View markups in other pdf viewers?

[filosofjer]

I use PDF-Xchange Viewer Pro when I grade student papers. All papers are submitted as pdf files, and I use the note features, text boxes, and a customized stamp palatte (love this!!) for comments.

However, it seems some pdf readers used by the students don't (and can't!) display all these cool markup data. Apparently the pdf readers the students are using on their phones don't, at least. I don't know to what extent this is also true for tablets.

It occurred to me that I don't know whether it is also true for other pdf readers in general, especially on non-Windows platforms.

Does anyone know how extensive this problem is likely to be?

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello filosofjer,

And thank you for this post. I believe mostly iPhone's are affected, and other devices such as tablets do not have the same issue. The problem is that the version of the PDF reading software available there does not have the ability to display comments and markups - this is a limitation in that application as all the markups we add are following the PDF specification.

As a workaround solution - you can use the Comments -> Flatten comments feature in our Viewer, and send a flattened copy to the affected students. This will make any markings permanent unfortunately and part of the document body - but will allow the students to see what you've added.

Best,
Stefan

[filosofjer]

Thank you, Stefan.
If the problem is only limited to phones, I think rather than flattening the comments, I'll simply warn students not to review the documents on their phones.

[Willy Van Nuffel]

@filosofjer
You could also ask to one of the students to do a little test with Adobe Reader mobile app:
- http://www.adobe.com/be_en/products/reader-mobile.html
It is for 'free' and can be used on iPad, iPhone and Android.
And, it is not a competitor for Tracker Software on these platforms.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Thanks for that Willy.

Have you played with that much? Have you ever found any issues with our markup and this Viewer? One would hope not as I'd expect Adobe to adhere to the PDF specifications, though they don't always...

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Paul,
Honestly, actually I do not have any experience with it, but given the fact that Adobe is the originator of the PDF-format, I would doubt that they would not support their own specifications, and that they would not do the necessary effort to support PDF at it's utmost on the most popular (portable/mobile) platforms.
In the description of the Adobe Reader for mobile, they say that you can 'annotate' PDF's. So there must be no doubt that they can display them as wel.
But to be sure, I suggested to 'filosofjer' 'to ask to one of the students to do a little test'.
Tomorrow, I can do the same and ask for a little test to one of my collegues at the IT Department.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Willy,

but given the fact that Adobe is the origator of the PDF-format, I would doubt that they would not support their own specifications

well... there are times...

The Specifications, while originated by Adobe are now managed by the ISO and Adobe have extended their products, sometimes in ways that are beyond the current ISO standards. http://www.iso.org/iso/home/search.htm? ... blished=on

Regardless - we all tend to use Adobe as the defacto standard. Let us know if you find anything interesting.

[Willy Van Nuffel]

For your information:
I converted a Word 2007 document to a PDF (via the PDF-XChange Office Add-in).
Then I made several annotations/markups from within PDF-XChange PDF Viewer Pro (version 2.5 build 201.0):
- highlight
- strikethrough
- typewriter
- textbox
- comment
- arrow
- rectangle
- circle
- callout
- pencil (handwriting)
- polygon
- cloud
- stamp
All of these are shown and visible when opening this PDF on an Apple iPhone and using Adobe Reader for mobile.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Thanks for testing and confirming this Willy!


Cheers,
Stefan

[filosofjer]

I'm feeling better if it's only some pdf readers that don't display the comments. I can live with warning students that a few readers may not display the comments. (I did confirm that the Kindle reader on my Android phone doesn't display them - I wonder if this would be the default for anyone with a Kindle Fire?)

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hi filosofjer,

I have not tested on Kindle devices - but yes I'd assume that Amazon would put only their own reader as default - but Adobe's Reader is available for free download from the play store

Best,
Stefan

[Lzcat - Tracker Supp]

If some readers do not show comments you may always flatten them. Their appearance then becomes part of the page content, so they should be displayed (however you will be not able to edit them as before).

HTH