Inspiring

Question

No longer can pres Esc key to close comment window after entering markup.

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
June 22, 2022
21 replies
15527 views

I updated Acrobat Pro DC to version 2022.001.20142 very recently.

I do proofreading that requires constant use of markup tools to insert, delete, and highlight content. My typical workflow with insertions and deletions is to enter Comment mode, select text, and either press Delete to indicate a removal or start typing to add replacement text.

I always have been able to press the Esc key to close the pop-up note after I add my notes and edits. This has been a quick, efficient, fluent workflow.

Now, in this new version, when I press the Esc key, the notes/edits vanish but the pop-up window stays open.

Apparently, I now have to move the cursor and click on the close button. Thus, this process takes more time and increases hand fatigue.

Would someone please explain how this is advantageous?

Comment review and collaborate PDF

Show previous replies

C

carriea61097474

Participant

I'm a copyeditor and this is super frustrating for me too!!! I read through this thread hoping there was a solution. One thing you can do is after making your comment, hit command S to save and then you can hit Esc to close the pop-up window. It will retain your comment if you save before hitting Esc. I hope that helps. Hoping Adobe will make this right ASAP. It's really really frustrating to have this happen. I don't know who thought that was a good idea!!!

Participant

Participating Frequently

I figured a 'workaround'. Clicking directly on the shut comment box button saves the comment while doing it. It avoids both having to click twice (Post + Shut comment), and the 2-button shortcut of Alt-Ent.

But that's about it. There is still no keyboard replacement yet for the seamless single button shortcut that we're all used to.

N

Nancy23042458zn8qAuthor

Inspiring

That's fine if you want to take your hands off the keyboard, @Sharang5C49. The Esc key method is much more efficient and less stressful on the hands.

S

Sharang5C49

Participating Frequently

I'm definitely not fine having to tediously locate and click on the 'x' button. Keyboard shortcuts are so very convenient, and don't affect the workflow if one is already typing in the comments.

Meenakshi Negi

Community Manager

Hi All

Thank you for being so patient.

The behavior of Esc would be to discard any draft content typed in the comment box. To post the comment, either the Post button be clicked, or Alt+Enter be pressed. Further, a mouse click on the document will also post the comment. So, apart from the Esc key, all other ways to post the comment are retained.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

E

EnvisionMan94

Participant

Meenakshi,

Was this a purposeful change made by Adobe? Is there a reason this 'esc' key functionality has been changed? This seems more like an accident, and should be fixed in the next update of Adobe. Please let the software engineers know this error needs to be fixed. It is NOT okay.

Thank you.

E

EnvisionMan94

Participant

Oh, wow, this is disheartening. I just loaded DC on my new computer and the escape key doesn't work and I have been scouring the web looking for reasons why. While it is nice knowing others are recognizing the problem and addressing it, I was more hoping it was just a setting that I had missed. Sigh.

This has got to be fixed. Not having the 'esc' key to close the comment box will result in a ton of lost time on my part. I edit architectural drawings for draftsmen, and write hundreds of comments a day. These extra steps take about 4 seconds, which doesn't seem like much, but it will eat up another 30 minutes of my time each day. NOT GOOD!!!

L

lucaslimasht

Participant

The workaround that i've found is changing to Foxit Reader. I already used it a lot, since it allows setting boomarks and customize keyboard shortcuts. Also, the default config for the "esc" button on editing comment boxes works just as we are used.

L

lucaslimasht

Participant

Hello;

I am no proofreader but i also used a lot of the "esc" button to write comments on academic texts. I cannot see how this changing could result in ANY improvement.It is really annoying. It would be much better if Adobe just restore the way the button previously functioned.

S

Sarah25070221ep62

Participant

Like Nancy23042458zn8q, I'm also a proofreader and would like to express how frustrating it has been to have this functionality disappear from the latest version of Acrobat Reader. Adobe if you are monitoring this forum, please reinstate the use of the ESC key to save and exit comments. This function enbaled a simple and efficient workflow; what possible advantage could there be to removing it?

Jeff370

Participating Frequently

From all the post I have view here, I can conclude that Adobe screwed up the single key "Esc" key function from it recent update and they do not have a fix, yet. i would like Adobe to express that.

Thank you

Jeff370

Participating Frequently

I have a in between Fix for the "Esc". When the Comment block is showing, to exit out press "Alt+Enter", then exit out of the block by pressing "x".

N

Nancy23042458zn8qAuthor

Inspiring

Yes, that works, @Jeff370, but it's two key presses, one of them two-handed, to do what a single press on an easy-to-reach key could do.
Please, Adobe, resist the temptation to remove essential features and/or make them more difficult to access.

H

Haoran25007929fta0

Participant

This is very frustrating. Much of my work relies on using ESC to save time and the wearing of my carpal tunnel (now I have to click "post" with mouse)

N

Nancy23042458zn8qAuthor

Inspiring

@Haoran25007929fta0, I'm disheartened that there's no followup or feedback beyond the suggestion to deactivate already inactive settings. I wish someone would comment on the logic behind this unhelpful change! (And yes, I realize that this is a user-to-user forum, but I also know that Adobe personnel frequent these boards. Witness one comment above.)

H

Haoran25017629gcr3

Participating Frequently

It's disappointing!

I've just tried Acrobat Pro (the app rather than the online cloud version) on another computer. The ESC worked fine. Is it the logic that DC is free?!

A

Amber5FA1

Participant

I have the same issue as Nancy23042458zn8q.

ESC key used to save text of comment and close comment. It did this in both the popup comment and the comment in the right-hand pane.

This week, the function of the ESC key changed. I would like to restore previous function of ESC key.

N

Nancy23042458zn8qAuthor

Inspiring

@Amber5FA1, I have to wonder (a) who suggests these changes and (b) for whom they represent progress?
My proofing task last night and this morning involved w-a-a-a-a-y more clicking than previously necessary.
I would not have applied this Acrobat update if I had not been experiencing a consistent pattern of application freezes while using the Comment tools.

Show more replies

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded