For instance, I'm working with Wastewater features, Manholes to be specific.
Each Manhole has an ID Number and a Depth attribute in the DB. Currently, the balloon, leaderlines and text elements that make up that feature are just dummy text, meaning we hand-type the attributes into the DB Form when we place the Manhole and then we re-type the same information into the Balloon for that Manhole so the print of the feature will show the correct data.
Here is an example of a Manhole (circle with line pattern) and the balloon of ID + Depth.
What I am wondering is this... With the Annotation Tool, is there anyway to set it up so that it will generate the Manhole ID (I can build the SQL, that's not the question) and then instead of creating a NEW Annotation, to instead click on the ID number that is already in the balloon and have it populate with the Annotated ID?
I'm trying to find a faster way of creating these manholes than to type the same data in twice. For an example, suppose that someone had accidentally set the above Manholes ID to 500. Is there anyway I could click on the text '500', click on the Annotate button, and have the balloon change to the correct entry (which would be 572 for this example) from the DB?
AND QUESTION PART II
If this is, or isn't possible, is there anyway to create a feature that AUTOPOPULATES from the Database?
( I know this is two questions, but I figured they were so similar it would be ok. )
In Bentley Map these would be good candidates for a text subfeature along with property-based annotation. The displayed text would be automaticalyl generated from the properties of your feature. You would only need to enter the properties once.
Using the XFM api, you would also be able to construct features from Microstation text if you wish.
Now, based on your previous post I think you are using GeoGraphics. Unfortunately I cannot answer in that particular case.