How to Disable Drawing Mode and Highlight Text in Acrobat Pro DC
Question details
The user needs to stop their stylus from drawing freehand marks and instead use it to select and highlight text in yellow.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- Surface Pro
- Scenario
- Trying to highlight text with a stylus after upgrading to a new PDF reader interface.
- Observed behavior
- The stylus automatically draws red marks instead of selecting text, and the select and highlight tools are difficult to locate in the new interface.
Ensure that your Surface Pro stylus is properly connected and functioning in Windows, and verify that the PDF document you are opening has standard editing and commenting permissions enabled.
Switch to the Select Tool and Apply Highlight
Manually switch out of the drawing tool to the selection tool to stop the stylus from making red ink marks.
In newer versions of Acrobat, the application may default to an inking or drawing mode when it detects a pen input like the Surface Pro stylus. You must actively exit this mode to interact with text normally.
If you see a floating secondary toolbar dedicated to pens or inking, click the 'X' to close it and exit drawing mode.
Click the arrow icon (Select tool) on the main toolbar at the top of the screen. Alternatively, press the 'V' key on your keyboard to instantly switch to the Selection tool.
Use your stylus or mouse to drag over the specific text you wish to highlight.
Once the text is selected, a small pop-up menu should appear. Click the 'Highlight' icon (which resembles a marker). If it is not yellow, right-click the highlight, select 'Properties', change the color to yellow, and check 'Make Properties Default'.
Adjust Touch and Pen Preferences
Modify the application preferences to prevent the interface from automatically entering drawing mode when detecting a stylus.
Easily Highlight PDF Text with WPS Office
Skip the confusing settings and interface changes. WPS Office includes a fast, user-friendly PDF editor that effortlessly handles text selection and highlighting, fully optimized for stylus interactions on your Surface Pro.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the built-in PDF reader.
- 2. Select the Highlight Tool: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon menu and click the 'Highlight' icon.
- 3. Highlight the Text: Use your mouse or stylus to drag over the text. It will instantly be highlighted without triggering any unwanted drawing modes.
- 4. Customize Color: Click the color palette drop-down next to the Highlight tool to easily switch between yellow, green, pink, or custom colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop my PDF reader from automatically drawing when I use my Surface Pen?
To stop automatic drawing, you need to exit the active commenting or inking tool. Press the 'V' key on your keyboard or click the arrow icon on the top toolbar to activate the Select tool. Closing any floating pen toolbars will also revert your stylus to selection mode.
How can I change my default highlight color to yellow?
Select the Highlight tool and mark some text. Right-click on the highlighted text and choose 'Properties'. From the Appearance tab, select the color yellow, check the 'Make Properties Default' box at the bottom, and click 'OK'.
Why is the Select tool missing from my toolbar?
Some updated PDF interfaces hide basic tools to maintain a clean workspace. You can restore it by right-clicking on an empty space on the main toolbar, hovering over 'Show Select & Zoom Tools', and checking 'Select Tool' to pin it permanently to your quick access bar.
