Request to make comment and link objects imported via FDF/XFDF belong to the default layer specified in Layers pane SOLVED

[rakunavi]

=== UPDATE ===================================================================
My request below was fulfilled by Ver 10.6.0 build 396.
I appreciate all the hard work and efforts of the support and development team.
==============================================================================

Hello all,

If a default layer is pre-selected in the Layers pane, newly created comments and links will belong to that layer. The same is true when pasted via a clipboard. However, comments and links imported in FDF/XFDF files do not belong to the default layer. It would be appreciated if they could also belong to the default layer.

• figure.png

The reason why I am requesting this feature is that it takes so much time to display links in the Links pane. If you want to change the layer of links all at once, you have to wait until all the links are displayed before selecting them and changing the layer. However, in some cases it takes more than 5 minutes to finish displaying all the links, and who can wait that long just to change the layer of links?

If the proposed feature were implemented, the following steps would allow all links to belong to a specific layer.

1. Export the links without waiting for all the items to appear in the Links pane.
2. Remove all links in PDF-Tools.
3. Import links after specifying the default layer in the Links pane.

However, I do not want to willingly go through these tedious steps. The incredibly long time it takes for all link items to appear in the Links pane is probably due to the fact that, as mentioned in the previous post, the text of the base content corresponding to the link area is being collected. Therefore, if it were possible to disable the display of the text field, i.e., if the Links pane could display all items in an instant, this feature request would be unnecessary.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message.

Best regards,
rakunavi

- PDF-XChange Editor PRO Version: 10.5.2 build 395
- OS Version: Windows 11 Pro / Home 24H2 Build 26100.3775
- PC Model: GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro with HUION Kamvas Pro 19 / Lenovo IdeaPad C340-15IWL

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello rakunavi,

Thanks for your post and suggestion.
I am passing it on to the devs and asking them to review. As soon as we have the feedback we will let you know what their decision was, and if this FR is approved - I will make the necessary ticket as well!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[rakunavi]

Hello Stefan, thank you for taking the time in your busy schedule to reply.

I am sorry for the frequent posts, but I found a workaround to set a layer on all links in an instant.

To set a layer on all links, I had always thought that I had to follow these steps.

1. Open the Links pane.
2. Wait for all the links to be fully displayed, and then select them all using the shortcut keys Ctrl+A.
3. Set a layer on all links from the options menu or the context menu.

However, I noticed that you can set them without opening the Links pane by following these steps

1. Activate the Link tool.
2. Select all links with the shortcut keys Ctrl+A on the page view.
3. Set a layer on all links from the context menu.

This way, you don't have to open the Links pane, and you can set layers on all links in an instant without having to wait for a long time. This is a very basic operation, but I was thinking only about the Links pane and overlooked it. It is a workaround that only works if you do the same operation for all links, but it still saves me a lot of time.

For reference, I would like to comment on the "Set a layer on all links from the context menu." mentioned in the third step of the workaround. The above description assumes that the Layers pane is not open, but it can also be done by opening the Layers pane, selecting links that are only partially displayed, and executing from the context menu of the Layers pane. When you have selected all the links by using the shortcut keys Ctrl+A in the page view, the instructions for the operation target have already been completed. Therefore, even if you open the Links pane and set a layer without waiting for all links to be displayed, the operation will be performed on all links.

• Animation1.gif

• sample.pdf

In contrast, with the way I have been operating for many years, if you select a link by using the shortcut Ctrl+A in the Links pane when the Links pane has just been opened and only some of the links are still displayed, you will only be able to select some of the links that are displayed. Therefore, when you set layers for those links, the layers of the links that appear in the Links pane one after another will remain "None". Thus, as long as you select links in the Links pane, you have to wait until all the links are displayed.

• Animation2.gif

Thus, even if you select all links by using the shortcut Ctrl+A, you should be aware that the result is completely different when you operate on the page view and when you operate on the Links pane, which is currently being rapidly updated with the contents of the pane. Eventually, when the Links pane can be displayed in an instant, this caution will be unnecessary, and I strongly hope it will happen, but until then, it might be useful to someone as a usage tip.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello rakunavi,

No need to apologise for the many posts! They are all greatly appreciated and always well structured and concise!

Glad to see you figured a workaround, and as per the other topic - I am once again asking our devs to try and speed up the links pane generation as much as possible!

Kind regards,
Stefan