FeatureRequest: allow to select PDF base content together with annotations for ability to move/transform them together

[FelixPDF]

Application: When working with PDF content that is already annotated, it is currently not possible to select them together (without flattening) to move them together on the page or transform them together keeping the annotations in the same relative position and size.

Suggestion: introduce a special tool for selecting both at the same time, or introduce a setting (tool setting, like quick setting of what times to be selected) to the PDF content selection tool to select annotations also.

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Hi Felix,

Have you tried using the Select Comments tool, then group-selecting the comments and then clicking and dragging the circle that appears at the centre of the group selection? You can see the circle in this picture:

image.png

That should do the trick.

Kind regards,

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Hi Sean,

I think that the question is about : how to move base content AND annotations all together, like underlined text for example.

Kind regards.

Willy

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Yes, you're right Willy - thanks.

Features like that - the ability to select and move comments and base content etc togther - have been discussed before, and the conclusion was that they are not easy or practical to implement - so I'm afraid it's unlikely that something like that will be developed.

Kind regards,

[FelixPDF]

That's unfortunate.

Alternatively it would also be nice in the meantime to use the comment pen tools to create "base content", and also be able to remove it via the pen eraser.

Would something like that be possible?

[PHK]

Application: When working with PDF content that is already annotated, it is currently not possible to select them together (without flattening) to move them together on the page or transform them together keeping the annotations in the same relative position and size.

Suggestion: introduce a special tool for selecting both at the same time, or introduce a setting (tool setting, like quick setting of what times to be selected) to the PDF content selection tool to select annotations also.

Felix, you say above "select them together (without flattening)". Do you mean without flattening the source page or no flattening whatsoever? If you can live with a solution that does not flatten the source page but produces a flattened image of the page region that can be 'moved', then I would suggest using the Select Page Region tool with the Snapshot Tool from the context menu. That will copy your selection as an object that can be pasted. You do not have to create an actual named stamp, you can simply paste [Ctrl-V] that selection anywhere.

If you want the image in the selection region and the text as XForms, use the New Stamp from Selection tool in the context menu of the selection tool above, then place the stamp where you want. You will get both the image and text in the content panel.

But it is not clear to me what would work for you which is for you alone to decide. I am just offering other possible options.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello PHK,

Many thanks for the suggestion! That could indeed work if the desire is to just have a single object that can be moved around.

However the "flattening referred to" is likely related to annotations becoming base content objects, so that they can all then be selected together.

We will need to wait for @FelixPDF's further feedback though!

Kind regards,
Stefan