Group Objects

[bearateacher]

The last post in this topic seems to be 2021. I posted yesterday but it isn't showing.
I'd like to know if there is a way to group objects or if there is any plan to implement such an option?

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Hi bearateacher,

I'm afraid there have been no further developments with this feature.

Kind regards,

[JasonReeves]

is there any intention to reopen development on this? I've been a Xchange user since 2017 and the inability to group is now a glaring omission compared to competitor packages (Bluebeam, Foxit ect).

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, JasonReeves

The intent is there, but the trouble is implementing it in a Specification compliant way which will not result in damage to your document when another software either does not offer the feature, or (due to the lack of Specification standards) has a different implementation of the feature.

Data present in a PDF should always adhere to the specification. And while this is the first time I am hearing that Foxit now offer the feature, Bluebeam has been known for quite some time to disregard the PDF Specification. Such a decision can destabilize your documents and lead to lasting damage or total data loss within the file. As such, while we do want to implement it, and the Dev team is still exploring avenues to do so - it is not implemented yet, and will likely still be some time before we can offer a PDF Specification compliant solution. - which keeps your documents safe and stable.

Kind regards,

[⚜ Kenny Lemens, P.E. ᵂᴵ]

Greetings,

I understand the dilemma, but I also know that bluebeam cited similar limitations as to why 𝑡𝒽𝑒𝓎 couldn't support bullet'd/number'd lists.

Here is the thought/compromise that I thought of: Create a 'new' pdf filetype that is exclusive to PDF-Xchange (e.g., *.PDFX), where some of these features CAN be implemented as a PDF-XChange Exclusive (Paint.net has this feature, allows the user to save/resume editing a JPEG as a working document with layers/transparency). The user would then be able to publish/flatten the document to a standard PDF, loosing those features like grouping in order to satisfy the global 'PDF' standard.

Otherwise: just supporting 'grouped objects' during the current session would be nice (ie., inserting annotations from a document could be "grouped" together until such time it is actually put in place, then saving it would dissolve the temporary "grouped" feature. As if the ability is treated as a Dynamic action ('saving a set of selected objects temperarily) as opposed to a permanent/static ability. This could be implement as follows:

• Right-click--> Context-Menu --> remember as a selection state

Then you could have a Pane/toolbar where you just have a list of selection states, of which is managed at an application level and not as a document property of the PDF.

May this be of Good Help;
⚜ Kenny Lemens, P.E. ᵂᴵ

[Mathew]

is there any intention to reopen development on this? I've been a Xchange user since 2017 and the inability to group is now a glaring omission compared to competitor packages (Bluebeam, Foxit ect).

It may not seem like it on the surface, but there definitely seems to be some progress going on behind the scenes so I don't think this is "closed". One can now group markup using javascript using the .inReplyTo and .refType properties. It's not quite there yet, though, because it's a bit glitchy (particularly for refType = "Group") and has some catches (such as once grouped through javascript I can't un-group it without deleting and re-creating the markup.)

The intent is there, but the trouble is implementing it in a Specification compliant way which will not result in damage to your document when another software either does not offer the feature, or (due to the lack of Specification standards) has a different implementation of the feature.

There are actually two types of "grouping" in the pdf specification. One is where markups are related to one another as "replies" (ie inReplyTo is set to the name of the markup that it is in reply to). These markups then become linked. There's a stronger link in which those "reply" markups also have refType = "Group". In this case, the markups should move together, and be represented as a single markup in the list of markups. Both of these are fully within the pdf specification: I think I've posted sections of it in other forum posts.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Mathew

Thank you for jumping in - indeed, work is in progress - but is quite complicated, and yes there are now Specification definitions (I will admit I had forgotten - its been so many years of "no this isn't possible" it can be hard to get used to the new items sometimes), I apologize for the mistake there.

Kind regards,