◆ Acrobat · combine

Access, create, or manage comments via API

Combine the quarterly monitoring test result PDFs into one executive report PDF, add comments highlighting open except…

3ready prompts
1real task
3roles

When to use it

real situations

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one
AExecute — “help me do it”Add a new comment to my PDF using the API for...…+
Add a new comment to my PDF using the API for [describe your document or purpose].
when the reply comes backWant to learn how to reply to comments automatically?
BImprove — “do it better”Review my PDF comments and suggest clearer wording or better organization...…+
Review my PDF comments and suggest clearer wording or better organization using the API for [describe your document or context].
when the reply comes backNeed tips on organizing feedback from multiple people?
CDecide — “help me choose”Help me pick the best comment settings for sharing my PDF...…+
Help me pick the best comment settings for sharing my PDF using the API for [describe your sharing needs or audience].
when the reply comes backCurious about setting comment permissions for privacy?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid
  1. 1

    Sign up for an Adobe Developer account and create a project in the Adobe Developer Console to obtain your API credentials.

  2. 2

    Enable the PDF Services API and/or PDF Embed API for your project in the Adobe Developer Console.

  3. 3

    Install the official Adobe PDF Services SDK or set up REST API access in your development environment.

  4. 4

    Authenticate your API requests using your credentials (API key or OAuth token) as required by the Adobe API documentation.

  5. 5

    To add a comment or annotation, call the PDF Embed API's annotation methods (e.g., addAnnotation) or the relevant endpoint in the PDF Services API, specifying the PDF file, annotation type (e.g., text, highlight, sticky note), location, and content.

    Best practiceOrganize your annotations with metadata or custom IDs to make later retrieval and management easier, especially when handling large or collaborative documents.

  6. 6

    To retrieve comments or annotations, use the API's getAnnotations method or the corresponding endpoint to fetch all or filtered annotations from the PDF.

  7. 7

    To update an existing comment or annotation, call the updateAnnotation method or endpoint, providing the annotation ID and the new content or properties.

  8. 8

    To delete a comment or annotation, use the deleteAnnotation method or endpoint, specifying the annotation ID.

  9. 9

    Test your implementation using sample PDFs and verify that comments are being created, read, updated, and deleted as expected.

    CautionAPI support for annotation types and features may vary; always consult the latest Adobe API documentation for supported operations.

You can view and manage all comments in the Acrobat app by opening the Comments pane for a PDF.

The PDF Embed API and PDF Services API provide endpoints and methods to programmatically create, retrieve, update, and delete PDF comments and annotations.

Glossary

words on this page
APIA way for different software to talk to each other automatically.ExampleAn online store uses an API to automatically send shipping details to a delivery service.
CommentA note or message added to a file to give feedback or ask questions.ExampleYou add a note to a report asking the author to clarify a specific paragraph.
ManageTo organize, edit, or delete things like comments on a document.ExampleYou can manage comments on the PDF, choosing to accept, reject, or delete them.

The real tasks

the one, listed here
Compile periodic monitoring test results into one executive report that highlights open exceptions.

Who does this

3 roles
Full Stack DeveloperDocument Workflow EngineerSoftware Integration Specialist

FAQ

about this task

You can use the API to add comments by sending your text and where you want it in the PDF to the system, which then places your note directly on the document for others to see.

Managing comments via API means you can organize, edit, or remove comments on a PDF automatically, instead of doing it by hand, making it easier to handle lots of feedback.

A team might use the comment API to handle comments faster, track changes, or connect Acrobat with other tools they use, so feedback is shared and managed in one place.

Yes, you can set permissions with the API to decide who is allowed to add, view, or edit comments, which helps keep your document secure and private.

Using the API lets you automate and connect commenting with other apps or websites, while regular commenting in Acrobat is done by hand and only inside the Acrobat program.

Sources

where this comes from
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