Editing Annotations

You can edit annotations at any time directly from the Map Annotations tool.

Changing An Annotation's Properties

Annotations have a default appearance, which varies by annotation type. If you want to change the appearance of an annotation, you can edit its properties, which allows you to change its color, opacity, font, and more.

Annotations before and after having their properties edited.

Select Map Annotations . The Map Annotations tool opens and displays all available annotation groups.
Select the annotation group with the annotation(s) that you want to edit. The annotation group opens.
Next to the annotation you want to edit, select the menu , then select Properties. The Properties dialog opens.
Selecting an individual annotation, without selecting the menu, also opens the Properties dialog.
1. In the dialog, edit one or more properties. Expand a drop-down below to see the available properties for each type of annotation.
  Shape Properties
  When editing shapes—polylines, rectangles, and polygons—you can change the shape's color and opacity, and the weight of the line.
  Color
  Changes any color property. Color properties for shapes are fill and stroke. You can also adjust opacity in the color picker.
  Using the color picker.
  Select a color property. The color picker opens.
  You can identify color properties by the colorful square next to their name.
  In this example, Fill and Text are color properties, as indicated by the pink and green squares next to the property names. When you select one of these properties, the color picker opens.
  Use the spectrum slider to select a color. The color displays in the color canvas as a gradient.
  In the color canvas, select the desired shade.
  Use the opacity slider to set the color's opacity.
  You can also set opacity using the Opacity property.
  To set the color, click outside of the color picker.
  Default stroke color for shapes and polylines is #00FF00FF.
  Default fill color for shapes and polylines is #00FF0059.
  As you set the color's properties, its hex value displays in the Hex field.
  You can also:
  Manually enter a hex value in the Hex field.
  Select the eyedropper , then click anywhere on your screen to match the color value of that pixel.
  When using the eyedropper, a small magnifier helps you select a color from your screen.
  Opacity
  Changes the opacity of a selected color.
  Next to the Opacity property, do one of the following:
  Use the slider to adjust the value.
  In the text box, use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default fill opacity is 35%.
  Default stroke opacity is 100%.
  You can also set opacity when setting a color property.
  Hatch
  Applies a hatch fill, rather than a solid fill. Hatch fills are available for rectangles and polygons.
  A rectangle annotation with a pink hatch fill applied.
  Apply a Hatch Fill Next to the Hatch property, select the checkbox.
  Remove a Hatch Fill / Apply a Solid Fill Next to the Hatch property, clear the checkbox.
  Color and opacity properties apply to hatch fills.
  Weight
  Changes the thickness of a line.
  In the Weight text box, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default line weight for shapes is 4px.
  Text Properties
  If you are editing text annotations, you can change the text's color and background. You can also change text-specific properties, such as text size, font, weight and style, and rotation.
  Color
  Changes any color property. Color properties for text are background and text (i.e., color, not font). You can also adjust opacity in the color picker.
  Using the color picker.
  Select a color property. The color picker opens.
  You can identify color properties by the colorful square next to their name.
  In this example, Fill and Text are color properties, as indicated by the pink and green squares next to the property names. When you select one of these properties, the color picker opens.
  Use the spectrum slider to select a color. The color displays in the color canvas as a gradient.
  In the color canvas, select the desired shade.
  Use the opacity slider to set the color's opacity.
  You can also set opacity using the Opacity property.
  To set the color, click outside of the color picker.
  Default text color is #000000FF.
  Default background color for text is #FFFFFF59.
  As you set the color's properties, its hex value displays in the Hex field.
  You can also:
  Manually enter a hex value in the Hex field.
  Select the eyedropper , then click anywhere on your screen to match the color value of that pixel.
  When using the eyedropper, a small magnifier helps you select a color from your screen.
  Opacity
  Changes the opacity of a selected color.
  Next to the Opacity property, do one of the following:
  Use the slider to adjust the value.
  In the text box, use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default text opacity is 100%.
  Default background opacity is 35%.
  You can also set opacity when setting a color property.
  Text Size
  Changes the annotation's text size.
  In the Text Size text box, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default text size for text annotations is 14px.
  Font
  Changes the annotation's font.
  From the Font drop-down, select the font you want to use.
  Arial
  Blender Book (default)
  Courier New
  Veranda
  Available fonts. In this example, each font uses 24px text size, normal weight, and normal style.
  Weight
  Changes the font's weight.
  From the Weight drop-down, select the font weight you want to use.
  Normal (default)
  Bold
  Style
  Changes the font's style.
  From the Style drop-down, select the font style you want to use.
  Normal (default)
  Italic
  Rotation
  Changes the font's rotation, in degrees.
  In the Rotation text box, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default rotation is 0°.
  Grid Properties
  When editing grids, you can change the color, opacity (as part of the color property), and weight of the grid. You can also edit text size and font. There are also an assortment of grid-specific properties, such as width/height, latitude/longitude, columns/rows, and labels.
  Color
  Changes the grid's line color and opacity properties.
  Using the color picker.
  Select a color property. The color picker opens.
  You can identify color properties by the colorful square next to their name.
  In this example, Fill and Text are color properties, as indicated by the pink and green squares next to the property names. When you select one of these properties, the color picker opens.
  Use the spectrum slider to select a color. The color displays in the color canvas as a gradient.
  In the color canvas, select the desired shade.
  Use the opacity slider to set the color's opacity.
  Default line, symbol, and text opacity are 100%.
  To set the color, click outside of the color picker.
  Default line color for grids is #00FF0059.
  As you set the color's properties, its hex value displays in the Hex field.
  You can also:
  Manually enter a hex value in the Hex field.
  Select the eyedropper , then click anywhere on your screen to match the color value of that pixel.
  When using the eyedropper, a small magnifier helps you select a color from your screen.
  Weight
  Changes the thickness of a line.
  In the Weight text box, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default line weight for grids is 2px.
  Width/Height
  Changes the size of the grid, in meters or kilometers.
  In the Width or Height text boxes, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  To change the unit, select the drop-down arrow , then select the unit you want to use.
  Meters (default)
  Kilometers
  The grid's default width and height are set when you draw the grid.
  Latitude/Longitude
  Changes the location of the grid, in latitude and longitude.
  In the Latitude or Longitude text boxes, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  The grid's default latitude and longitude are set when you draw the grid.
  Columns/Rows
  Changes the number of columns and rows in the grid.
  In the Columns or Rows text boxes, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  There is a maximum of 100 rows and 100 columns.
  To change the column's or row's identification system, select the drop-down arrow , then select the unit you want to use.
  Numbers (default for columns)
  Letters (default for rows)
  The default grid includes 10 numbered columns and 10 lettered rows (i.e., 1A – 10J).
  Labels
  Toggles label visibility on a grid. To turn labels on or off, toggle the following options:
  Show Cell Labels Displays labels in each grid cell.
  Show Axis Labels Displays labels along the grid's X (top) and Y (left) axis.
  Labels are on by default.
  Text Size
  Changes the annotation's text size.
  In the Text Size text box, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default text size for grids is 16px.
  Font
  Changes the annotation's font.
  From the Font drop-down, select the font you want to use.
  Arial
  Blender Book (default)
  Courier New
  Veranda
  Available fonts. In this example, each font uses 24px text size, normal weight, and normal style.
  Magnify Properties
  When editing magnify annotations, you can change whether or not coordinates display on the magnification; the default zoom level of the magnification; the base layer that displays; and border properties such as the line color, style, and weight.
  Show Coordinates
  Displays the coordinates of the magnified area at the bottom of the annotation.
  A magnified image with coordinates added.
  Zoom Level
  Use the slider to set the zoom level of the magnification, from zoom levels 11–20. Changing the zoom level also changes the size of the magnification annotation.
  Default zoom level is 17.
  Base Layer
  Change the base layer that displays in the annotation. Available base layers depend on how the annotation was drawn.
  Drawn On the Map Select from available basemaps.
  Associated with Imagery Select from the imagery layer (default) or from available basemaps.
  Magnify annotations display different default base layers if they are drawn directly on the map or if they are associated with an image. This is because magnify annotations drawn directly on the map do not have imagery tied to them, so they can only magnify the basemap.
  In the screenshot below, both magnify annotations show the Maxar headquarters. However, the annotation on the left (outlined in teal) was added directly to the map and magnifies the basemap. The annotation on the right (outlined in purple) is associated with—and magnifies—the image in the viewport.
  The magnify annotation on the left (teal) was added directly to the map. The magnify annotation on the right (purple) is associated with an image.
  Border Radius / Style
  Changes the shape and style of the border.
  Border Radius Use the slider to adjust the roundness of the magnified shape.
  0% is a rectangle
  50% is a "squoval," with flat edges and rounded corners
  100% is an oval
  Border Style From the drop-down, select the border style you want to use. Use the table below to see examples of each border (10 px, black).
  Border Style Example
  Solid
  Dotted
  Dashed
  Double
  Groove
  Ridge
  Inset
  Outset
  None
  Color
  Changes the magnification's border color property.
  Using the color picker.
  Select a color property. The color picker opens.
  You can identify color properties by the colorful square next to their name.
  In this example, Fill and Text are color properties, as indicated by the pink and green squares next to the property names. When you select one of these properties, the color picker opens.
  Use the spectrum slider to select a color. The color displays in the color canvas as a gradient.
  In the color canvas, select the desired shade.
  Use the opacity slider to set the color's opacity.
  To set the color, click outside of the color picker.
  Default border color for magnifications is #00FF00FF.
  As you set the color's properties, its hex value displays in the Hex field.
  You can also:
  Manually enter a hex value in the Hex field.
  Select the eyedropper , then click anywhere on your screen to match the color value of that pixel.
  When using the eyedropper, a small magnifier helps you select a color from your screen.
  Weight
  Changes the thickness of a line.
  In the Weight text box, do one of the following:
  Use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default line weight for magnification borders is 4px.
  Basic Symbol Properties
  When editing basic symbols—circles, diamonds, squares, or triangles—you can change the symbol's fill color, opacity, scale, and shape.
  Color
  Changes the symbol's fill color property.
  Using the color picker.
  Select a color property. The color picker opens.
  You can identify color properties by the colorful square next to their name.
  In this example, Fill and Text are color properties, as indicated by the pink and green squares next to the property names. When you select one of these properties, the color picker opens.
  Use the spectrum slider to select a color. The color displays in the color canvas as a gradient.
  In the color canvas, select the desired shade.
  Use the opacity slider to set the color's opacity.
  To set the color, click outside of the color picker.
  Default fill color for basic symbols is #FCAF17.
  As you set the color's properties, its hex value displays in the Hex field.
  You can also:
  Manually enter a hex value in the Hex field.
  Select the eyedropper , then click anywhere on your screen to match the color value of that pixel.
  When using the eyedropper, a small magnifier helps you select a color from your screen.
  Opacity
  Changes the opacity of a selected color.
  Next to the Opacity property, do one of the following:
  Use the slider to adjust the value.
  In the text box, use your keyboard to enter a value.
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value.
  Default fill opacity is 100%.
  You can also set opacity when setting a color property.
  Scale
  Like text annotations, basic symbols display at the same size when you zoom in or out. However, you can change their relative size using the scale property.
  In the Scale field, do one of the following:
  In the text box, use your keyboard to enter a value. 0.25 – 10)
  Use the up/down arrows to manually select a value. 0.25 – 10)
  The symbol's scale adjusts based on the value you entered.
  These triangles are shown at scale 1, scale 2, and scale 3, respectively.
  Circle, square, and triangle symbols are based on a 20 x 20 px square, while the diamond symbol is 20 px tall x 15 px wide.
  When adjusting the symbol's scale, use these values to determine approximately how large the symbol will display.
  Symbol
  Changes the shape of the symbol. You can select circle, diamond, square, or triangle.
  Symbol Appearance
  Circle
  Diamond
  Square
  (default)
  Triangle
Select Done.
Select Save. The annotations group closes automatically.

Border Style	Example
Solid
Dotted
Dashed
Double
Groove
Ridge
Inset
Outset
None

Symbol	Appearance
Circle
Diamond
Square (default)
Triangle

Editing an Annotation's Shape or Location

After you draw a new annotation, you can edit its shape or location.

Select Map Annotations . The Map Annotations tool opens and displays all available annotation groups.
Select the annotation group that you want to edit. The annotation group opens.
Next to the Tool drop-down, clear the checkbox.
To edit an annotation's shape or location, clear the checkbox next to the Tool drop-down.
To draw new annotations, select the checkbox.
To edit an annotation's shape or location, clear the checkbox.
You cannot move or edit existing annotations when the checkbox is selected.
In the viewport, select the annotation you want to edit. To indicate that the annotation is in edit mode, its appearance changes to a blue outline with white fill.
Do any of the following, depending on how you want to edit the annotation.
- Add New Vertices Click and hold anywhere on a side to add a vertex, then drag the vertex to move it.
  The following annotation types do not support vertices:
  - Text
  - Basic Symbol
  - Magnify
- Move Entire Annotation Click and drag the center of the annotation.
  Before moving symbol or text annotations, you may want to increase the symbol's scale or the text's font size. Increasing the annotation's size makes the annotation easier to select.
When drawing or editing magnify annotations, the rectangle around the magnified area (not the magnification itself), cannot be moved or edited. Delete the annotation and draw it again.
You can reposition the magnification; select it, then click and drag to move it.
Select Save. The annotations group closes automatically.

Renaming Individual Annotations

By default, all new annotations are named after the annotations tool you used to draw the annotation (e.g., "Rectangle"). Rename individual annotations so they are easily identifiable.

Select Map Annotations . The Map Annotations tool opens and displays all available annotation groups.
Select an annotation group. The annotation group opens.
Do one of the following:
Rename Using the Menu
1. Next to the individual annotation you want to rename, select the menu , then select Rename. The Rename Annotation dialog opens.
2. In the Name field, enter a new name for the annotation.
3. Select Rename.
Quick Rename
1. In the annotation group dialog, select the individual annotation you want to rename. The Properties dialog opens.
2. In the Properties dialog, select the annotation's name. A text field expands.
3. In the field, enter a new name for the annotation.
Select Save. The annotations group closes automatically.

Renaming Annotation Groups

By default, all new annotation groups are called "New Annotation." Rename annotation groups so they are easily identifiable.

Select Map Annotations . The Map Annotations tool opens and displays all available annotation groups.
Select the annotation group that you want to rename. The annotation group opens.
Do one of the following:
Rename Using the Menu
1. At the top of the dialog, select the menu , then select Rename. The Rename Annotation dialog opens.
2. In the Name field, enter a new name for the annotation group.
3. Select Rename.
Quick Rename
1. In the annotation group dialog, select the annotation group name. A text field expands.
2. In the field, enter a new name for the annotation group.
Select Save. The annotations group closes automatically.

More About Editing Annotations

If you edit an annotation and then attempt to close the annotations group without saving, a confirmation dialog alerts you that you have unsaved changes.
Select Continue to close the annotations group without saving, or select Cancel to return to the annotations group and save your changes.
Save changed annotations before closing the annotations group.
After you close the annotations group—with or without saving—the Map Annotations tool remains open so you can see all available annotation groups and make additional changes if necessary.
Annotations can be associated with an image or drawn anywhere on the map.
When you select an annotation group that is associated with an image, the Imagery panel locks and the image displays in the Imagery panel.
If multiple annotation groups are available, the image displayed in the Imagery panel changes when you select different annotation groups.
When you select an annotation group, the viewport zooms to the extent of the annotations in the group.