Annots (Annotations and Commenting)
Note: Preferences belonging to this feature reside in multiple hives.
Annotations include most of the items users can add to a document in the form of comments, editing markup, and so on. Many of these preferences are mapped to UI items in Acrobat. Pre 10.x versions of Reader have no Commenting preferences UI since the feature was only enabled in right's-extended documents. However, most of these preferences can be configured at the registry or plist level and used with Reader. For 10.x and later, Reader can also be configured from the UI as commenting is fully supported.
There are three broad categories of annotations:
- Markups: Editorial marks on the page such as underscores, circles, polygons, etc.
- Markup tools: Each tools has a number of properties that are stored in preferences.
- Comments: Comments in popup notes and comment list items.
This preference category contains the following subfeature(s):
Popup Open Behavior
Controls how and when popups open when a PDF is opened.
Summary table
autoOpenOther |
Automatically adds a popup note when another type of annotation is added. |
HidePopupIfShowSummary |
Hide comment popups when comment's list is open. |
HoveringPopups |
Automatically open popups on mouse rollover. |
transparencyOK |
Specifies whether to use the stroke color as the fill color for highlight annotations. |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
0 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Automatically adds a popup note when another type of annotation is added. |
Details |
In other words, a popup note appears when you create a new comment using a drawing tool, the Stamp tool, or the Pencil tool. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't add a popup note for other annot types.
- 1: Do add a popup note for other annot types.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Automatically open comment popups for comments other than notes. |
Making Comments
The preferences in this section control the creation of new comments and associated features.
Summary table
alwaysUseIdent |
Uses the login names as the comment author name. |
author |
The author name specified by balwaysUseIdent. |
author |
Creates new popups aligned to the edge of the document. |
benableTextSelection |
Specifies whether to enable text selection for annotations such as highlight, strikethrough or underline. |
copyTextToDrawAnnot |
Specifies whether to copy the encircled text into drawing comment popups. |
copyTextToMarkupAnnot |
Copies the selected text into highlight, cross-out, and underline comment popups. |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Uses the login names as the comment author name. |
Details |
The login name is the name specified in the identity preferences panel. If it is not present, the login-name is used. If it is not present for comments in collaborative documents (shared-review, browser-based review, email based review), the comment author identity is used that the user has set. For Acrobat, the default is true; for Reader, it is false. Possible values include:
- 0: Do use the login name as the comment author name.
- 1: Don't use the login name as the comment author name.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Always use Log-in Name for Author name |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
0 |
Version # |
DC Continuous, August 2017 |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Specifies whether to enable text selection for annotations such as highlight, strikethrough or underline. |
Details |
Possible values include:
- 0: Do enable text selection. When enabled, the cursor changes to ][ mode when the annotation (highlight, strikethrough or underline) is clicked and hovered over for more than 2 seconds. The cursor reverts to the previous mode after a time duration of 3 seconds upon hovering outside the bounding box of the annot.
- 1: Don't enable text selection. When disabled, the cursor changes to ][ mode only upon selecting Enable Text selection in the context menu. It will then remain in ][ mode for all annotations on the page.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Enable text selection for Highlight, Strikethrough, and Underline. |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Annot |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Creates new popups aligned to the edge of the document. |
Details |
Controls popup positioning. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't align popups at the document edge.
- 1: Align popups at the document edge.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Create new popups aligned to the edge of the document. |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
0 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Specifies whether to copy the encircled text into drawing comment popups. |
Details |
Adds a popup comment automatically to other markup types so that they can be annotated. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't copy the encircled text into comments.
- 1: Do copy the encircled text into comments.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Copy encircled text into Drawing comment popups |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
0 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Copies the selected text into highlight, cross-out, and underline comment popups. |
Details |
Adds a popup comment automatically to specified markup types so that they can be annotated. Possible values include:
- 0: Copy selected text.
- 1: Don't copy selected text.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Copy selected text into Highlight, Cross-Out, and Underline comment popups |
Stamp Configuration
Stamps are an annotation feature that enables a quick method of using preconfigured and highly visual comments to indicate that a document has been approved, revised, etc. Choose stamps from the default library or create custom stamps.
Summary table
AP |
The stamp name of a user favorited stamp. |
cfavoriteStamps |
A list of cabs that stores the stamp name and title of a user's favorite stamps in c0, c1, etc. |
lastUsedStamp |
Remembers the last used stamp. |
lastViewedStampCategory |
Remembers the last viewed stamp category in the stamps palette. |
StampsPaletteInvisible |
Specifies whether to show the stamps palette automatically when the commenting toolbar is displayed. |
title |
The stamp title of a user favorited stamp. |
|
Data type |
8 (cab)
|
Default |
null |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
A list of cabs that stores the stamp name and title of a user's favorite stamps in c0, c1, etc. |
Details |
A stamp can be made favorite by choosing Stamps > Favourites > Add current stamp to favorites. Each cab contains aAP and ttitle. Possible values include:
|
GUI mapping |
From the commenting toolbar, select the stamp icon, and then choose Favorites > Add current stamp to favorities |
Viewing Comments
Summary table
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\cPrefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Specifies whether to show markup tool-tips and text indicators. |
Details |
Possible values include:
- 0: Don't show markup tool-tips and text indicators.
- 1: Show markup tool-tips and text indicators.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Viewing Comments > Enable text indicators and tooltips |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
0 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs\ |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Enables printing of comments and other annotations. |
Details |
Notes and popups that are open will be printed when the rest of the document is printed. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't print comments.
- 1: Do print comments.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Commenting > Viewing Comments > Print notes and popups |
Commenting-Misc Settings
These preferences control commenting behavior related to printing, appearance, etc.
Summary table
astBBRURL |
Specifies whether to remember the last browser based review (BBR) URL used. |
commentPanelOnImport |
Specifies whether to opens the comment list when comments are imported. |
confirmEBRMerge |
Displays an alert on document open asking the user to confirm importing comments into an active review. |
emptyContentToolTip |
Displays a tooltip stating the comment being hovered over is empty. |
maxPDFCommentsSize |
Sets the comment threshold size for determining whether comments are embedded or sent as FDF files. |
noisyAnnots |
Enables playing sound when adding and deleting annotations. |
PopupsOpenIffSelected |
Specifies whether to open a popup when it is selected. |
printNotesOpaque |
Makes popups opaque regardless of other settings. |
sendFinalApprovalEmail |
Specifies whether to send a notification email when the current approval is identified as the final one. |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
0 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\Prefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Makes popups opaque regardless of other settings. |
Details |
Prints the popups as opaque without honoring the popup opacity specified by the user in commenting preferences (popup-opacity). Possible values include:
- 0: Don't make popups opaque.
- 1: Do make popups opaque.
|
GUI mapping |
N/A |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
9.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\cPrefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Displays an alert on document open asking the user to confirm importing comments into an active review. |
Details |
Possible values include:
- 0: Disable confirmation alert on import.
- 1: Enable confirmation alert on import.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Reviews > Confirm Importing of Comments into Active Reviews from PDF Files |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
9.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\cPrefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Specifies whether to opens the comment list when comments are imported. |
Details |
Possible values include:
- 0: Don't open the comment list when comments are imported.
- 1: Do open the comment list when comments are imported.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Reviews > Open the Comment List When Comments are imported |
|
Data type |
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
8.0-9.0 |
User Path |
Annots |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Specifies whether to remember the last browser based review (BBR) URL used. |
Details |
It is used to populate the wizard with the last used BBR url. Since BBR is deprecated, this preference may be omitted. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't remember the last browser based review URL.
- 1: Don't remember the last browser based review URL.
|
GUI mapping |
N/A |
|
Data type |
1 (int)
|
Default |
3 for Reader and 5 for Acrobat. |
Version # |
9.0+ |
User Path |
Annots\cPrefs |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Sets the comment threshold size for determining whether comments are embedded or sent as FDF files. |
Details |
When collaboration involves sending comments with a PDF, comments below the threshold size are embedded in the document. Comments above the threshold size are sent as FDF files. Possible values include:
- 3: Max size for Reader (Acrobat is 5)
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Reviews > Email-based Review Options > Send comments as FDF for files greater than __ MB |
|
Data type |
0 (bool)
|
Default |
1 |
Version # |
8.0+ |
User Path |
Annots |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Specifies whether to send a notification email when the current approval is identified as the final one. |
Details |
Only valid for an approval workflow. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't send an email on final approval.
- 1: Do send an email on final approval.
|
GUI mapping |
N/A |
2D Measuring
Summary table
arrowBegin |
Sets the default measuring start line shape. |
arrowEnd |
Sets the default measuring end line shape. |
|
Data type |
2 (atom)
|
Default |
Closed |
Version # |
Continuous track Aug, 2020 |
User Path |
Annots |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Sets the default measuring start line shape. |
Details |
While the aarrowBegin and aarrowEnd are legacy preferences, the Document Properties dialog and the Preferences > Measuring (2D) dialog used different preferences that conflicted with one another and resulted in the preference dialog settings always getting overridden by document properties. The preferences dialog has now been updated for the Continuous track, and both dialogs use the same preferences. Possible values include:
- A string value naming the line end type.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Measuring (2D) > 2D Measuring > Line Start |
|
Data type |
2 (atom)
|
Default |
Closed |
Version # |
Continuous track Aug, 2020 |
User Path |
Annots |
Lock Path |
Not lockable |
Summary |
Sets the default measuring end line shape. |
Details |
While the aarrowBegin and aarrowEnd are legacy preferences, the Document Properties dialog and the Preferences > Measuring (2D) dialog used different preferences that conflicted with one another and resulted in the preference dialog settings always getting overridden by document properties. The preferences dialog has now been updated for the Continuous track, and both dialogs use the same preferences. Possible values include:
- A string value naming the line end type.
|
GUI mapping |
Preferences > Measuring (2D) > 2D Measuring > Line Start |