How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

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gwideman
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How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by gwideman »

When using PDF-XChange, for the most part, editing actions have to be somewhat deliberate because they require selecting a particular tool first. So to confidently avoid accidental editing, one can select the "Hand" tool.

....except it turns out that the Hand tool can cause damage by accidentally dragging in the Bookmarks pane. When navigating quickly through a large document with an elaborate Bookmarks tree, it seems all too easy that a mistimed finger on the mouse while dragging could move a bookmark without any indication that something had happened. Especially while paying attention to the main document area.

Is there some way to avoid that hazard? Perhaps a mode toggle somewhere?

Thanks!
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PHK
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by PHK »

I sympathize. Perhaps users should be able to "Lock" elements of the Bookmark panel the way we can in Comments.
All best,

FringePhil
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Daniel - PDF-XChange
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by Daniel - PDF-XChange »

Hello,

Generally speaking, choice of tool does not have an impact on interactions within the Panes. They should only affect the page content.
However, this is a good point for consideration, and I will raise the idea with the Dev team. Perhaps having a "lock/unlock" function in the bookmarks pane would be helpful. I don't believe we can embed such a state into the file, so it would likely have to operate at the session level, but it could indeed be handy nonetheless.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
PDF-XChange Co. LTD

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PHK
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by PHK »

Thank you for your consideration on this, Daniel.
All best,

FringePhil
gwideman
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by gwideman »

Thanks for replying, Daniel...
Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2026 4:34 pm Generally speaking, choice of tool does not have an impact on interactions within the Panes. They should only affect the page content.
Yes, tools should only operate on the things that the tools are designed for.
Perhaps having a "lock/unlock" function in the bookmarks pane would be helpful. I don't believe we can embed such a state into the file, so it would likely have to operate at the session level, but it could indeed be handy nonetheless.
Thanks for considering it!
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Daniel - PDF-XChange
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by Daniel - PDF-XChange »

Hello, gwideman

I am very sorry to say that this request has been rejected. We have already built in a "delay". Dragging should not begin unless you grab a bookmark and move the mouse more than half the height of a bookmark, but I am afraid that is the most the Dev team plans to offer at this time.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
PDF-XChange Co. LTD

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Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
[email protected]
Louiseravot
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by Louiseravot »

I've noticed the same thing. The Hand tool feels safe because it doesn't edit document content, but bookmark drag-and-drop remains active. On large documents it's surprisingly easy to move a bookmark unintentionally without realizing it until much later. A setting to lock bookmark positions or disable drag-and-drop editing would indeed be very useful.
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Sean - PDF-XChange
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Re: How to avoid accidental edits, notably of bookmarks?

Post by Sean - PDF-XChange »

HI Louiseravot,

Thanks, we have noted your support for this feature.

Kind regards,
Sean Godley
Technical Writer
PDF-XChange Co LTD
Sales: +1 (250) 324-1621
Fax: +1 (250) 324-1623