Malicious behavior of the search box - is there any way to change it?

[bflmpsvz2]

From initial versions of Adobe Reader, its search box behaves (in Windows) a different way than any other dialog box.
When I try to select part of the searched text to change it, it lets me select it, and only when I release the mouse button, it selects everything.

It is not possible to accustom it, because the whole Windows environment behaves different way.
So it makes me angry every day for decades! Is there any settings or workaround for this problem? BTW, why this was made this way?
For instance, the Foxit reader uses a search box which behaves normally.

[try67]

Doubtful it can be changed, unless Adobe decides to do it.

You can request it here: https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac

[Subrato Namata]

Strangely enough, I tried with Acrobat and Reader on both Win and Mac, could not repro this issue with latest version - 24.003.20121. Can you please share your app version and also update to latest as I see you have older view of the search bar. and after updating, please share if the issue still persists.

[bflmpsvz2]

It is hard to believe, since this behaviour is really consistent in all Windows systems and all Acrobat Reader versions for decades.

I use version 2024.003.20112 . I have tried the "Enable new Acrobat Reader", but it behaves the same way.

Try to find something "...No matches were found" and then try to edit the searched text, you have to see the issue.

[Tariq Dar]

Hi @bflmpsvz2,

Sorry for the troubled experience. If you have Microsoft Word, could you try running the search and see if you have the same experience, or could you even try searching with Google Chrome as well? 

let us know how that works for you.

~Tariq

[bflmpsvz2]

As I said, no other application has this feature, only Adobe Reader. I use Microsoft Word and Google Chrome without any such trouble.

[Tariq Dar]

@bflmpsvz2: I tried replicating this issue at our end and I wasn't able to reproduce this issue. 
Would you try: uninstalling Reader using the cleaner tool: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html and then re-install after system restart(if possible). Let us know if how it works at your end. 


~Tariq

[bflmpsvz2]

 I tried replicating this issue at our end and I wasn't able to reproduce this issue.

It must be some kind of misunderstanding. The feature exists for years, so if you was not able to reproduce it, you are trying something else.

 If you fill in something in the Search box, then you click to the pdf text (left mouse button press and release), so there is no cursor in the Search box, then you try to select part of the text filled in the Search box (left mouse button press, mouse move, left mouse button release), you must see selected everything in the Search box.

  To make sure, I tested it on many computers using Windows. 3 computers Windows11 / Adobe Acrobat Reader 2024.004.20272, 2 computers Windows10 / Adobe Acrobat Reader 2024.004.20272, Windows7 / Adobe Acrobat Reader 2024.004.20243, Windows7 / Adobe Reader XI 11.0.08, Windows XP / Adobe Reader 7.0.5. Everywhere it works as I described.

 To my surprise, I tested also Windows98 / Acrobat Reader 5.0.5a, and it works fine!

To make it clear, I made yet another animation how Foxit Reader works. (And how also old Acrobat Reader 5.0.5a works.)

[Bernd Alheit]

What happens when you use Adobe Acrobat?

[bflmpsvz2]

What happens when you use Adobe Acrobat?

 Do you mean full version? I do not know, I have no available. But described problem is not my problem, it works in every Adobe Acrobat Reader, so if you have Adobe Acrobat available, you can try it yourself.

[try67]

I can confirm it happens in Acrobat as well. However, it only happens when there's a space in the search term. If the term is a single word it allows me to select just a part of it without issues. Also, it doesn't happen consistently. Sometimes I am able to select just part of the search string, other times it automatically selects all of it.

[Abambo]

Your little animation would be more professional without this comic figure embedded. At least for me, it distracts al lot from the real message. 

This said, for years, Windows behaves like this in the Explorer and Word too is insisting in selecting what I didn't select. I've given up using the mouse, I use the [shift] arrows for expanding my selection.

[try67]

Also, the word "malicious" is a bad choice here, as it suggests someone did this on purpose to harm others, which is certainly not the case. A better word would be "unwanted" or "incorrect".

[bflmpsvz2]

Windows behaves like this in the Explorer and Word too

In case of Word, if it selects more than I wanted, it selects it in the moment when I press the left mouse button down.

So I am warned that I have to repeat the action. But Adobe selects everything only when I release the button, and usually after a small delay, when I am looking at the keyboard already! That's why I call this behaviour "malicious". And it brings me to the state of mind which the animation shows. Daily, for years...