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Inspiring
September 18, 2024
Question

Issue adding text with existing text boxes

  • September 18, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 6485 views

Hello!  I am trying to use the add text tool in Adobe Acrobat Pro Version 2024.003.20112.  When I hit the add text button, a lot of existing text boxes pop up - if I type within those boxes, the whole page messes up with large spaces and other weird formatting.  On my old Acrobat, I could insert new text anywhere, but on this on, I can only insert a new text box outside the existing ones.  Is there any way to turn this off?  It is extremely annoying.  

I already turned off the automatic OCR, but on clean PDFs, this text box problem persists.  Is there any way to turn off existing text boxes or turn on a way to insert a new text box wherever I need one?  

5 replies

New Participant
January 13, 2025

We figured out a work around. Well it use to be we could add the text using the "T" in the tool bar. There is another icon, I'm not sure if it's new or not. It is a box with a comment bubble. It allows you to add text anywhere regardless of the text boxes. We started using that icon and we no longer have issues. 

 

Inspiring
January 13, 2025

Hello!  This is the OP, I was excited to see your reply.  I just tested it.  It is called "Add Text Comment" and when I tried it at first, it had a red border and green text.  I changed the properties to remove the border and change the text to black and then clicked the option to make the current properties the default, so I don't have to do it every time.  I also tested to make sure it prints with that comment, and it does!  This is a great work around, much easier to move around and deal with.  There are two small drawbacks: 1.  when you have the text comment selected, the tool is very sensitive and every click of the mouse adds a new box and 2. the box writes over the existing text, so it might block out the line you're adding text to or block out surrounding text, so that might be an issue. 

It'd be nice if Adobe just fixed the Add Text field, but they dropped out of this discussion in September...I don't get the impression they are going to fix the issue.  But, this is a nice work around - thanks for finding this!

New Participant
October 23, 2025

Thank you so much for this work around.  I have been going crazy since i was forced to update my adobe!

 

New Participant
December 11, 2024

We are experiencing this same issue and is causing us many headaches in attempting to complete our work. Users have to hunt to find a place to add text to the PDF. Where we can find a place to add text is usually well aways from where it should be and can cause issues like confusion, misunderstanding, miscommunication.  

New Participant
December 3, 2024

I have the same issue and OMG it is SOOO annoying. Never had this problem before when I had the software on my computer - it's when I enrolled in the subscription (aka most recent) service that it started. Has anyone ever gotten an answer from them on what the fix is?

Robert366940811s3x
New Participant
November 13, 2024

I have the same issue as OP and keep hoping to see an update/fix on this. Anything new?

try67
Community Expert
September 18, 2024

You should be able to add text anywhere. What happens if you click outside one of these "text boxes" and start typing?

Inspiring
September 18, 2024

Hello!  It works as it normally did...clicking outside the text boxes creates a new text box and I can type without messing up the document.  That's what I have been doing, clicking somewhere else, typing, and then moving the text box where it needs to go, but I didn't have to do that on my old Acrobat (2017, really old).  I'd just like to skip the extra step, especially if I have to add a lot into a document.

Adobe Employee
September 25, 2024

Hello!  

1. Is the issue file specific? If not, can you please share one screen recording of the issue for us to investigate?  It is not file specific - it happens to pdfs, if I try to type within the bounding box, the other text moves, sometimes a lot, or weird formatting things happen.  I've tried to replicate, but of course it's not happening today.  😞

2. What happens when you do not use Add text box and directly click and start typing on the selected bounding boxes  The same weird formatting issues occur.  If i click add text and click inside a text box, it doesn't add another text box, it just puts the cursor in the existing text box and then messes up the existing text, which I'm trying to avoid.  

3. There's gear icon on the top Left Edit panel and by unchecking the settings of "Show bounding boxes", does not show existing bounding boxes and on hover they appear.  I did try this and the same thing happens, it still recognizes the text box and puts the cursor in there.


Thanks Susan, please do share us recording or, screenshot once the issue is observed again. As for us, we're are not able to clearly understand the issue, also have not encountered the issue earlier.