Is anyone able to copy text from Adobe's own documentation PDFs? If not, why would they prohibit it?

[Guest]

While reading Adobe's official documenation on Photoshop/JavaScript scripting, I've noticed that it seems to be impossible to copy/paste text from the PDFs. This, of course, is very frustrating when trying to take notes or try out segments of code. 

Example:
https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/photoshop/pdfs/photoshop-scripting-guide-2020.pdf

^Try viewing that PDF either in browser or downloaded. Are you able to copy text from it? 

I'm assuming that Adobe has locked these PDFs in a way that prevents copying text. Why would that be? Can we please have copy-enabled PDFs, Adobe?

Thank you for any feedback or guidance!

[Jeff Arola]

Here on macOS Mojave 10.14.6 using Firefox 78.4 i'm able to copy from the pdf and paste into TextEdit.

What operating system and browser are you using?

[Guest]

Thank you so much for the response, Jeff!

My OS and browser are:
Windows 10 Pro Version 1903 OS Build 18362.1082

Google Chrome 86.0.4240.111 (Official Build) (64-bit) (cohort: 86_Win_111)

Do you have Chrome installed? Have you tried copying text there?

[Derek Cross]

Yeah, I'm able to copy the text too – I just tested it.

[jane-e]

Hi @Deleted User 

I'm on my iPad and can copy.

When you go to File > Preferences > Security in Acrobat, does it say that copying is not allowed?

Are you using Acrobat or the free Acrobat Reader to view the file? If you are using another application, that might be the reason.

~ Jane

[Tom Winkelmann]

On Windows 10 & Firefox I have no problem to copy an paste...

[gernoth20933089]

The mentioned file is password-protected:

I can mark parts, but I cannot copy them.

Strange that others can...

Best regards ...Gernot Hoffmann

[Jeff Arola]

Yes it is password protected, but it seems that not many non adobe applications actually enforce that restriction.

If you use a web browser like Firefox to open the pdf, then there are no copy restrictions enforced.

[gernoth20933089]

I'm using Firefox, but I think we have to modes how to open a PDF:
a) directly by Firefox software (password protection might be ignored).
b) using Acrobat in Firefox (my mode, password protection is valid).

Best regards ...Gernot Hoffmann

[gernoth20933089]

... two modes