"text/html" DataTransferItem object not available for "Copy with formatting" option on Windows

[marius_3609]

In Adobe Acrobat, when I select an area and choose "Copy with formatting" option and then paste the content in Google Chrome into an editable area from a web page I have the following situation:
* If I run Adobe Acrobat and Google Chrome on a MacBook machine, there are available in Clipboard: "text/plain", "text/html" and "text/rtf" DataTransferItem objects
* If I run Adobe Acrobat and Google Chrome on a Windows 11 machine, there are available in Clipboard: "text/plain" and "text/rtf" DataTransferItem objects. So "text/html" DataTransferItem object is missing on a Windows 11 machine.
I need the "text/html" version of the content in order to process it. What solutions do I have to obtain "text/html" version of the content or a Windows machine?

[Tariq Ahmad Dar]

Hi @marius_3609

Thanks for reaching out, raising this, and providing such a detailed breakdown—it’s very helpful. 

Acrobat does support copying formatted content, but the way it behaves depends on how Acrobat writes data to the clipboard and how the target application interprets it. 

How You Can Test It Yourself:

1. Open a PDF in Acrobat Pro (not Reader).

2. Select a table or formatted text block.

3. Use Edit > Copy with Formatting.

4. Open a tool like:

   • Use the clipboard inspector app 

5. Paste or inspect the clipboard contents.

You should see entries like:

• text/html

• text/rtf (occasionally)

• text/plain

You may repeat the test with another app. 

If only text/plain shows up, either the format wasn’t preserved in that case, or there’s an environment issue interfering. Let us know how it works. 

Also, wait for more input from experts. 

~Tariq

[marius_3609]

Hello Tariq,

Thank you for the very quick reply. I have tested using "Clipboard Inspector" application and I obtain only "text/plain" and "text/rtf" formats. I have tested also with my own javascript code running in browser and I obtain the same 2 formats: "text/plain" and "text/rtf".

I have the latest version of Acrobat Pro for both MacBook (2025.001.20467 version continuous release) and the latest Windows version of Acrobat Pro (2025.001.20467 version continuous release).

So the problem is that, for the same pdf file and the same area selected, in the Windows version of Acrobat Pro I do not receive the "text/html" version of the content, but for the MacBook version of Acrobat Pro I do receive "text/html" version of the content. Is there a problem in Acrobat Pro for the Windows version? Is there any option that I need to select in Preferences in Windows version of Acrobat Pro, so that the "text/html" version of the content to be available in the clipboard? Is there a bug in the Windows version of Adobe Acrobat, so that it misses "text/html" version of the content in the clipboard?

It is critical for my javascript application to have available the "text/html" version of the content in the clipboard when copying text with formatting using Adobe Acrobat Pro. This is why we are using the Adobe Acrobat Pro, to have available the "text/html" version of the content and this does not work for the Windows version of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Thank you very much, Tariq. I am very eager to find any solution for this problem as it is critical for my javascript application.