How to Fix Acrobat Pro DC Commenting Tools Not Working
Question details
The user needs to restore normal functionality to the commenting tools in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, which are currently malfunctioning.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to annotate a document using commenting tools like the red strikethrough.
- Observed behavior
- Selecting a commenting tool changes the cursor to a plus sign and highlights entire lines of text instead of applying the specific annotation format.
Verify that the PDF document is not secured or restricted, as document-level security settings can prevent commenting tools from functioning properly.
Check Document Scope and Update Software
Determine if the bug is isolated to a single corrupted file and ensure your Acrobat application is fully updated to resolve known glitches.
Open a completely different PDF file in Acrobat Pro DC and test the commenting tools. If they work normally, the original PDF may be corrupted or incorrectly formatted.
Navigate to 'Help' in the top menu bar and select 'Check for Updates' to scan for newer versions of Adobe Acrobat.
Install any available updates, restart the Acrobat application, and attempt to use the strikethrough tool again.
Repair the Adobe Acrobat Installation
Fix corrupted application files that may be causing the commenting tools to malfunction or display the wrong cursor.
Easily Add Comments and Strikethroughs with WPS Office
If your current software's commenting tools continue to fail, WPS Office provides a powerful, built-in PDF editor. You can seamlessly apply highlights, strikethroughs, and text comments without cursor glitches or formatting errors.
- 1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF file using the built-in PDF reader.
- 2. Access commenting tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon.
- 3. Apply annotations: Select 'Strikethrough', 'Highlight', or 'Text Comment' and apply it precisely to the desired text.
- 4. Save changes: Click 'Save' to ensure your annotations are permanently added to the document in standard PDF format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cursor turn into a plus sign in Adobe Acrobat?
A plus sign cursor often means you are in a different selection mode or that the PDF consists of scanned images rather than selectable text. Running OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the file can convert images to selectable text.
Are PDF comments saved in WPS Office compatible with Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. Any highlights, strikethroughs, or text notes you add using WPS Office conform strictly to universal PDF standards, ensuring full visibility and compatibility when the file is opened in Adobe Acrobat or other PDF viewers.
How can I tell if a PDF has commenting restricted?
Open the PDF, go to 'File' > 'Properties', and click the 'Security' tab. Review the 'Document Restrictions Summary' to confirm whether the 'Commenting' status is listed as 'Allowed' or 'Not Allowed'.
