Problems with making comments in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Report · Sep 20, 2021

Hi there,

I don't know if anyone can help me or has experienced the same issue, but I have used the Comments function in Adobe for years. I work for a book publisher and when proofreading a document, for example, if I ever wanted to delete a highlighted word I could just highlight the word and press the 'delete' button on the keyboard and it would put a strikethrough on the word, rather than me having to press the strikethrough button on the toolbar. Similarly, if I wanted to add a word I could just click on the PDF where I wanted the word to go and begin typing and Adobe would automatically open up a note to replace the text.

When I first open the PDF everything works as normal, but after the first note things stop working, so the only way to get around this is to press the relevant toolbar option at the top, which is a pain. Sometimes the comments work but take absolutely ages to appear. I've attached a video where I am typing a correction, but it takes a good 10 seconds for anything to appear as a comment.

Anyone have any ideas?

The verison of Adobe I'm on is 2021.007.20091.

Cheers,

Matt

Report · Oct 12, 2021

Hi there

Thanks for your time and patience.

The planned update for Adobe Acrobat/Reader DC version 21.07.20099 is now available. Please update the application from the help menu > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

You may also download the patch manually from the link https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html .

For more information about the new release please check the help page https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/adobe-acrobat-and-reader-october-21-updates-are-l...

Let us know if you experience any trouble and need more help

Regards

Amal

View solution in original post

Report · Feb 28, 2022

Hi there

Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that.

Would you mind sharing the version of the OS you are using? Also please check for any missing/pending updates for the OS and try updating it and check.

Also try to reset the Acrobat preferences as described here https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-defau... and see if that works

You may also try to create a new test user profile with full admin rights or enable the root account on MAC and try using the application there and check.

Regards

Amal

View solution in original post

Report · Oct 01, 2021

Please do send me the link. I’d love to do the rollback.

Report · Oct 04, 2021

Hi there

I have shared more details in private message, please check.

Amal

Report · Sep 30, 2021

Amal,

Would you be kind enough to post the instructions for rolling back Adobe Acrobat to version 2021.005.20058 so that the rest of us can continue to edit until a fix is implemented?

Thanks.

Eric

Report · Oct 04, 2021

Hi there

I have shared more details in private message, please check.

Amal

Report · Oct 01, 2021

Thanks Angela!! Not sure why you're not posting this for everyone to see Amal, we're all needing an immediate fix! I still can't roll back with this info though - the Mac Acrobat base release is just black text and not a link, only Reader is. Can I get this link Amal??

Report · Oct 01, 2021

Hi there,

I found it really important that everything was uninstalled fully. Uninstalling via Creative Cloud did not seem to remove everything. Once everything was uninstalled completely, the Acrobat Installer on the Base release page was clickable.

Uninstall on Creative Cloud first.

Then go to Applications > Adobe Acrobat DC > Acrobat Uninstaller

Then remove the icon on the Dock

Then download Acrobat Installer on the base release page. It asked me if I wanted to use my Creative Cloud to install. I said yes.

Good luck!

Report · Oct 01, 2021

I did all that the first time but in a different order, so just tried again in your order, but still no luck.

Report · Oct 01, 2021

Amazing. I was able to roll back, and I can edit again. Thanks, Angela!

I kind of went overboard because it didn't work for me the first several times. When it finally worked (Mac):

I uninstalled Acrobat on Creative Cloud
I uninstalled Creative Cloud using the Adobe uninstaller app in that folder
I deleted this folder (see screenshot)
I opened this file and ran the installer: Acrobat_DC_Web_WWMUI_1013.dmg
I opened this file and ran the installer: AcrobatDCUpd2100520058.dmg

And remember to read Angela's instructions for more details.

Report · Oct 04, 2021

Hi there

I have shared more details in private message, please check.

Amal

Report · Oct 04, 2021

Hello Amal,

I would be much obliged if you could share this information in a private message with me as well.

Best,

Ruben

Report · Oct 04, 2021

Hello Amal,

I am experiencing this same issue. Would you please share the fix with me as well?

Thanks,

Ana

Report · Oct 05, 2021

Hi Amal,

The link you sent with the base release doesn't work. The base release download is grayed out. Is there an alternate link to that resource you can provide?

Thanks.

Report · Oct 05, 2021

I have the same problem, even with the link Amal provided. Ugh!

Report · Sep 23, 2021

Matt, just wanted you to know that I'm having the same problem. I am a proofreader and am being driven 'round the bend with this. Today for a few brief, shining moments, I was able to comment the "old" way, but the magic disappeared. I'm looking forward to hearing whether (or not) we can solve this issue. It has slowed down my productivity massively.

Lorel

Report · Sep 23, 2021

I'm having exactly the same issue. Restarting only fixes it for a few minutes.

Report · Sep 23, 2021

I am a proofreader and have been tearing my hair out because of the recent changes that have affected people like Matt. Here is something I tried that has been working so far:

I went to View—>Show/Hide—>Toolbar Items and performed the tedious task of eliminating a lot of items from each of my Toolbars that I don't use and/or that I use shortcuts for, e.g., Send File (from the File Tools), Undo (from Edit Tools), and Full Screen Mode (From Page Display Tools). I despise all of that clutter.

I went to Vew—>Show/Hide—>Toolbar Items—>Customize Quick Tools and added/deleted tools until I have only the ones I want on there (again, just a handful of tools—see below).

I've only tested this a couple of times, but since then I have been able to select copy and delete it or add text by just typing—i.e., without using the toolbar (though I still have those insert/strikeover buttons in my toolbar in case my experiment fails).

If this continues to work for me, I would say that the cause of our woes has been the default garbage that Adobe has preloaded into our toolbars.

I will update this and let you know how it's gone. Meanwhile, anyone who has tried this, please chime and and let us know how it works for you!

Lorel

Report · Sep 23, 2021

Update: It stopped working. Will continue to try other owrkarounds. Sorry gang.

Report · Sep 23, 2021

Hahaha. owrkarounds. HAHA!

Report · Oct 08, 2021

One workaround (if we can call it that) I've found to use the "replacement text" is if you highlight what you want to replace then PASTE something. For some reason, pasting is working. I've been copying (ctrl+c) the words I've highlighted, hitting ctrl+v to paste, then replacing the comment bubble text with the correction.

Report · Oct 08, 2021

Another partial workaround. I use TextExpander for common edits and I am able to replace and inert text using these shortcuts. (I usually use a semicolon folled by various keys.)

Report · Oct 11, 2021

I may have to try this if Adobe can't get a fix soon. It's said we have to use other products as bandaids for Adobe's failings.

Report · Sep 29, 2021

Yet another book proofreader here, checking in with the same problem that started happening at the same time. I've tried some of what everyone else has tried, with the same lack of success, and I share your frustration. Having to click every tool every time is maddeningly slow and clunky.

However, I'm lucky enough to still also have non-cloud-based Acrobat 10 and with it the option of just canceling my subscription and going back to old reliable…which is what I'll do if Adobe doesn't have a solution soon. It looks like Amal from Adobe stopped responding to Angela over a week ago. Hellooo…any news, Adobe? This is clearly not an isolated or individual-specific problem and is significantly impinging on the productivity of people who rely on your software all day, every day. Some help, please?

Report · Sep 30, 2021

Hi there

We are sorry to keep you waiting, our engineering team is still working on the issue to find the fix. We haven't heard anything from them yet.

We will share the update as soon as we hear anything from them.

Thanks for your time and patience on this.

Regards

Amal

Report · Sep 30, 2021

Hi Amal,

Glad to know your team is still working on it! Please keep us posted.

Thanks for the update,

Elle

Report · Sep 30, 2021

Another copy editor with the exact same problem. The issue with me is that my company demands up-to-date software, so I have no option to rollback to prior versions (assuming that would work). My productivity is basically 20 percent what it used to be. What is the status of this fix? Please escalate it to critical. The software is practically unusable for our jobs.