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skiteam14
skiteam14
Participant
January 24, 2019
Answered

Acrobat Reader DC – List of Highlighted Text in Comments Sidebar?

  • January 24, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 5270 views

In Acrobat Reader, when highlighting text in a PDF, is it possible to show the actual highlighted text as a list in the 'Comments' sidebar?

Currently, the 'Comments' side bar shows a list, but instead of the actual highlighted text, it just shows the words "Highlighted Text" for every Comment that is created per highlighted text (and the corresponding link to the actual text within the file).

Basically, I'm just wondering whether it's possible to see a list of the actual text that was highlighted instead of just a list of links that brings you to the highlighted text within the PDF.

    Correct answer stephan_7268

    Yes, you can do this.

     

    Click on Preferences -> Commenting -> then check the box that says "Copy selected text into Highlight, Strikethrough, Underline and Replace Text comment pop-ups"

     

    Simple as that. 

    3 replies

    S
    stephan_7268Correct answer
    Participant
    October 31, 2025

    Yes, you can do this.

     

    Click on Preferences -> Commenting -> then check the box that says "Copy selected text into Highlight, Strikethrough, Underline and Replace Text comment pop-ups"

     

    Simple as that. 

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community Expert
    Community Expert
    November 3, 2025

    This is only available in Acrobat, AFAIK, not in the free Reader.

    You can do it using this (paid-for) tool I've created, though: https://www.try67.com/tool/acrobat-retroactively-copy-highlighted-text-into-comments

     

    H
    hobbesVT
    Participant
    July 19, 2022

    Though this would be a highly needed feature for providing a summary of relevant passages ... is there any other what this could be achieved? The many "Highlighted Text" labels are not helpful as I have to jump through them to find the passage I'm looking for ...

    H
    hobbesVT
    Participant
    July 19, 2022

    Just found this in another post: "This can be done automatically using one of the preferences of Acrobat/Reader (Edit - Prefs. - Commenting - Copy selected text into Highlight...) - while it doesn't replace the "Highlighted Text" label with the actual text, at least you can quickly see what you marked and can then add the comment as a "reply". Not easily readable in the commenting pane, but at least it's there ... hope that helps someone else looking for a solution.

      AkanchhaS8194121
      AkanchhaS8194121
      Legend
      February 6, 2019

      Hi Skiteam, 

      We are sorry for the delay in response to your query. As asked-

      In Acrobat Reader, when highlighting text in a PDF, is it possible to show the actual highlighted text as a list in the 'Comments' sidebar?

      Currently, the 'Comments' side bar shows a list, but instead of the actual highlighted text, it just shows the words "Highlighted Text" for every Comment that is created per highlighted text (and the corresponding link to the actual text within the file).

      No, this isn't possible to show the actual highlighted text in the Comment list. This is a design behavior of the application where it displays only notes added to the particular highlighted text and corresponded link to the actual highlighted text in the file.

      We would love to hear your feedback on this, You can share your input by filling this feature request form here: Feature Request/Bug Report Form

      Hope this answers your query.

      Regards,

      Akanchha

        帅
        帅帅0101
        Participant
        October 11, 2020

        But why PDF Expert can??

          M
          Mikeala
          Participating Frequently
          October 11, 2020
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