How do I move or delete text boxes in Acrobat DC?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
September 15, 2022
3 replies
34238 views

I'm trying to edit the layout of a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on Windows 11 and have spent DAYS trying to figure out how to move or delete text boxes. No matter what I do, the only thing Acrobat seems to allow is editing the text within a text box.

Let me be crystal clear: I am not asking how to edit text within a text box; every tutorial I could find on the subject seems only to talk about editing the actual text. What I'm asking is how to select a text box and either move it to a different position or delete it altogether. Photoshop, for example, has the text edit tool and the object selection tool; if Acrobat has a similar object selection tool, I'll be damned if I can find it.

Thanks in advance.

Correct answer alexander_duerregger

Hi! You can do that with the edit PDF Tool. You need to grad the box at the border to move it. I attached a Screen Recording where you can see what i am doing. (The software is in german but you should be able to find it)

D

Daniel McIntosh

Participant

its 2023 and I have the same question. acrobat has turned into the worst unusable bit of software. shocking

reidmoto

Participant

I can't comprehend why it's so difficult to reposition a text box. Apparently, the "secret" is to put the cursor inside the text box and it changes into a pointer but avoid the handles. I still can't move text boxes easily and am starting to agree with you Daniel.

J

Jason29193372ye4e

Participating Frequently

Hello, I googled this topic and it seems you guys are talking about my situation but with a little twist. When I set a text box and type in it, all is good. But when I need to MOVE the text box or extend the corners, Adobe simply will not let me. The cursor to move the box appears but it won't click on the box and let me drag it. The same goes for extending a line. I can click the line button, draw the line but when I need to extend the line it refuses to grab onto it. I'm stuck and have no idea why Adobe is doing this. I've never had this issue. I even checked under properties to see if the box was locked in place but it's not checked. I don't know what to do.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Bizarre, obtuse command sequences. Reduced functionality. Acrobat used to be the go to program for manipulating final files prior to printing. (I am a retired prepress professional- 38 years in the industry). Now, sitting at home trying to do the simplest things I can not imagine having to work with this program in a professional setting. A couple years ago? it was impossible to print a document! It took months (years?) to fix the issue. Adobe seems committed to constant shuffling of tools and functions so that you never get comfortable with their software. I still carry a subscription for Acrobat so that I can hammer out an edit when truely necesssary, but UGG, I lose clumps of hair and need an aspirin every time I hit "edit a PDF". Every version seems dumber than the last.

Amal.

Legend

Hi @EdTCS

++ Adding to the discussion

If its a PDF form and you have editing rights, open the PDF file > go to Tools > Prepare form and then you would be able to move or delete the text box.

Hope it will help

Regards

Amal