Acrobat Reader DC – List of Highlighted Text in Comments Sidebar?

[skiteam14]

In Acrobat Reader, when highlighting text in a PDF, is it possible to show the actual highlighted text as a list in the 'Comments' sidebar?

Currently, the 'Comments' side bar shows a list, but instead of the actual highlighted text, it just shows the words "Highlighted Text" for every Comment that is created per highlighted text (and the corresponding link to the actual text within the file).

Basically, I'm just wondering whether it's possible to see a list of the actual text that was highlighted instead of just a list of links that brings you to the highlighted text within the PDF.

[AkanchhaS · Accepted solution]

Hi Skiteam, 

We are sorry for the delay in response to your query. As asked-

In Acrobat Reader, when highlighting text in a PDF, is it possible to show the actual highlighted text as a list in the 'Comments' sidebar?

Currently, the 'Comments' side bar shows a list, but instead of the actual highlighted text, it just shows the words "Highlighted Text" for every Comment that is created per highlighted text (and the corresponding link to the actual text within the file).

No, this isn't possible to show the actual highlighted text in the Comment list. This is a design behavior of the application where it displays only notes added to the particular highlighted text and corresponded link to the actual highlighted text in the file.

We would love to hear your feedback on this, You can share your input by filling this feature request form here: Feature Request/Bug Report Form

Hope this answers your query.

Regards,

Akanchha

[帅帅0101]

But why PDF Expert can??

[Mikeala]

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[hobbesVT]

Though this would be a highly needed feature for providing a summary of relevant passages ... is there any other what this could be achieved? The many "Highlighted Text" labels are not helpful as I have to jump through them to find the passage I'm looking for ...

[hobbesVT]

Just found this in another post: "This can be done automatically using one of the preferences of Acrobat/Reader (Edit - Prefs. - Commenting - Copy selected text into Highlight...) - while it doesn't replace the "Highlighted Text" label with the actual text, at least you can quickly see what you marked and can then add the comment as a "reply". Not easily readable in the commenting pane, but at least it's there ... hope that helps someone else looking for a solution.

[stephan_7268 · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can do this.

Click on Preferences -> Commenting -> then check the box that says "Copy selected text into Highlight, Strikethrough, Underline and Replace Text comment pop-ups"

Simple as that. 

[try67]

This is only available in Acrobat, AFAIK, not in the free Reader.

You can do it using this (paid-for) tool I've created, though: https://www.try67.com/tool/acrobat-retroactively-copy-highlighted-text-into-comments