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christoph_1420
Participating Frequently
November 17, 2025
Question

Import von PDF-Kommentaren

  • November 17, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 263 views

Hallo

ich möchte gerne PDF-Kommentare in InDesign importieren. Ich gehe über "Fenster - Kommentare - PDF Kommentare", dann erscheint das Feld "PDF-Kommentare importieren". Wenn ich die Datei auswähle kommt die Meldung " Die PDF-Datei wurde nicht aus InDesign erstellt. Wählen Sie eine andere PDF-Datei aus, um fortzufahren." Kann mir jemand helfen wie ich vorgehen muss, um die Kommentare in InDesign zu sehen?

Danke

2 replies

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
Community Manager
November 17, 2025

Hello @christoph_1420,

 

As the expert suggested, the PDF Comments functionality only operates when the PDF is exported from the same InDesign document that you currently have open. InDesign requires that direct connection to accurately associate each comment with your layout. If the PDF was generated using a different program, the import will fail, and you will encounter that notification. Helpx reference: Import PDF comments

If feasible, attempt to export a new PDF from your InDesign file, add comments in Acrobat, and then try importing it again.

 

Please update the outcome.

Abhishek

C
christoph_1420Author
Participating Frequently
November 17, 2025

The thing is, that I got a PDF with comments and I would like to have those comments in InDesign. It simply doesn't help me to first get all pages of the PDF into InDesign and export it and then add the comments again. The comments are not done by me but I need them in my InDesing file.

But it looks like this simple thing is not possible.

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 17, 2025

Was the PDF created in InDesign? If so, what version created it? What version are you using to read it? Do you have the original document open?

C
christoph_1420Author
Participating Frequently
November 17, 2025

I don't know in which progamm was created as I just added comments in Acrobat. I am working with InDesign 2026

C
christoph_1420Author
Participating Frequently
November 18, 2025

The way InDesign’s Import PDF Comments feature works is unfortunately much more strict than most people expect.

 

InDesign and the PDF need a parent–child relationship.
The PDF must have been exported from the exact same InDesign file that you currently have open. That’s how InDesign matches each comment to the correct text, object, or location on the page. If that relationship isn’t there, the comments simply can’t be mapped.

That means:

  • You can’t take a random PDF from someone else and import those comments into an unrelated InDesign file.

  • You can’t import comments if the InDesign file has been edited since the PDF was created.

  • You can’t import comments from a PDF created in Illustrator, Word, Affinity, or anything other than InDesign.

 

Basically: once the parent–child link is broken, InDesign has no way of knowing where each comment belongs.

Is there another way to get external PDF comments into InDesign?

Not automatically, no. There is no alternative feature  that can map comments from an unrelated PDF to an InDesign layout.

But here are the realistic workarounds:

1. Export your own PDF, then copy/paste the comments

If you want some organisation, you can export a PDF from your InDesign file, then manually copy/paste the reviewer’s notes into your PDF version so at least everything is contained in a compatible file. Still manual, but cleaner.

 

I'm not sure if this works - just off the top of my head. You can EXPORT the comments from the supplied PDF.

Export your InDesign file as a PDF.

In the new PDF - import the PDF comments - see if that maps ----> I'm not hopeful, but don't see why it wouldn't work. 

Alternatively you could copy the comments  over to the new file as stated above. It should work.

 

2. Use Acrobat side-by-side with InDesign

This is what most people do.
You open the PDF with comments in Acrobat, dock it beside InDesign, and manually apply the requested changes.

 

3. Ask the reviewer to comment on a PDF exported from your InDesign file

This is the only way to use automated import.

 

4. Convert comments to a separate notes document

Sometimes reviewers will export comments as an summary. You can work from that list instead of directly from the PDF.

 

No, InDesign cannot automatically import comments from a PDF that didn’t originate from your ID file.
The feature is not a general “read any PDF comments” tool  it’s a synchronisation tool for your PDF and your InDesign layout.


My work around so far was to open the PDF with the comments and then go to "print" and "print as pdf". I thought there would be an easier option to do it.

I want the comments from the PDF visible and not apply the requested chages as you suggested. I don't want to change anything, I just want to import it because I need them as they are. 

Comments can also be just a marked text, this I can not really convert into a notes document.

 

I guess I just keep on working with the workaround.

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