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October 20, 2017
Answered

New Acrobat DC user. How do I change the identity shown in comment boxes when editing.

  • October 20, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 20909 views

Just got Acrobat Pro DC after years of using Acrobat 9.
How do I change my identity (as it appears in commenting boxes), from Owner to Editor?

Correct answer JimJim C

This solution only handles a particular type of comments (highlight, underline, Sticky Note, etc.) ONE BY ONE AT A TIME..  You have to set up many times for each type of comments.  Use the GENERAL SOLUTION by entering your preferred name in "Edit -> preferences -> identity -> Name field" instead.  The steps are outlined in another solution later in this page.  In addition to guideline to setting for FUTURE comments, that solution even includes guideline to amending EXISTING comments to use your preferred name. 

3 replies

Participant
January 13, 2021

I followed each and every step you told but i have to repeatedly change the author's name to my name every time i post a comment. first it used to be AMOL and now (after you told the changes) it shows ACER instead of my name. and i did right clicked on a comment and change the author's name to my name and clicked "Make Properties Default." but it still shows ACER and not my name.

Participant
May 13, 2021

To change the identity/author for all NEW comments (ones that you haven't made yet)

1. Edit -> preferences -> commenting, and deselect "always use Login as author name"

2. Edit -> preferences -> identity, and add some other author name.  Don't leave it blank, or it will revert to your Login.  I use a colon or > .

Having acrobat set up with an author name like "::" is handy for me, because sometimes I want my name, and other times I need to be anonymous.  I can switch from my Login name to :: just by selecting or deselcting the box in step 1.

 

To change the identity on all the comments you ALREADY MADE:

You need to select all the existing comments in the comment pane.  (ctrl+A doesn't do this, likeit did in old versions of acrobat).

1. Click on the first comment in the pane so it's selected. 

2. Scroll down to the end of the comment list, hold shift, and click on the last one.  They should all be selected. 

3. Then right-click on the top bar of any comment next to your name (or use the menu button to the right of your name),

4. Properties -> general tab --> Author: (and enter what you want). 

If you want that new name to show up with each new comment you make, follow the first set of instructions.  Selecting "make properties my default" doesn't seem to work consistently, as people are mentioning here.

Participant
November 18, 2021

I tried all these steps and it still doesn't work. And for some reason, when I go to Edit/Preferences/Identity, the first box reads "User" and cannot be changed (box is grey and uneditable).

Participant
October 29, 2020

Great! This was driving me crazy. Thanks!

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 20, 2017

In the preferences of Acrobat.

Participant
December 26, 2017

That's not enough. There are two steps:

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Commenting

Under "Making Comments" you must uncheck the box that says "Always use Log-in name for Author name."

2. Now enter a Comment on any pdf file (it will still have the unwanted identity), then Right-click on the title bar of the comment where the identity is. Then, from the right-click menu, choose Properties > General > Author.

Change the "Author" to the identity/label you want, then check the box: "Make Properties Default."

The identity will now permanently change to the desired identity.

Participant
April 26, 2020

Removed by author.