How to Override a Page's Orientation

[maluktuk]

I use a Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner which does a pretty decent job a predicting a page's orientation when it creates PDFs, but sometimes I need to manually correct this by rotating them in PDF-XChange. However, I have noticed that rotating a page does not overwrite the "creation" orientation. Here's an example of a typical case and the problems I've encountered:

I have two printed pages--both in portrait. When I scan both, one is correctly created with a portrait orientation and the other is incorrectly created with a landscape orientation. I open the file in PDF-XChange and correct the orientation of the second page using the Document > Rotate Pages menue option. I then want to add a uniform title to each page so using the Typewriter tool I type my text on the first and then copy it. When I go to the second page and paste it, the text is rotated based on the page's original creation orientation. What this eventually leads to is having to type the same title again which is an inconvenience for large documents.

So, what I would like to do is to open a document, rotate the pages in the document the way they need to be (whether Portrait, Landscape, or a mixture of both) and then save the file and overwrite the orientation to what it is at that time so I can copy/paste text or images from one page to every other. Is there a way to do this?

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello maluktuk,

I think that the current behavour in our Viewer is "working as intended".
There are a few things to consider in this situation.
In the PDF Specification a page has a coordinate system, and a rotation, and then any annotations placed on a page - have a position in that page's coordinate system and a rotation relative to that particular coordinate system.

When you place a text annotation on the first page which you haven't rotated - it has a relative rotation of 0 degrees towards that page's coordinate system. When you paste it on the second page - it will be pasted with 0 degrees rotation relative to the second page's coordinate system, but then - the second page is in itself rotated relative to the first one - hence the rotation of your text annotation relative to your View point in front of your screen.

A possible solution to force all pages' coordinate systems to have the same orientation is to "reprint" your file after you rotate the pages. This will then allow you to place comments and copy them between pages without any further unexpected "rotation".

Best,
Stefan

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi maluktuk,

the behaviour described is intended. The pasted item is oriented as per the page orientation. This is what Adobe do also. I see the usefulness of what you are suggesting and I have had a conversation with our development team leader around this and he is thinking on the possibilities.

In the meanwhile I can suggest that you need only make 2 titles - one for each rotation. Additionally in V3 of the Viewer you will be able to rotate comments so changing this is not such an ordeal.

hth

[maluktuk]

Thank you both for your replies. I think reprinting the file to "reset" the default orientation is probably the easiest approach for now, although it flattens all additions at that point so if I end up wanting to change something down the road it becomes problematic.

Also, the idea of rotating objects would eliminate the issue with copying and pasting.

However, there is one case in which being able to change the default orientation would be most beneficial, and that comes into play with bookmarks. In the same example as I've listed below, a page created in landscape but is rotated to portrait experiences issues. My default setting for bookmarks and links is "Fit Width". If an originally landscape page is rotated to portrait and then assigned this bookmark or link style, clicking on the link or bookmark will take you to the page, but the top of the viewing window does not align with the top of the page as it would be in portrait mode. Instead, the top of the viweing window is aligned with the top of the page as it would be in landscape. What this does is cause the focus of the viewing window to be in the middle of the page, cutting off both the top and the bottom, forcing the reader to have to scroll up in order to start reading from the top.

I think these quirks, when combined, make a great case for being able to easily change a page's actual orientation instead of just creating changes based on the page's relative orientation.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi maluktuk,

I see your point. I've passed this on to the development team. It is unlikely that we will do anything with this until after the release of V3 and even then only if the development team deem it appropriate. Know then that your suggestion has been heard and under consideration.

hth

[maluktuk]

Paul,

Sounds great. You've provided plenty of workarounds so it's not an issue. This is a great tool that I use daily.

Thanks again.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]