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dylanh39446350
dylanh39446350
New Participant
May 1, 2017
Answered

Not able to copy text from a pdf

  • May 1, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 75853 views

I am trying to copy text from a pdf in adobe reader but I cannot select text in the appropriate areas and I am not able to copy the text that I want to.  I am able to do it in other pdf readers and the security allows for copying the text.  Any suggestions on how I can get this fixed so that I can use abobe reader again?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer ~graffiti

Chrome does not use the Adobe pdf plug-in. It uses it's own viewer so the problem may be in that process. Try with a different browser.

3 replies

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petrar2320752
Participating Frequently
November 30, 2017

I have the same problem. I use the distiller to print stuff from chrome. it is as if big invisible boxes are on top of each other . when i try to copy/paste text it can't be selected properly and if ou paste it's some chibberrisch (see next to the following image)

i tested it with the edit text tools a few times. random large boxes are on top  of each other.

P
petrar2320752
Participating Frequently
November 30, 2017

sidenote. this only happens to me when using pdf to print. not exporting from indesign or save as pdf. maybe some security setting? i can't find it.

~graffiti
~graffitiCorrect answer
Brainiac
November 30, 2017

Chrome does not use the Adobe pdf plug-in. It uses it's own viewer so the problem may be in that process. Try with a different browser.

gregoryw1423
gregoryw1423
New Participant
June 12, 2017

I am having the same problem I think.  I used to be able to right click and the whole screen would turn blue, copy it, and then put it in a Word document.  Now Adobe Reader does not do that anymore.  How can I fix?  Thanks, Lisa

~graffiti
~graffiti
Brainiac
May 1, 2017

What happens when you try? If the whole page is selected (turns blue), that means it's a scanned image that contains no text to select.

If that's not the case, can you tell us what version of Reader you have, what tool you are using to select the text and what is happening when you try?

dylanh39446350
dylanh39446350Author
New Participant
May 1, 2017

If I double click i can get some areas to turn blue and can copy them.  If I keep clicking it will turn the whole page blue but cannot copy that.  I just can't use the hand tool to select the text that I want and copy it.  The pdf was made by me in the appraisal software.  adobe reader dc 17.009.20044

    ~graffiti
    ~graffiti
    Brainiac
    May 1, 2017

    What OS?

    Try Edit>Preferences>General>Basic tools and set "Touch Mode" to "Never".

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