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Participant
July 15, 2024
Question

Cannot add text anymore

  • July 15, 2024
  • 12 replies
  • 13459 views

When I select "Edit PDF" and then select "Add Text" and then try to click in a blank space on the page, the entire page or an editable section is selected instead.  It's like the "Edit" is turned on instead of the "Add Text" button.  I used to be able to click anywhere on the page and add my text.  I make notes on all my PDF files that I save (like date and phone call made, date and email text, if a medical claim, how much I paid along with date and how I paid the bill).

I've found the only way to add new text is to try to find a blank area, type new next and then drag and drop that text box to the location I want it.  Or if I had previously added text, I can copy and past that text box and move it to where I need a new text box and overwrite the text.

Why is the sytem thinking I still want to Edit and not just add new text?

I added a screenshot where you can see that "Add Text is highlighted.  I wanted to add a new text below my note of how I paid on 10.17.23, but when I went to click the blank section of the page, Adobe thinks I'm in Edit mode and selected that whole box instead. In the past, when I clicked Add Text and clicked anywhere on the page, a cursor would appear and I could start typing.  I can't do that any longer.

12 replies

Community Manager
August 13, 2024

Hi @Robyn38617072apnk @dweisen 

This issue usually appears if the files have scanned documents or an image. Can you share a file so I can take a look and share my findings? Alternatively, you can try running OCR on the file, choose "Save As" to save the copy of the original document, and try adding text again. 


~Tariq

Participant
July 27, 2024

I'm having the exact same issue.  I edit pdf forms all day long.  Before I could select "edit pdf" then "add text" and I could drop text anywhere on the document like an overlay.  Then, like you said, I have to find a blank space and put the text and then drag and drop it into the place I wanted it.  Now, that doesn't work because when I select add text Acrobat selects the whole document.  

I called into tech support and they helped me fix it by going back to the old version.  Now I guess they downloaded an update and now even the old version is not working as it did in the past.  Adobe needs to fix this or I need to find a new pdf editing tool.  More over Adobe should have seen this issue coming. 

creative explorer
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 29, 2024

@Robyn38617072apnk @dweisen I am teaching Acrobat next week, and I want to prepare myself with any issues, so am going through the forum for the 'what ifs'...and the version I have is allowing me exactly what you want to do with no issues. I wonder if it's Acrobat Preferences that is giving you these issues on hand?

m