How do I select text with the text tool instead of selecting white pixels with the box tool?

[morganw4118444]

Just what the topic says.  I am trying to use the mouse pointer to select text in a document and Acrobat doesn't seem to want to cooperate.  I have no need to create an image out of a square of empty pixels snipped from the document, I want to copy text out of it.

[gary_sc]

Hi Morgan,

Can you please verify which version of Acrobat you are using and what release?

For example, are you using Acrobat Reader DC, Acrobat DC, Acrobat Pro DC, or some earlier version of Acrobat?

Also, what is your OS and what release?

Thank you,

[morganw4118444]

Macintosh Acrobat Pro DC 2020.009.20067

Crapintosh OS Catalina 10.15.5

95% of the time it tries to draw a box, which is many millions of light years beyond stupid for a text document

[gary_sc · Accepted solution]

Hi Morgan,

Hmmm, so tell me what you really feel about your computer....;>)

Ah, I think I know what's going on. I'm attaching a video. In the beginning I've simply gone into the Editing mode and you immediately see that the text is grouped into boxes. This is what Acrobat MUST HAVE to let you work with text. This does let you edit text but it also means that you cannot join paragraphs and other common word processing tasks. That's because Acrobat is not a word processor, it creates digital documents. Think of it as a digital printer.

But then I click on the Text icon and there you will have your box with no text within, because this tool is to ADD text, not CHANGE text. The Edit tool (the thing I was first using when I started) is for Editing text. It also lets you Edit images to some degree which is why it is not called the Edit Text tool.

(Slight delay, I can't place videos on this site, I'm working on working around that. Will have a link for you soon.)

Let me know if this helps you,

ACK, I forgot, I can't place

[gary_sc · Accepted solution]

OK, here's a Youtube link:

https://youtu.be/aSQZbdf8pH4

Hopefully that shows what you need.

[Luiz2402692921fi]

Thank you for the answer,

That does not help at all, I always selected text in paragraphs in adobe, and now that I have Adobe Acrobat PRO full verison, I cannot select text anymore.