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Unable to copy text from any PDF

Guest
Dec 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2016

When I copy/paste from a webpage or Word everything is fine.

When I copy/paste from a PDF nothing happens. The clipboard is empty.

I've tried to copy from various PDFs. It doesn't matter if they're young or old, if they're downloaded or generated locally.

I have the latest version Acrobat Reader DC (15.020.20042) on my Windows 7 Home PC.

What to do ???

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Deleted User
Dec 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2016

GOTCHA!

Removed a single checkmark and suddenly copy/paste works

Under Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protections there's a checkbox "Enable Protected Mode at startup"

Remove the checkmark and you're good to go.

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LEGEND ,
Dec 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2016

Hello,

--------- my answer was not needed, so I deleted it ---------

Hans-Günter

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Guest
Dec 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2016

GOTCHA!

Removed a single checkmark and suddenly copy/paste works

Under Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protections there's a checkbox "Enable Protected Mode at startup"

Remove the checkmark and you're good to go.

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Guest
Jan 01, 2017 Jan 01, 2017

I am unable to transferr my sc

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Guest
Jan 01, 2017 Jan 01, 2017

I am unable to transferr a PDF to my email

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New Here ,
Feb 08, 2017 Feb 08, 2017

Never occurred to me to mess with adobe's Preferences.  But that's the ticket! (fingers crossed).

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New Here ,
Oct 08, 2019 Oct 08, 2019

Did that. And it did not work..

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New Here ,
Apr 19, 2020 Apr 19, 2020

Alas it didn't work for me. And for some strange reason Adobe does not allow me to buy/download Pro "in my country".

 

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Community Expert ,
Apr 20, 2020 Apr 20, 2020

What country is that?

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New Here ,
Apr 23, 2020 Apr 23, 2020

I have the free version adobe reader dc. tried all of the above and I still cannot cut and past a few small pieces of text.

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Community Expert ,
Apr 24, 2020 Apr 24, 2020

Try copy, not cut.

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New Here ,
Sep 12, 2020 Sep 12, 2020

Done this, still same result, whole page with blue color

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Community Beginner ,
Jan 27, 2021 Jan 27, 2021

Nope

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Community Beginner ,
Jan 27, 2021 Jan 27, 2021

I found a work around the issue. With it I can create a new PDF from the one which will not allow me to copy a page from one sent to me. The trick is to modify it.

As yourself how do you build a PDF from a series of pages of scanned documents?

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New Here ,
Mar 01, 2021 Mar 01, 2021

This works. By using Mac Preview to select File --> Export as PDF, I was able to save a copy of file. And I could copy the text from this new file. Thanks a lot. Michael

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New Here ,
Aug 22, 2023 Aug 22, 2023
LATEST

I have the same problem on some of my .pdfs from FEDEX. Some of them let me copy text either before I save the file as .pdf or after I print shipping label from same printer dialog box. 

Some of my shipping receipts let me copy text and some don't. I have copy text enabled in Adobe Reader. Its arbitrary when this happens but like I metioned before its like the dialog box corrupts the printing to .pdf or after I send label to printer from the same dialog box. I use MS Edge as my browser and it happens in Chrome as well. I'm thinking I might have to wait for print to .pdf stabilizes and saves file before saving document as .pdf OR Print label to printer before saving shipping receipt as .pdf. None of my .pdfs are protected and I am saving/printing on the fly. Still testing.

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