How to deactivate automatic combining of text fields?

[mogul76]

I purchased PDF-XChange Editor Plus a few days ago and have already done quite a lot of work with it (mainly forms editing). There is a lot to love about the software!

There is one thing, which annoys me, though. While moving text fields on a page, PDF-XChange Editor oftentimes automatically groups them with other text fields that have the same or similar vertical position, thereby making later editing/repositioning of said fields tedious.

Can a user turn off the "software intelligence" described above? Is there any possibility to ungroup text fields that have been automatically combined?

Thanks in advance for your answer.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello mogul76,

Welcome to our forums and thanks for your post!
The Editor does this grouping so that you can easier edit larger blocks of text in the future.
However, as elements of the PDF structure, these text elements should remain separate.
Please open the contents pane, and you will be able to see them listed individually - so that you can click on the one you need - and only that will be selected and can then be moved independently from other elements.

Regards,
Stefan

[mogul76]

Hello Stefan,

Just after writing my post, I figured out the solution described by you on my own. Thanks anyway for your fast answer

Perhaps you could implement a button in a future release of the Editor to deactivate/reactivate the auto grouping feature, thereby granting more control to the user.

I really do enjoy working with PDF-XChange Editor Plus. I have a few PDFs which are very difficult to scroll through in your biggest competitor’s viewer. However, in PDF-XChange Editor they just work fine.

Also, I find the UI of your software very intuitive.

Keep up the good work and cheers,

mogul76/Frédérik

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Thanks for the suggestion mogul76,

We'll consider it, but keep in mind adding too many options for the little things leads to a very cluttered interface.
Have a good day!

[DocumentPerson]

It wouldn't need a button on the toolbar. A simple checkmark somewhere under Preferences would be enough. Page Text tab would be the first place I'd look intuitively, but once such checkmark is anywhere in the settings, it's at worst only matter of googling where. Maybe another tab called "Smart Features" could be added for all similar behaviors on/off switch, especially should more such features be developed later on.

I came here because when I try to precisely move a text field with arrows, it will inadvertently scoop up a neighboring text field and move it out of place, after I've already placed that with precision. I can avoid that, if I'm careful, but it's not a good workflow.


Although I came here with a specific complaint, overall I have to agree with the sentiment that your software is greatly developed.
Keep up the good work.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, DocumentPerson

This topic is a few years old now. Since then we have released an updated version of the UI which improved the "edit" tools. Specifically, the "edit objects" tool, separate from the "edit text" tool, which allows you to grab the individual text objects as they exist in the document data, and directly edit the text in those items independently, if needed.
This tool would likely help you here!

Kind regards,

[ccblackwell]

The auto combining of things like Text. Images and Shapes is an old subject that has never been fixed.

This is an absolute disaster. Arbitrary items listed above are automatically combined and there is no reason or justification for this. I love PDF XChange but this is nothing but 100% disastrous!!!

It automatically combines the items listed above and it does not matter if the items are close together or halfway across a 11x17 page.

The comment about using the Contents to find the items is not a viable answer.
The comment about not providing something in the ribbon to turn it off is not a viable answer. There is plenty of space in the ribbon on the Format Tab to accomplish this.
The comment that this is for a future concern is not a viable answer.

Why can this not be fixed and now? This has been asked about for many years with no viable results.

If you do not know how to fix this very serious and fatal problem, then just say so!!!

Sorry but I am really frustrated as this issue is costing me very many hours trying to get around this unjustifiable PROBLEM!!!

Others have asked if the items listed above can be manually Grouped which is a great question!
The flip side to this is why cannot things that are combined be unCombined or unGrouped?

Thank You for listening!

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi, ccblackwell

it should be resolved. Are you seeing this when using Edit Text Elements?

image.png

If so can you supply a sample problematic PDF and we will take look.

[ccblackwell]

Paul,
Before I answer your question (another post). in a previous post that I had referred to there was a reference to two competitor applications.
APP-1 I have used before concerning modifications to drawings.
APP-2 I knew about but never used it.
Being curious I downloaded both and the results are that NOTHING even comes close to PDF-XChange!!!
If you are not using PDF-XChange, it is like taking a right handed baseball glove and putting it on the left hand.

[ccblackwell]

Paul,
I am using PDF-XChange to create something that I must say no one else has ever done.
I am working with a genealogy app with which you create your own albums for pictures.
Each PDF will include a TOC of all persons with links (bookmarks) to easily locate any person or family FacePlate.
Each FacePlate will include links back to the person's faceplate in the app and also to the appropriate designated album.
The attached (preliminary) are small examples of this.
Note: All persons referred to here are deceased therefore no issues.
There may be upwards of 44 of these PDFs in the end.

PDFXEdit_AYIX940IZ6.png

PDFXEdit_GNb3UnY0zg.png

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, ccblackwell

That was an excellent informational, but... did you have a question in there which I missed?
All of this should be quite easily doable, without any unwanted grouping by making use of the "Edit Objects" tool that Paul mentioned above - is it not?

If there is still an item of concern here, please do elaborate on what exactly it is. It would help to have a sample file that showcases the issue, and screenshots of what you see on your end that needs fixing.

Kind regards,

[ccblackwell]

Dan,
There is still the issue with Text, Images and Shapes being combined into Objects when they are not related in any form or fashion. As I stated this a 11x17 page and moving one or several text objects the Auto Combining issue will collect any of these items even if they are halfway across the page. It takes a lot of effort to try and correct this. Just really frustrating and time consuming. It would be best to be able to disable the Auto Combine functionality. This has cost me hours upon hours of time.
Thank You!

Again PDF-XChange is such a really great product!!!

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, ccblackwell

I am sorry, but I think there is still a misunderstanding about how the tool works. If you are using the "Edit Objects" tool, there is absolutely no automatic grouping that occurs on our end.

image.png

If you have single-left-clicked on something with this tool, what you have selected is a single content item according to the internal PDF data. We do not break these up into smaller chunks, nor assume they are part of a larger composition to select other nearby items.
Under no circumstances will this tool arbitrarily group items like you describe - we simply respect the individual items as they are present in the file.

Shape and image items are never grouped automatically. The only way they can be grouped at all, is when they are inside of an "xform" object, which is defined as a base content "container object" explicitly by the document structure itself, that is not automatically happening on our end. This might be what you are encountering?
However it is not automatic, this kind of item was already in place before you opened the file in our software, or was created when you pasted/flattened some content.
(Even when this does happen, the individual elements can still be selected, either by directly clicking them on the page instead of blank space between them, or through the content pane:

image(1).png

image(2).png

image(3).png

image(4).png

image(5).png

Kind regards,

[ccblackwell]

I spent hours trying to determine exactly how and when it creates an object of more than one text entry.
It has been stated that when two or more text items are close enough (define "close enough") they will be combined into a single object, they never were combined. All text items being combined as one object means any movement to one item moves them all.

The conclusion is that the automatic creation an object of text items is simply random and chaotic with the only explanation being that two or more text items can be included into one object no matter how close or far apart they are with the user having absolutely no control what so ever. How can anyone write logic to do something like this without knowing exactly what the user to trying to accomplish.

This has been an issue for years and nobody will provide a solution (something on the Ribbon would be best).
All I hear are excuses that sense 0.000000000001 percent of the applications developed this a good feature.

It also will combine text items and images. Wow how can any logic know what needs to be combined and what does not.
I have seen two or more text items all the way across the page being combined into an object with all the text items in between them not being included.

I also experimented by moving text items close to each other and even over each other and they were never combined into an object. So, this wonderful logic (anti-logic is the better term) in PDF-XChange knows better than ALL the users around the world and what they are trying to accomplish?????

PDF-XChange is the best PDF editor there is bar none, but the excuses provided with years of complaining by the users has gone far enough!!!

The users pay for the software so listen to them and not say "You do not understand how it works".
This statement is very true as nobody can say for a certainty how and when any items are combined into an object at pure random!
Fix it or find someone that can!!!!!!!!

If not, provide a detailed explanation of how and when it works and under every possible scenario and application for all the world users and what they are trying to accomplish.

I must be really stupid, as I have been creating very successful and complicated control logic for over 37 years and I would never ever try (or even think of) to do something like this.

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Hi ccblackwell,

Sorry to hear that you have had this frustrating experience, but we are confident we can assist you in resolving it. Could you please post a short video detailing the error?

Kind regards,

[ccblackwell]

Why would I go to the trouble of making a video when the issue is that PDF-XChange just needs to fix this!!!
I just opened another PDF and low and behold different areas of text were automatically combined into objects just by opening the PDF without me doing anything.

PLEASE LISTEN AND FIX THIS!!!!!!!!!

THE PROBLEM IS ON YOUR END NOT OURS!

[rakunavi]

Hello ccblackwell,

Why would I go to the trouble of making a video when the issue is that PDF-XChange just needs to fix this!!!

Since the PDF-XChange staff hasn't yet been able to pinpoint the exact issue you're facing, the only way forward is for you to describe it as clearly as possible. Honestly, from an outsider's perspective, it's difficult to grasp the problem based only on the information provided so far.

At this moment, you are the only person in the world who can best explain what you're experiencing. In a sense, you have a unique opportunity to deliver a "masterclass" presentation. We, the fellow forum members, are eager to see the sample PDF you provide, the reproduction steps you outline, or the video you create. The more reproducible and straightforward your explanation is, the more we will admire your report.

A bug report that isolates the cause and simplifies the scenario minimizes the time lost for everyone involved and ultimately contributes to the evolution of PDF-XChange Editor. What makes this software great is not just the tool itself, but the exceptional attitude of their support team.

The support page recommends Simon Tatham's essay, "How to Report a Bug Effectively." I believe we, as users, should take its message to heart and strive to provide reports that exceed their expectations.

Best regards,
rakunavi