Cannot add text anymore

[Robyn38617072apnk]

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.

[workahol]

I found this thread while searching for solutions to the same problem. What I've figured out is that this seems to only (mainly?) happen in PDFs that have been created with editable fields. We used to be able to also add our own text elsewhere in the document, but apparently that doesn't work anymore. This is a problem for me, as I often encounter poorly-created PDF forms where some fields are editable and some are not, even though all of them need to be filled out.

The only workaround I've found is to remove the editable fields, and the only way I've found to do that (with the free version anyway) is to do "Print to PDF". This creates a new PDF that looks just like the old one, but none of the fields are editable. When I do that, the newly created file does allow me to add my own text anywhere.

Adobe, I hope you're listening, as this is a pretty frustrating failure.

[defaultv6uvw0c8pevx]

Rather than click Edit at the top, click E-Sign. From there, click the A with the box around it and you can add text wherever you want.

[workahol]

My version has a "Fill & Sign" option, but no "E-Sign" button. Maybe you can share a screenshot to clarify what you're saying.

[defaultv6uvw0c8pevx]

[workahol]

You must have a different version from me, I don't see most of those tools.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Did you click the Edit PDF tools? (Expand your tools panel.)

You should see this:

Then you will see these tools:

If you use the Prepare Form tools, you can add text there too:

[workahol]

When you are using the free version like I am, the "Edit PDF" button just takes you to a place to pay $$$ to upgrade.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Are you referring to filling out forms? That's not what this thread was originally about. 

And did you mention you were only using Acrobat Reader before? I must have missed it.

[workahol]

Fair enough, maybe the wrong thread - there are so many threads my particular issue that they must have got mixed up.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

However, the Reader should be able to fill out forms. If that's the problem, can you upload the form in question?

[Recycling Girl]

Wow- I found my peeps! Same issue here, for YEARS I have saved a monthly document to PDF, then hit "Add Text" and typed in title and date. Very simple- should take < 30 seconds. Then about a year ago it started getting wonky... and now it won't go at all. Adding text creates an alphabet soup disaster in the document I'm editing. See attached example.

[Amal.]

Hi there 

We hope you are doing well. Thanks for reaching out. We are sorry for the trouble you are experiencing.

It seems to be a font issue. The required font is not embedded properly in the PDF file. To better understand we need some more information:

1. Does the issue occur with all PDFs or only with specific files?

2. Which version of Acrobat and operating system are you using? Go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure its updated to the latest version 25.01.20643 Go to Help > check for updates.

In the meantime, here are a few quick checks you can try:

1. Check font embedding – Open the file in Acrobat, go to File > Properties > Fonts, and see if the fonts are listed as embedded. If not, they may not display correctly on systems without the font installed.

2. Try to embed the unembedded fonts: Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro > Go to Menu > Save as Other > Optimized PDF > Click on Fonts tab > Click on "Retain Font" if you see any unembedded font > Click OK and check.

3. Preflight check (Acrobat Pro) – Go to Tools > Print Production > Preflight > Click on the 'Wrench icon', Under Documents > Select 'Embed Fonts' > Click on Fix and see if that helps. (Screenshot attached for reference)

~Amal