[tool] Match (copy) markup properties

[Mathew]

[Edit] I didn't realize there was already a built-in tool that does much of this - not sure when it was added (at least since v9.5 - maybe earlier) but I missed it for sure! From the right click context menu, Style Tools > Copy Comment Style

image(3).png

Even though there's a built-in method, I find myself mostly using this tool because I can set the specific properties to copy.

This tool will match properties (colors, lineweights and styles, etc) from the selected markup (annotation) to the next selected annotation. It can copy properties between markups in different documents. If you hold down Ctrl it opens a dialog to select which properties to copy. If you hold down shift, it will stay active and keep changing properties until the tool is selected again.


Installation
Extract the zip file and put into the Javascripts folder. Detailed instructions here viewtopic.php?p=196006#p196006

matchProps v1.2.zip

Usage
When PXCE is restarted, it adds a button to the Add-on Tools:

image.png

Select the tool with one markup (annotation) selected; then select another markup to transfer the properties to the second markup.

If Ctrl key is held down when selecting the tool, it opens an options dialog:

image(1).png

If Shift key is held down, the tool stays active (similar to selecting "Keep Selected" for built-in tools). The button will stay highlighted while the tool is active.

image(2).png

Select the tool button again to cancel; or close the dialog box that opens in the lower right corner of the screen:

image(4).png

Animation with Ctrl held down when picking the tool:

match properties.gif

This tool is translatable with 1ang.js. Translation strings:

Code: Select all

# Translation file (requires 1ang v1.0 or later)
# Domain for this translation file is "matchProp"
# Filename must be "translationData.matchProp.json" and saved in the JavaScripts folder

# It is not necessary for all strings to be included in every language,
#   but don't put an empty string "" for the translation, because that's what will be shown!
# This must be formatted as a JSON file except that:
#   lines starting with # and empty lines are stripped out before processing

# "Language" is three letter code as output from app.language
# "Original Text" is case sensitive!
#   Notice that the last item in a list does not allow a comma after it.
# Format:
#  "Language 1": {
#    "Original Text": "Translated Text in Language 1",
#    "Original Text 2": ["Translated Text 2 singular", "Translated Text 2 plural"]
#   },
#  "Language 2": {
#    "Original Text": "Translated Text in Language 2"
#   }

{
 "": {
     "Match properties of selected annotation.\nHold down Ctrl for settings. Hold down Shift to keep tool selected.": "",
     "Match Properties": "",
     "Keep Match Properties tool selected.": "",
     "Text properties": "",
     "Border Color": "",
     "Border Style": "",
     "Fill Color": "",
     "Opacity": "",
     "Rotation": "",
     "Blend Mode": "",
     "Author Name": "",
     "Nothing selected to copy properties.": "",
     "Pick markup to set %1. Close this to stop.": ""
 }
}

Previous version

matchProps v0.1.zip

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

[DanA]

Matthew,

Very nice tool! Thank you for sharing. It makes copying properties so much easier. My only request would be for the ESC key to allow for cancelling the SHIFT repeat mode instead of having to hit the button again.

Dan

[Mathew]

Thank you. I can think of a way to cancel with ESC. Will try

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Thanks Mathew,

Kind regards,

[Mathew]

[Edit May 20, 2026] Some minor changes and bug fix to the tool, so I'm not making a new post about it:

matchProps v1.1.zip

Changes in v1.1

• fix setting fill color for line dimensions and arrows;
• make translatable with 1ang.js.

OK, I made some revisions to the tool. I could not make the ESC key work, but it opens a progress dialog at the bottom of the screen that one can close to cancel the tool. I think this is a bit more intuitive. I also added the options to copy Rotation and Blend Mode.

image.png

matchProps v1.0.1.zip

Changes in v1.0.1

• slight icon change;
• show thermometer so that tool can be cancelled by closing thermometer;
• add rotation & blendMode;
• save last setting for "keep selected";
• code cleanup;
• show which properties are changing;
• save setting for blendMode;
• allow copying between documents

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Hi Mathew,

Okay, that's great - thanks for that.

Kind regards,

[Mathew]

I added the option to match layer (OCG) and it now shows what the property values are in options dialog.

matchProps v1.2.zip

Changes in v1.2

• option to match OCG;
• show currently selected values in option dialog (if xutil.ClrUtx is installed, will give a color name, otherwise hexadecimal)