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How to Extract Highlighted Text from PDF Comments on iPad in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
Users are unable to extract or automatically copy highlighted text into PDF comments when using the Adobe Acrobat app on an iPad.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat iPad App
- Device & OS
- iPadOS / macOS
- Scenario
- Reviewing and highlighting PDF documents on an iPad, then attempting to export or view the comment summaries on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Highlighted text created on the iPad does not automatically copy into the comment pop-ups. Consequently, comment summaries export as blank and fail to show the actual highlighted text.
Ensure you have access to a desktop computer (Mac or Windows) with the full version of Adobe Acrobat installed, as the iPad application currently lacks the specific preference setting required to copy highlighted text into comments.
Use Adobe Acrobat Desktop to Copy Highlighted Text into Comments
Since the iPad app lacks the text-copying feature, you must enable the corresponding preference on the desktop app and perform your highlights there to ensure successful comment extraction.
The Adobe Acrobat app for iPad currently does not support the preference to 'Copy selected text into Highlight, Strike-Out, and Underline comment pop-ups'. To successfully extract and summarize text highlights, you need to configure the desktop version and process your PDF there.
Transfer your PDF file from your iPad to your Mac or PC, then open the document in the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat.
Navigate to the 'Acrobat' menu on macOS (or the 'Edit' menu on Windows) and select 'Preferences'.
Select the 'Commenting' category from the left sidebar. Locate and check the box that says 'Copy selected text into Highlight, Strike-Out, and Underline comment pop-ups'.
Click 'OK' to save your settings. Any new highlights you make on the desktop application will now automatically copy the highlighted text directly into the comment bubble.
Edit and Manage PDF Comments Seamlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive, built-in PDF editor that allows you to highlight text, add detailed comments, and easily manage annotations across your devices without platform-specific limitations.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office on your desktop or mobile device and open your PDF document.
- 2. Add Highlights and Comments: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab, select the 'Highlight' tool, and select the desired text. You can double-click the highlight to add specific, detailed notes.
- 3. Manage Annotations: Use the Comment pane on the left sidebar to view, manage, and extract all your highlighted text and notes in one unified list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the comment summary export show blank entries for my highlights?
This happens when the highlighted text is not automatically copied into the comment pop-up box. In the Adobe Acrobat iPad app, there is no setting to force the text into the comment bubble, resulting in blank data during export.
Will Adobe add the feature to copy highlighted text to comments on iPad?
As of the current application versions, Adobe has not implemented the desktop preference 'Copy selected text into Highlight' into the iPad or iOS app versions.
Is there an automated way to extract my previous iPad highlights on a Mac?
There is no direct built-in method to retroactively extract past iPad highlights into text comments. You generally need to use third-party PDF extraction scripts or re-highlight the document on the desktop version with the commenting preference enabled.
How do I export comment summaries on Adobe Acrobat Desktop?
Open the Comment pane on the right sidebar, click the three-dot Options menu, and select 'Create Comment Summary'. Choose your preferred layout and click 'Create Comment Summary' to generate a printable PDF.
