Highlight tools

[titeuf]

What's the difference between the two commands?

Snipaste_2026-02-07_07-49-18.png

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, titeuf

The first one is a post selection action (it is present when you right click on selected text using the "select text" tool). The second is a tool in and of itself, located on the comment tab, you enable it before clicking on any page text, and then you can place multiple highlights in quick succession.

Kind regards,

[titeuf]

OK, but is the result the same thing?
That is, no matter which one I use, the text will be assigned a highlight color, and the text will be copied and displayed in the left panel comment section.

[David.P]

OK, but is the result the same thing?
That is, no matter which one I use, the text will be assigned a highlight color, and the text will be copied and displayed in the left panel comment section.

Exactly, and I can't praise this feature enough, which I've used about 257 million times since the wonderful PXE developers implemented it.

I may be slightly biased, having suggested it some 18 years ago

Feature Request: Hotkey to highlight marked text

Different shortcut keys for different highlighter colors

[rakunavi]

Hello titeuf,

figureA.png

(1) Highlight Text (ID: cmd.textsel.addHighlight)

figureB.png

(2) Highlight Text Tool (ID: cmd.tool.annot.highlight)

As you pointed out, the highlights applied by both commands are exactly the same. While Daniel explained that (1) is a command where you select text first and then apply the highlight, (2) can actually be used in the same way. At first glance, (2) seems to encompass all the functions of (1), so it is perfectly natural to wonder why (1) exists as a separate command.

Since (2) essentially covers everything (1) does, the easiest way to understand the difference is to focus on the exception: "what (1) can do that (2) cannot."

The most significant difference is the position of the text cursor after executing the command. You might not notice this when operating solely with a mouse. However, if you assign keyboard shortcuts to both (1) and (2) and compare their behavior, you will notice that with (1), the cursor remains blinking within the document after applying the highlight, whereas with (2), the cursor disappears from the document.

In other words, with (1), because the cursor stays active, you can use the arrow keys to move to another phrase and select it immediately after highlighting the first one. This allows you to highlight multiple phrases using only the keyboard, without ever touching the mouse.

In contrast, with (2), the moment you apply a highlight via a shortcut, the text cursor vanishes. Any subsequent arrow key presses are interpreted as page scrolling. To highlight another phrase, you must click the document with your mouse to bring the cursor back before you can select the next text. Even if you have the "Select Text Tool" set as your default tool in the Preferences dialog, (2) does not return you to an active cursor state, which is the key distinction from (1).

Ultimately, because (2) is a "tool," it changes the current state/focus of the interface. (1), however, is not a tool, meaning it does not interrupt your workflow if you are primarily using a keyboard. It appears the developers intended for users to rely on (2) for general use while switching to (1) for specific keyboard-heavy tasks.

In the following verification video, I have assigned Ctrl+H to (1) and Alt+H to (2).

First half: I use (1) (Ctrl+H). Since the cursor remains in the document, I can move it with the arrow keys, select the second phrase, and apply the highlight just as I did with the first.

Second half: I use (2) (Alt+H). After the first highlight, the cursor disappears. When I try to use the arrow keys to select the next phrase, the page simply scrolls, making it impossible to continue highlighting without manual intervention.

• video.webm

Best regards,
rakunavi

- PDF-XChange Editor PRO Version: 10.8.2 build 407
- OS Version: Windows 11 Pro / Home 25H2 Build 26200.7623
- PC Model: GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro with HUION Kamvas Pro 19 / Lenovo IdeaPad C340-15IWL

[titeuf]

OK. Well understood, thank you for your detailed reply.

[rakunavi]

Hello titeuf, thank you for your feedback.
You're welcome, I'm glad I could help.

Best regards,
rakunavi