10 Replies Latest reply: Apr 12, 2011 3:45 PM by RobMcP RSS

    Please help me before I jump off a bridge!

    RobMcP Community Member

      The thread title says it all.

       

      I have an existing PDFthat someone gave me, it has no security set, and according to the security info I can print and change the document.

      I cannot, I can highlight text, but cannot add or overtype it. Can anyone say why?

       

      I am also trying to add some text to an end page, I want to add some contact details, tel no, and a hyperlink to a site, I cannot.

       

      It does not seem possible to add this, I cannot type the text in. I tried to add a field, which (sort of) worked in that I could specify text content, it was not ideal,

       

      I don't really want a text box I want text on the page, but it sort of worked. Can I add what is effectively a label text to a page?

       

      Next whinge.

       

      In the textbox I added a hyperlink (sort of) it was a  mouse action when you click it should open a hyperlink, not...

       

      The hyperlink was set up, and try as I might I cannot get it to look right or make it apparent to the visitor that it is a link (mouse changes to a pointer, as with normal hyperlinks) .

      When I key in www.google.com (or whatever) the www. part seems italic, or lighter text than the rest of this link text. (A way around is to make it all bold, yuk)

       

      Another feature is that the url I was using had a 4th w in it, so www.whumbuglalalalala.com (e.g.) the document then insisted that the 4th w appeared not to be part of the hyperlink, so the www.w was lighter weight font, and the humbuglalal etc was a heavier weight (not bold)

       

      In light of all the above, can anyone say why I cannot edit/add more text to an existing document. and can anyone please tell me how, or even if I can add a PROPER hyperlink complete with mousey pointer that will open a website from this document?

       

      Why is this soooo hard, If I use word, and type in www.google.com then even word (stupid as it is) recognises it's a link, even this editor does!

       

      I can't even do this on a new document, I'm using Acrobat pro 9. W Vista.

       

      Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

      McP

        • 1. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
          try67 CommunityMVP

          Acrobat is not a text processing application and PDF files are meant to be the "final stop" in your workflow.

          If you want to do extensive edits to the text, you should really edit the original file and then re-create the PDF.

           

          Having said that, if you really want to edit the text of a PDF you can try the TouchUp Text Tool.

          If you want to add a hyperlink use the Link tool. You can even place a link field above a text box. That way you can set the text to look the way you want it to, and then have a transparant link hovering above it.

          • 2. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
            RobMcP Community Member

            Thanks for those suggestions.

             

            I still do not really understand how PDF works. I don't have access to the original document, hence wanting to add what was effectively a text box on the last page. I have done that in a bodge job fashion.

             

            Since raising this post I managed to set up a URL link, but still cannot get rid of the odd difference in font weight of the URL

             

            Will try more searching, unless anyone else can exaplin why this odd behaviour occurs.

             

            Thanks McP

            • 3. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
              try67 CommunityMVP

              PDF is supposed to be the final file you use in your workflow. It stands for

              "Portable Document Format", which means that in principle it should display

              the same, no matter where you open it. That's the point and purpose of it.

              It's not supposed to be edited in any extensive way, although various

              editing tools have been added to Acrobat over time.

               

              What you describe regarding the odd font weight is probably a sort of

              optical bug that can occur in PDF files. If you zoom in on the text you

              should see that it's actually the same size. It's just when you zoom out

              that some of it is displayed as a bit thicker or thinner than the rest.

              • 4. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                RobMcP Community Member

                Nope, no way is this an optical bug, this is completely apparent at ANY distance zoom or not, and is visible on another users pc.

                • 5. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                  try67 CommunityMVP

                  Maybe you could share the file with us.

                  • 6. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                    RobMcP Community Member

                    Sorry should have added this.See print this is apparent at any magnification,sticks out like a sore thumb.

                    pdf-Capture.JPG

                    • 7. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                      try67 CommunityMVP

                      Which tool did you use to create this box? Also, which font?

                      • 8. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                        RobMcP Community Member

                        This was a text field box, font size 12 Helvetica, then I tried two methods of making a link.

                         

                        Method one was on the Actions tab of the text field properties box, select the Actions tab, trigger mouse down/up  action Open a web link.

                         

                        Method two, select the text drag highlight then tools advanced editing link tool, then carry out making a link process.

                        Both methods work (ish) and both show the lumpy text.

                         

                        I have just spoken to a colleague who says (like you, it's an optical illusion, live with it!) It prints off ok so I will, but I'd be interested to know why it does this. (but it won't kill me if I don't find out)

                         

                        As a matter of interest what is the best way to make a pdf doc? In a separate posting someone suggested to me, make the doc in word, then pdf it, so that you have the word doc as the original. Do you have any other/better suggestions?

                         

                        Thanks Rob.

                        • 9. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                          try67 CommunityMVP

                          Without seeing the actual file I don't have any more suggestions.

                          And yes, the recommended workflow is to create the PDF from an existing

                          document, and keep the original in case you need to do any changes in the

                          future.

                          • 10. Re: Please help me before I jump off a bridge!
                            RobMcP Community Member

                            Thanks for all the assistance, and your time.

                            I will live with the way it looks for now, then when I have time I'll redo the page in question.

                            Meantime I'll be viewing Youtube training vids.

                            Thanks again. McP