special dialog called the Overlap Manager. This screen, which contains extra tools for, as an example, sliding or stacking the labels that are overlapping and conflicting with drawing entities, gives you the real-time ability to move along the plan and make your corrections. This also will help you to avoid overlapping with other labels, text, symbols  and linework -- including fence and utility lines. In this Overlap Manager, docked on the left side of the screen. it is recommended that you use the Back and Next button frequently in order to review, adjust and correct your drawing.

Auto-Annotate dialog starts with the Lines (tab).

Angle/Distance: Allows you to enter the what row the Angle label is on, what side and the order of the label on the linework. The same applies for Distance labels. Notice the preview display changing.
Row: Using numbers (1 or 2), or choosing None, you can determine the order and appearance of the descriptions. Note the change in the preview display.
Side: Choose inside or outside of the line.
Order: If you determine that the annotations are to be on the same row and same side of the line, then you must pick the order in which they will appear, from left to right.
Justification: This option gives the ability to left or right justify labels at ends of line or center justify the labels.
Orientation: This offers this choice between parallel or perpendicular with regards to the labels' orientation to the line being labeled.
Position Types: Determined how each label is placed in relationship to the line and the other label.
Angle Format: Bearing, azimuths or gons are the choices.
Combine Common Angles:  This allows the user to reduce label clutter by minimizing labeling of serial and parallel linework. Choices are Off, Series, Parallel and "Series and Parallel". Series common angles are those where serially connected linework share the same angle. Common series angles are labeled at the mid-point of the series of connected line segments. When series common angles are selected they may be drawn stacked on the same side as the distance labels or on the opposite side from the distance labels. Also, for serial common angles the total distance may be included in the label. Parallel common angles are those where adjacent areas share parallel lines that include the line that bisects the areas. In this case, only the outer-most lines of the set of parallel lines will be labeled with the angle.

The common angle labels have separate settings for layer, style, size and offset. Please see the section "Annotate Defaults" for information on how to control these settings.

The following example shows the results of combining common serial labels, including totaling of the distances:

The following example shows the results of combining common serial and parallel labels:

Compress Labels for Short Lines:  When angle and distance labels are being placed on the same side and row, this feature allows the user to place the label on different rows in the case that the label will not fit on the line otherwise. The options are Off, "Angle Above, Distance Below", "Distance Above, Angle Below", "Stacked Angle-Distance" and "Stacked Distance-Angle".
Add Space Between Angle and Distance Labels: When angle and distance labels are being placed on the same side and row, this feature allows the user to have the angle and distance labels spread apart from each other as allowed by the length of the line being annotated.
Use Line Tables:  Line tables are sometimes preferred as they keep the drawing linework clean and free of labeling. Choices are Always, Never or By Scaler. If By Scalar is chosen "To Line Table Scaler" is enabled.
To Line Table Scaler:  If the length of the line is less than this minimum, the line is labeled as a line table entry. The To Line Table Scaler is relative to the current horizontal scale and represents the length of the line in plotted inches.
Starting Table Number: User choice. You might change this because perhaps you have another group of line labels, in table form, in the drawing. Line table entries are numbered sequentially beginning at the line Starting Table Number. The location for the line table can be picked if there is no current table. Otherwise, Auto Annotate will add to the end of the current line table. To set the location for the current line table, run the Table Header command in the Annotate > Line/Curve Table menu.

Auto-Annotate dialog box, by selecting the Arcs tab, displays the options for auto-annotating arcs. The columns are described, followed by the rest of the options.

Label: Here you might alter slightly the defaults by entering a letter or acronym that will represent to type of calculation. Or you could leave it alone.
Row: Using numbers, or choosing None, you can determine the order of the descriptions, and determine whether or not some might be left off altogether.
Side: Choose inside or outside of the arc.
Order: If you determine that the annotations are to be on the same row and same side of the curve, then you must pick the order in which they will appear, from left to right.
Label Chord Angles in: Bearing, azimuths or gons are the choices.
Type of Curve: Choose between Road and Rail.
Flip Text on Arcs that Open to the North: Clicking here might make for a easier to read finished plan. User preference.
Use Symbol for Delta Angle Label: The popular and traditional triangle-shaped symbol can be used, instead of the letter D, or any other letter(s).
Combine Common Radii: This allows the user to reduce label clutter by minimizing labeling of connected arc segments that share a common radius and center point. When selected, only one radius label will be generated for such arc segments. The following shows an example where a curve made of three arc segments is labeled with only one radius label. The radius label is placed offset to the mid-point of the combined arcs.

Use Arc Tables: Curve tables are sometimes preferred as they keep the drawing linework clean and free of labeling. Choices are Always, Never or By Scaler. If By Scalar is chosen "To Curve Table Scaler" is enabled.
To Curve Table Scaler: The To Curve Table Scaler applies when the Type of Arc label options is not set to Curve Table. If the length of the arc is less than this minimum, the arc is labeled as a curve table entry. The To Curve Table Scaler is relative to the current horizontal scale and represents the length of the arc in plotted inches.
Starting Table Number: The Starting Table Number is the starting number for the first line entered in the Curve Table. Curve Table entries are numbered sequentially from the curve Starting Table Number. The location for Curve Tables can be picked if there is no current table. Otherwise, Auto Annotate will add to the end of the current Curve Table. To set the location for the current Curve Table, run the Table Header command in the Annotate > Line/Curve Table menu.
Stack Labels: Stacked labels are sometimes preferred as they can help reduce label overlapping. Choices are Always, Never or By Scaler. If By Scalar is chosen "To Stack Scaler" is enabled.
To Stack Scaler:  When Stack Labels is set to "To Stack Scaler" this control is enabled. If the length of the arc is less than this minimum, the arc is labeled as a stacked label. The To Stack Scaler is relative to the current horizontal scale and represents the length of the arc in plotted inches. The Stack Settings button is enabled when Stack Labels is set to Always or By Scaler. This button brings up the Stack Arc Labels which displays the options for creating stacked arcs labels. The columns are described, followed by the rest of the options.

Label: Here you might alter slightly the defaults by entering a letter or acronym that will represent to type of calculation. Or you could leave it alone.
Row: Using numbers, or choosing None, you can determine the order of the labels, and determine whether or not some might be left off altogether.
Label Chord Angles in: Bearing, azimuths or gons are the choices.
Side: Choose inside or outside of the arc.
Type of Curve: Choose between Road and Rail.
Flip Text on Arcs that Open to the North: Clicking here might make for a easier to read finished plan. User preference.
Use Symbol for Delta Angle Label: The popular and traditional triangle-shaped symbol can be used, instead of the letter D, or any other letter(s).
Draw Leader for Stacked Labels: When checked, a leader will be drawn from the stacked label to the mid-point of the arc.
Stack Label Offset: This value multiplied by the horizontal scale defines the distance that an annotation label is placed from its defining arc.
Align Text With Chord: Determine whether the stacked label is oriented horizontally (unchecked) or in the direction of the chord (checked).

Auto-Annotate dialog commands, common to both Lines and Arcs.
Apply Label Settings By Layer: See the Label By Label Settings dialog and details below.
Avoid Label Overlap: See dialog and details below.
General Settings: Brings you to the A ate Defaults dialog.
Layer Settings: Apply Label Settings By Layer option must be clicked in order to activate. You will then see the Label By Layer Settings dialog.
Overlap Settings: Avoid Label Overlap option must be clicked in order to activate. Brings up the Avoid Label Overlap dialog.
Reset to Defaults: This returns you to the default label values.
Point Group: This function prompts for a point group to use for the input data to annotate. The program uses the series of points to define the lines and arcs to annotate.
Load: You can load an existing .AAN file.

We will now say, for example, that with linework only to label in the drawing we run this routine. We first decide to go without the Avoid Label Overlap feature. This can be done by unclicking this option in the Auto-Annotate dialog. We will say that there is a fence line cutting through our property line, the property lines being the lines that we want to auto-annotate. In going without Auto Annotate's overlap protection, we perform Auto Annotate and we see that there is an overlap, with the labels running into the property lines and the fence line.

Panning and zooming the screen shows the problems we confront. Now, run Auto annotate again, but this time click ON the Avoid Label Overlap feature. Then click Overlap Settings button which brings up a dialog as shown below. This program and this specific dialog box has many different methods for fixing the overlaps. We will choose the different methods to apply.

First, we will choose Slide. This slides the labels along the linework. We can even choose a maximum amount of slide and other related parameters. We will also turn on the Stack method. The Avoid Linework Conflicts feature pertains to that fence line we have. Finally, click OK. Now can pick the linework. Note that you do not need to erase the existing auto annotate labels ahead of time. This command will remember that those labels were created with this command. It will simply replace the entire group of labels with the new auto annotate labels.

The result, with overlap detection on, is that this routine fixed 7 out of 7 of the conflicts. It slid some of the labels over and stacked others. You can also run Auto Annotate Overlap with manual mode. To do this, remove the automatic options  (such as Stack, Slide, etc.) and click View Remaining Overlaps After Applying Rules ON. Say OK. It docks the Overlap Manager on the left side of the screen.

You can then fix the conflicts with this Overlap Manager by using the different methods presented in this new window. This manager will highlights the conflicts, it will, for example, slide to the next conflict and allow you to pick a new position. Hit the Next several times. Again, stack one, slide another over, and perform other changes. Then choose Close.

Also, remember that depending on the linework layer, you can even have different annotation styles. There is also an option to have different label settings "by layer". These decisions are made by using the Label By Layer Settings dialog options. To get to this dialog, click on the Layer Settings button at the bottom of the Auto-Annotate dialog.

Label By Layer Settings option and dialog.

Layer: Select a layer from the existing list of layers. If the linework you select and to be labeled is on this layer, the parameters that you set in this dialog will be reflected in all labels.
Auto-Annotation Settings: Select an existing Annotation Settings file (AAN) by clicking the File button on the right. Or stick with the defaults.
Auto-Defaults Settings: Select an existing Default Settings File (ADF) by clicking the File button on the right. Or stick with the defaults.
Load: Select this option in order to load an existing layer file (LAY) to load.

Avoid Label Overlap option and dialog.

Available Methods: Your choices. Pick from these.
Used Methods: Different ways in which this routine attempts to resolve the label overlaps. The overlap resolution attempt methods are applied in the order listed here.
Slide:  If this is selected then the labels will be moved parallel to your linework until they do not overlap. The labels will not move past the end of the linework or the Max Slide which you determine.
Offset: will move your labels perpendicular to your linework as far as you set the Max Offset.
Table: Replaces your labels with a numbers and create a table of the numbers with the corresponding labels.
Reorient: If chosen, the labels will change orientation in the plain view to avoid overlapping.
Flip: It will flip your label onto the other side of the linework.
Stack: It will stack or unstack the text of your labels to avoid overlapping.
Move Area Labels: This method, which only applies to area labels, will attempt to move the area label to the closest place within the area that doesn't overlap with any other labels. You can control the move interval (distance between move attempts) and total number of move attempts by setting the values "Interval (multiples of text height)" and "Max Move Attempts" in the "Move Area Labels Parameter" section:

You can use any combination of these commands by using the add/remove button. You can also determine the order in which the command tries a method by using the Move Up and Move Down buttons. If a solution is not found by using the first method then the next method is used in descending order.

Add/Remove: Some methods you might prefer not to use.
Slide/Offset Parameter (multiples of text height): These are variable that help you to slide or offset the label(s) in question.
View Remaining Overlaps After Applying Rules: This option will help you to see what still needs treatment.
View Last Overlap File: When it  is checked, the Overlap Manager will return to the previous labels that were under review.
Skip Resolved Overlaps: When it is unchecked, the Overlap Manager will display all the labels that were moved by the command as a final check to you.
Restore Original Zoom: This will restore the zoom you were previously at before running the command.
Avoid Linework Conflicts: This is an extra precaution for when linework conflicts exist.

If there is a conflict, the following Overlap Manager dialog appears on the screen. It zooms to the conflict and provides you with the necessary tools to resolve the issues that need to be addressed. Many of the choices selected in the earlier dialog boxes can be modified yet again in the Overlap Manager, in your quest for a clean looking drawing. Within this special window you can zoom, pan, move to the next conflict, and perform many other tasks.

The Overlap Manager screen appears as a docked dialog window to the left of the main screen.

The Overlap Manager can be used to manually check and change label overlaps. The current overlap item will be have a yellow box drawn around it to help make it clear which item is the one currently being worked on. If you check on "View Remaining Overlaps After Applying Rules" then any remaining overlaps will be zoomed in on and you will have the ability with the Overlap Manager to flip through and fix or ignore the unresolved labels. When the current overlap item is an area label, only the Move and Table button will be enabled as these are the only two manual methods that can be applied to these types of labels. For line and curve labels, all methods will be enabled.

Prompts

Pulldown Menu Location: Annotate
Keyboard Command: autoann
Prerequisite: Lines, arcs or polylines to annotate