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Help! I want to highlight and comment on the PDF, but I can't!

Forum Index > Collaboration & Commenting > Help! I want to highlight and comment on the PDF, but I can't!
2008-12-13 23:42:02
mandedah
Registered: Dec 13 2008
Posts: 5
Answered

I am reviewing articles for a paper, and I would LOVE to be able to comment and highlight as I read them. The .pdf's are downloads from a database called JSTOR.

It seems that I don't have permission to make comments or highlight. I don't understand why because I downloaded the pdf and it is just like having a digital photocopy of something. Why can't I mark up my copy? It doesn't make sense.

I tried to get around it by copying all of the text into a Word file, and resaving it as a new PDF created from my word file. It didn't work.

I have a MacBook, and I just updated my version of Adobe reader. I have version 8.1.3, and I think it's just whatever most recent version you can get for free.

Please help! Paper due soon!

Many thanks!

My Product Information:
Reader 8.1.3, Macintosh
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2008-12-14 08:46:52
#1
michaelejahn
Registered: Apr 26 2006
Posts: 232
Adobe reader is a viewer application. If someone has created a PDF that has the proper security settings that permit adding comments, or adjusting comments that are already there - then you can add to these comments. Of course, without seeing the PDF files that you have, I can't examine it, but it may be that the person who created these PDF files may have disabled comments.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/matrix.php

go to this link, and you can see that Reader "kind of" supports collaboration - but only if it is enabled by someone using Acrobat Standard or Acrobat Pro.

Honestly, if you want to work with PDF files (not just view them) - then you should consider purchasing at LEAST Acrobat Standard - I can't do my Job without Adobe Acrobat Professional Extended.

Michael Jahn
Jahn & Associates
PDF Color Conversion Specialist
1824 North Garvin Avenue
Simi Valley
California 93065
Office: (805) 527 8130
Cell: (805) 217 6741
Email: michaelejahn [at] gmail [dot] com
Skype: michaelejahn
Twitter: http://twitter.com/michaelejahn

Michael Jahn
Application Support Specialist
Compose Systems Inc, USA.
4740 Northgate Blvd. Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel: (916) 920-3838 ext 102
Fax: (916) 923-6776
Email: michaelejahn [at] composeusa [dot] com
Web: www.composeusa.com

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2008-12-14 11:39:11
#2
mandedah
Registered: Dec 13 2008
Posts: 5
Thank you! I will invest in the student version in the new year, but it looks like for today I will make my notes the old fashioned way!

Regards,
Amanda
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