Missing features for annotation editing

[kjk]

Placeholder to list the most important missing features related to annotation editing.

[GitHubRulesOK]

There are several tagged so have tagged this too as placeholder of closed duplicates

• [ ] Freehand Lines AKA Inking as seen in browsers like Edge and Firefox
• [ ] Adaptable Text Similar to Typewriter Annots (Fixed area "Free text" is more limited)
• [ ] The feature I miss most is good FreeText notes and as it stands there are 4 gripes
  • Line wrapping\newline does not work well (It is often a problem in other apps too) https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf/issues/1694
  • Language support is another known problem as it primarily base14 fonts with difficult font or UTF assignment https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf/issues/2255 https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf/issues/2154
  • Ability to resize accurately thus not handles but dx/dy values preferred. https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf/issues/1665
  • Searching in Free Text (and other annot text) https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf/issues/1649
• [ ] Adaptable basic Rect (and Circle)
• [ ] Custom stamp for an image, such as mouse signature

[m2kar]

In my opinion, Sumatra's best feature is fast and simple. it's no need to be the best in any functionality. Please don't lose the best feature in the development.

There are some suggestions for the annotation feature:

1. A simple annotation toolbar, could be fixed on the top or left or float.
2. A list of annotations. The field could include type(highlight/underline/etc.), the text under the annotation, comment text, and page number.
3. Undo and redo, and the shortcut is ctrl+z/ctrl+r or u/ctrl+r.
4. An eraser tool.
5. Self-definable annotation toolsets. Suggest Drawboard PDF. Recommend to refer to Drawboard PDF's design concept.
6. Click to select annotation.
7. Optimize for touch screen and pen.
8. Make the freetext more convenient.

I am sorry, but I must point out that the current annotation interaction design is really user-unfriendly. Hope to be better in the future😊😊😊.

Attached figure: Drawboard PDF's annotation toolbar, allow user to customize the type and count of tools', e.g. 3 pen with different color, thickness, opacity and two free text with different size.

[ghost]

I was also amazed at how quickly Sumatra PDF opened PDF files. This is the advantage of Sumatra PDF which cannot be changed. I think a better solution is to develop some plugins based on the original software for users to choose. Or as @m2kar said, use Sumatra PDF to quickly open PDF files, and then easily (some shortcuts) change to other software(Adobe acrobat DC) with stronger editing capabilities when need to do other operations.

[GitHubRulesOK]

@Tunann For heavier tasks like permanently rotate page or reorder pages convert to images etc. it is easy to open fast command line or slower GUI tools from SumatraPDF with an external app via "ExternalViewers" thus using say mutool or Tracker Xchange can be fast. This is what most PowerUsers do.

However the ability to read manipulate and add basic Adobe Annotation is already in the MuPDF library thus lighter tasks such as add notes or images or even fill basic form fields are all part of that annotation ability, just some are significantly more complex than others such as handling freeform ink lines inserting variable signature images or checking field entries.

[cscode2000]

Is it possible to resize Free Text Annotations? I think it should, but I don't know, how. In "Edit Free Text Annotations" there is a quite big area on the top with only one line "page 1, Free Text". It seems like wasted space or what is this area for? (I use German) Around annotations there is a lot of ugly German-English-mix (several menu entries and buttons, text alignment choices, colors...). I don't see a way to help to correct a language-file.

[GitHubRulesOK]

@cscode2000 There are many issues with using "freetext" annotation so currently SumatraPDF adheres/avoids some of those issues

• 1 annotations should be small not covering a whole page if you want the small line of text without the biggerbox then set border to none
• 2 Free text was designed long long ago before Unicode got established so by tradition only uses Historic Typewritten Latin-Swiss Fonts as Courier / Times Roman / Helvetica

For correcting the German First consider is it acceptable to the other German Majorities and if not (clearly wrong spelling) then follow this English :-) guide https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/docs/Contribute-translation

[cscode2000]

* 1 annotations should be small not covering a whole page if you want the small line of text without the biggerbox then set border to none

* 2 Free text was designed long long ago before Unicode got established so by tradition only uses Historic Typewritten Latin-Swiss Fonts as Courier / Times Roman / Helvetica

Didn't ask for that but thanks. I want to know, if/how is it possible to change the width and height of the box with the Free Text annotation. The purpose of the empty area I could find out myself. (IMHO it's not very beautiful, like the whole property dialog)

For correcting the German First consider is it acceptable to the other German Majorities and if not (clearly wrong spelling) then follow this English :-) guide https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/docs/Contribute-translation

Thank you. I understand but could not find the remaining English phrases there. For example "page", "Free text", all color-names and text alignments in the annotation-property-window.

[GitHubRulesOK]

Ahh those

Hmm @kjk can all those be translatable or are they hardcoded to MuPDF behaviours ?

[cscode2000]

Exactly this is what I meant; and the context menu entry to call this dialog is untranslated, too.