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inserting comments in Acrobat
- Thread starter zoran
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If you have Adobe Acrobat Pro, then all of the annotation tools are there for you. Acrobat Pro also includes tools for minor touch-ups.
However, it appears that you want to use these tools in manners outside their design scope. PDF is an output format, not an editing format. The editing and annotation tools have limited functionality because even small edits can damage the formatting of a document beyond repair.
If it is possible, then convert your PDF to Word or to some other editable document format, perform your edits, and then convert back to PDF. Futzing with annotation tools to perform significant PDF modifications is not worth the time.
I don't really want to edit the text in the pdf document, i just want to edit the text in the comments. Why i wanna do that: so the pdf file can go back and forth with comments from different users that comment on the 1st wave of comments. Different colours would be used so the users will know whose comments are the ones colored red or green etc.
So in the end there would be a pdf with sticky notes that will have comments from all users, and those comments would be distinguished with colours from user to user!
Do i make sense?
So in the end there would be a pdf with sticky notes that will have comments from all users, and those comments would be distinguished with colours from user to user!
Do i make sense?
Maybe to someone has never used Acrobat Pro's annotation tool's it does. As I said before, you are trying to use Acrobat Pro annotation outside their design scope. These tools are intended to put the final touches on a document just before distribution. The kind collaboration that that you want to engage in is done much earlier in the document creation process.
Chances are that you already have software that is far superior in a collaborative environment than Acrobat Pro can dream of.
How is that? I mean, i work with illu, i save my layouts to pdf files to show for approval. That pdf comes back with notes. How could MS Word be better at this, at my kind of workflow?
Do you know the definite of a camel?
camel |'kamǝl|
noun
1 a horse designed by committee.
So you are trying to collaborate on Illustrator files after they have been distilled to PDF? Wow.
I will assume that you have a single person who is responsible for each block of text and others who are responsible for each graphic element that is incorporated into your Illustrator file.
The bottom line is the botton line. Your workflow as described by you sounds like a God awful mess. It was bad enough while you implied that you are working on documents that originated using Word, InDesign, or one or more of their competitors. However, it should be a relatively easy matter to back up to the originating application for your collaboration.
If, however, you are trying to collaborate on the markup of a PDF that was distilled from an Illustrator file, then your task is much more difficult.
There is a principle that predates computer software by centuries:
Use the proper tool for the job.
camel |'kamǝl|
noun
1 a horse designed by committee.
So you are trying to collaborate on Illustrator files after they have been distilled to PDF? Wow.
I will assume that you have a single person who is responsible for each block of text and others who are responsible for each graphic element that is incorporated into your Illustrator file.
The bottom line is the botton line. Your workflow as described by you sounds like a God awful mess. It was bad enough while you implied that you are working on documents that originated using Word, InDesign, or one or more of their competitors. However, it should be a relatively easy matter to back up to the originating application for your collaboration.
If, however, you are trying to collaborate on the markup of a PDF that was distilled from an Illustrator file, then your task is much more difficult.
There is a principle that predates computer software by centuries:
Use the proper tool for the job.
Just a minute there. Let me describe the workflow.
- There is a designer designing in Illu.
- The output files from illu, need to be approved by the client.
- Client does not have Illu (nor should he, if you ask me).
- Client needs to make his comments on the files that the designer makes.
- Designer makes corrections (from comments sent by client) and sends back the corrected document with possible comments for final approval.
- Client sends the final document back to the designer to print.
Now in that work flow, what apps would you use for best collaboration?
- There is a designer designing in Illu.
- The output files from illu, need to be approved by the client.
- Client does not have Illu (nor should he, if you ask me).
- Client needs to make his comments on the files that the designer makes.
- Designer makes corrections (from comments sent by client) and sends back the corrected document with possible comments for final approval.
- Client sends the final document back to the designer to print.
Now in that work flow, what apps would you use for best collaboration?
This sounds like a third different description of your workflow.
I would not call what you have described as collaboration. Collaboration implies that two or more people are contributing to the design and development of your document. Your client sounds more like a back seat driver than a true contributor. If the client uses software to comment on or mark-up the Illustrator output, then I don't see this ending well.
If your client is familiar with Adobe Acrobat Pro, then that is what you need. However, your client appears to need training on the software. Having client who believe they have graphic ability can be frustrating. I have suggestions for dealing with people like this in your future projects.
Responding to the OP,
Assuming you are using Acrobat Pro commenting tools,
In Acrobat, in the Drawing Markups area of Comments, try Add Text Box. To format the text (color, etc.), use the Properties Bar. The Properties Bar changes depending on context, so if you have the text box selected, it will allow you to modify the box itself, a border color and the like; if you select the text itself within the box the Properties Bar will change and you will be able to format the text properties. Display the Properties bar by pressing Cmd+E (Ctrl+E on a PC).
This type of markup does appear in the Comments List pane, but you cannot log a reply to it (Acrobat X or XI Pro).
You can format comments as you suggest by selecting and filtering them in the Comments List, but if you right-click on the main comment types there is an option to reply to the comment, this is the workflow Adobe is suggesting.
Assuming you are using Acrobat Pro commenting tools,
In Acrobat, in the Drawing Markups area of Comments, try Add Text Box. To format the text (color, etc.), use the Properties Bar. The Properties Bar changes depending on context, so if you have the text box selected, it will allow you to modify the box itself, a border color and the like; if you select the text itself within the box the Properties Bar will change and you will be able to format the text properties. Display the Properties bar by pressing Cmd+E (Ctrl+E on a PC).
This type of markup does appear in the Comments List pane, but you cannot log a reply to it (Acrobat X or XI Pro).
You can format comments as you suggest by selecting and filtering them in the Comments List, but if you right-click on the main comment types there is an option to reply to the comment, this is the workflow Adobe is suggesting.
Asterix many thanx you understood exactly what i needed! Although
1. i cannot find the Properties Bar to change the text i have selected in the text box!
2. as a workflow do you agree with the way i'm handling it?
MisterMe its very strange that you cannot understand the way i'm working. I'm not letting the client to modify graphic elements in the pdf file, i'm only interested in his commenting!
1. i cannot find the Properties Bar to change the text i have selected in the text box!
2. as a workflow do you agree with the way i'm handling it?
MisterMe its very strange that you cannot understand the way i'm working. I'm not letting the client to modify graphic elements in the pdf file, i'm only interested in his commenting!
Hi zoran, no worries --
Reveal the Properties Bar by pressing command+E on a Mac.
I think your workflow is fine, of course it depends on how the clients feel about it but I'd be okay working with you that way. However if you are using Illustrator in Creative Cloud, check out its client review features. I haven't used this, but I understand that the client can view the file in a browser and leave comments, so you don't have to convert and send a file.
Reveal the Properties Bar by pressing command+E on a Mac.
I think your workflow is fine, of course it depends on how the clients feel about it but I'd be okay working with you that way. However if you are using Illustrator in Creative Cloud, check out its client review features. I haven't used this, but I understand that the client can view the file in a browser and leave comments, so you don't have to convert and send a file.