I’m presenting a draft [process map] to the [audience=service lead] next [deadline=Tuesday] and I need annotations tha…
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
Click the Comment button in the toolbar to display the commenting tools.
Select the annotation tool you want to use, such as Note, Highlight, Text Box, or Draw.
Click on the PDF page where you want to add your comment or annotation.
Type your comment or draw your annotation as needed.
Click away from the annotation or press Escape to save your comment or annotation.
You can use multiple annotation types in one session, such as highlighting text and adding sticky notes for detailed feedback.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
Comments, like sticky notes or text boxes, are generally for adding text-based feedback or explanations. They often appear as icons or text fields. Drawing markup tools, on the other hand, let you draw directly on the document using shapes, lines, or highlights. These are useful for visually pointing out areas, underlining text, or striking through content. Both serve to add feedback, but one is text-focused and the other is visual.
Sanitizing your PDF is crucial because comments and markups are saved as a separate layer. If you just save and share, anyone can see all your review notes, even if you think the file is final. This can accidentally reveal sensitive information, internal discussions, or unfinished thoughts. Using 'Protect > Sanitize' removes this hidden layer, ensuring that only the main document content is shared and your private notes do not leak.
Adobe Acrobat usually has a 'Comments' pane or panel that you can open. This panel lists all the comments and markups in the document. You can click on each item in the list to jump directly to that comment's location on the page. This helps you review all feedback systematically without having to search for each individual note on the document itself.