How to Insert or Replace Text in Acrobat Shared Reviews
Question details
Users are unable to use insert or replace text tools during a browser-based shared review.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and collaborating on PDF documents via shared reviews in a web browser.
- Observed behavior
- Browser-based shared reviews provide a limited toolset compared to the desktop application, omitting essential text-editing markup tools like insert and replace text.
Ensure that all collaborators have access to the desktop version of their preferred PDF editor, as browser-based review platforms often restrict advanced markup and text replacement tools.
Use Individual Desktop Markups and Combine Comments
Have reviewers use the desktop app to access the full toolset, then combine their feedback into a single master file.
Because browser-based shared reviews in Acrobat lack advanced text replacement tools, the most reliable workaround is to transition to an asynchronous review model using the desktop software.
Share the PDF file with clients or colleagues via a cloud storage service like Dropbox or OneDrive instead of initiating a browser-based shared review.
Instruct each reviewer to open their copy in the desktop version of Acrobat. This allows them to utilize the full set of commenting and text-editing tools, including the ability to insert and replace text.
Ask your reviewers to open the Comments pane, click the Options menu, and export their markup data as FDF (Forms Data Format) files.
Collect the exported FDF files from all reviewers. Open your master PDF document in Acrobat, navigate to the Comments pane, and import the FDF files to consolidate all reviewer comments into one document.
Edit and Collaborate on PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
Avoid the limitations of browser-based PDF reviews. WPS Office provides a robust, lightweight desktop PDF editor that allows you to easily insert, replace, and markup text, while maintaining full compatibility with Adobe PDF formats and standard commenting tools.
- 1. Open the PDF: Download and install WPS Office, then open your PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Access markup tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon to reveal the full suite of markup and annotation tools.
- 3. Insert or replace text: Select the Text Box or Typewriter tools to insert new text, or use the Strikethrough and Note features to clearly indicate text replacements to your collaborators.
- 4. Share with compatibility: Save the document and share it with your team. Your text markups and comments will be fully visible to anyone using standard PDF viewers, including Adobe Acrobat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the insert and replace text tools missing in Acrobat shared reviews?
Browser-based shared reviews in Acrobat offer a simplified toolset designed for basic commenting and compatibility across different web browsers. This streamlined approach unfortunately excludes the advanced text markup tools found in the full desktop version.
Can reviewers force a shared review to open in the desktop app instead of the browser?
Yes, if the reviewers have the Acrobat desktop application installed, they can typically choose to open the shared review document locally. This allows them to access a wider range of commenting tools while still participating in the shared review.
What is an FDF file and how does it help with PDF reviews?
FDF stands for Forms Data Format. It is a lightweight file type that stores only the comments and form data from a PDF. By exporting an FDF, you can easily share your feedback and import it into another copy of the same PDF document without needing to send the entire large PDF file.
