Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

Forum for the PDF-XChange Editor - Free and Licensed Versions

Moderators: PDF-XChange Support, Daniel - PDF-XChange, Chris - PDF-XChange, Sean - PDF-XChange, Paul - PDF-XChange, Vasyl - PDF-XChange, Ivan - Tracker Software, Stefan - PDF-XChange

User avatar
rakunavi
User
Posts: 1730
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:04 am

Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

Post by rakunavi »

Hello all,

Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?
In the sample below, I am interested in how to select the red rectangle comment.

  • figure.png
  • sample.zip
I can think of the following four methods, but none of them are intuitive. Also, none of them are easy when there are many overlapping comments.

  • Open the Comments pane and select the target comment.
    • After changing the Z-order of all comments that are in front of the target comment to the back, select the target comment.
      • After selecting multiple comments, Ctrl+click to remove all comments from the selection except the target comment.
        • Select comments other than the target comment, move them temporarily with the cursor keys, and then select the target comment. After completing the operation, restore the moved comments to their original positions.
        Thank you for taking the time to read this message.

        Best regards,
        rakunavi

        - PDF-XChange Editor Plus Version: 10.3.0 build 386
        - OS Version: Windows 11 Home 23H2 Build 22631.3737
        - PC Model: Lenovo IdeaPad C340-15IWL, HP All-in-One 22-c0xx
        You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
        TOP desires for PDFXCE
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=39665 LassoTool
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=38554 CmtGarbled
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=37353 FulScrMultiMon
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=41002 DisableTouchSelect
        User avatar
        Daniel - PDF-XChange
        Site Admin
        Posts: 11277
        Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by Daniel - PDF-XChange »

        Hello, rakunavi

        I swear in the past we had a keyboard shortcut to "cycle" through overlapping content, but I cannot seem to find it anymore...
        I will bring this up with the dev team and see what they think. In the meantime, I suspect that the "area select > deselect" method will usually be the easiest.

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

        +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
        Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
        https://www.pdf-xchange.com
        Support@pdf-xchange.com
        User avatar
        rakunavi
        User
        Posts: 1730
        Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:04 am

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by rakunavi »

        Hello Daniel, thank you for contacting the developer. I hope that there is some intuitive way to make selections at this time.

        By the way, with Drawboard PDF, you can use the lasso select tool to select comments on the back side of the text comment, without being aware of whether they are on the front or back side of the text comment. With a stylus, you can select a red rectangle comment simply by holding down the top barrel button (the upper of the two buttons on the side of the stylus) and moving the tip of the stylus as shown by the blue arrow. While holding the stylus in your dominant hand, you can operate it almost unconsciously without using one of your hands at all.

        • figure.png

          Animation.gif
        Although the Lasso tool proposal has been rejected, users would be annoyed if there were no alternative method of operation. There are many cases where there are comments behind the text comments, and users have to struggle with puzzle-like operations in such cases every time. At least I do.

        Please give my best regards to developers.

        Best regards,
        rakunavi
        You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
        TOP desires for PDFXCE
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=39665 LassoTool
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=38554 CmtGarbled
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=37353 FulScrMultiMon
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=41002 DisableTouchSelect
        User avatar
        Stefan - PDF-XChange
        Site Admin
        Posts: 19913
        Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by Stefan - PDF-XChange »

        Hello rakunavi,

        We got some feedback from Vasyl while this is not currently possible for comments - there are plans for that to be added soon (not in the upcoming build 387 though).

        Kind regards,
        Stefan
        User avatar
        rakunavi
        User
        Posts: 1730
        Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:04 am

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by rakunavi »

        Hello Stefan, thank you for sharing your future outlook.

        I look forward to seeing what solutions the Tracker developers come up with. Apart from that, I will continue to wait with faint hope for the Lasso select tool.

        Best regards,
        rakunavi
        TOP desires for PDFXCE
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=39665 LassoTool
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=38554 CmtGarbled
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=37353 FulScrMultiMon
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=41002 DisableTouchSelect
        User avatar
        Stefan - PDF-XChange
        Site Admin
        Posts: 19913
        Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am

        Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by Stefan - PDF-XChange »

        :)
        mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap
        User
        Posts: 226
        Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:36 pm

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap »

        rakunavi wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 9:46 pm Hello all,
        Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?
        In the sample below, I am interested in how to select the red rectangle comment.
        Click on the comment and then press tab to cycle through the underlying annotations. In this case, there are just two annotations so pressing tab cycles between the two annotations (see gif below).
        PDFXEdit_wDEE21DdPq.gif
        I had this question a couple of weeks ago and found the answer on this forum (David P had the answer). I have used this trick many times over the last few weeks to cycle through overlapping annotations.
        You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
        Features I really want:
        1. Fully customizable toolbars: https://forum.tracker-software.com/viewtopic.php?p=167585
        2. Ability to draw curved lines: https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?p=178335
        mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap
        User
        Posts: 226
        Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:36 pm

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap »

        Tracker Supp-Stefan wrote: Thu Jun 13, 2024 10:46 am Hello rakunavi,

        We got some feedback from Vasyl while this is not currently possible for comments - there are plans for that to be added soon (not in the upcoming build 387 though).

        Kind regards,
        Stefan
        Will the new functionality be in addition to the ability to use tab to cycle through overlapping annotations, or will it replace it?
        Features I really want:
        1. Fully customizable toolbars: https://forum.tracker-software.com/viewtopic.php?p=167585
        2. Ability to draw curved lines: https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?p=178335
        User avatar
        rakunavi
        User
        Posts: 1730
        Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:04 am

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by rakunavi »

        Hello mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap, thank you for your comment.

        As you say, the number of overlapping comments is extremely small and you have access to a keyboard, switching focus with the tab key is a good option. However, if the number of comments is large, or if you are using a stylus or touch operation without a keyboard, it would be nice to have a direct selection method.

        The Lasso select tool allows you to select multiple comments behind a text comment, whereas the Tab-based focus switching method allows you to select only one comment. All four methods listed at the beginning of the topic also allow for multiple comment selections, all on the back of a text comment.

        With Drawboard PDF's lasso selection tool, it takes less than a second to make a selection, so the difference is significant. When I first recorded the Drawboard PDF verification video above, it was so short that I couldn't understand what was happening when I operated it as usual, so I intentionally operated it slowly.

        I am also very interested to see what Tracker is considering, because it would be almost worthless if it were a sequential selection switching method like the Tab key. What I need is a direct selection method. If it could be done with just a stylus or touch, that would be much appreciated.

        Best regards,
        rakunavi
        TOP desires for PDFXCE
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=39665 LassoTool
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=38554 CmtGarbled
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=37353 FulScrMultiMon
        forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=41002 DisableTouchSelect
        User avatar
        Daniel - PDF-XChange
        Site Admin
        Posts: 11277
        Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by Daniel - PDF-XChange »

        Hello, rakunavi

        I cannot speak for the planned method at this time, in the past I believe it worked as a simple Alt+click" to cycle through objects that exist at the clicked coordinates, which may indeed make use with touch devices problematic... I will make a note of this concern on the ticket.

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

        +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
        Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
        https://www.pdf-xchange.com
        Support@pdf-xchange.com
        Mathew
        User
        Posts: 602
        Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:30 pm

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by Mathew »

        I'd like to add my vote for a built-in way to do this.

        It needs to handle having multiple items selected. On some 3d modeling software I use, holding down the CTRL key and clicking on a group of overlapping objects brings up a dialog with a list of the items so you can pick which one(s) you want. Obviously CTRL won't work for PXE, but the approach works quite well:
        image.png
        I made a tool as a way to work around this and other issues related to redaction. I often have cases where a stamp is used that covers large sections of markup and I need to work on the markup underneath it. The tool is an imperfect solution, but it will move selected markup off the drawing temporarily, and then move it back when you're done. It will only help if there is one item to move out of the way:
        viewtopic.php?t=40535

        Oh and I see no way to make a javascript tool to do the selection, because javascript can't (currently) change which annotations are selected.
        You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
        User avatar
        Daniel - PDF-XChange
        Site Admin
        Posts: 11277
        Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

        Re: Is there a way to directly select a comment object behind a text comment?

        Post by Daniel - PDF-XChange »

        Hello, Mathew

        Thank you for the option! I have added your voice to this request as well, hopefully we can see some improvement. I should reiterate though, that this is not present in the coming 387 release (which should be out later today) but it is something the team wants to address soon, so it should come along in a later release.

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

        +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
        Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
        https://www.pdf-xchange.com
        Support@pdf-xchange.com