Arrow Tool
Click Arrow Tool to add arrow annotations to documents:
Figure 1. Tools Tab Submenu, Arrow Tool
The Arrow Tool is used to add arrow annotations to documents. When it is selected the pointer becomes a crosshairs icon. Click to initiate an arrow annotation, then drag to the desired location and click to complete the operation:
Figure 2. Arrow Annotation Examples
The lower arrow has just been placed, which means editing options are enabled:
•Click and drag the control points to reposition arrow annotation endings.
•Click and drag arrow annotations to reposition them.
•Use the arrow keys to reposition arrow annotations. Hold down Shift to move at an increased increment.
•Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of arrow annotations.
•Right-click arrow annotations for further options. See here for an explanation of these options.
•Hold down Shift to create arrow annotations at increments of fifteen degrees.
•When the Arrow Tool is selected, the following options are enabled in the Properties Toolbar:
•Fill Color determines the fill color of the Line Starting/Ending Styles, detailed below, when closed-shape options are used.
•Stroke Color determines the arrow annotation color.
•Border Style determines the arrow annotation style.
•Border Width determines the size of the Line Starting/Ending Styles detailed below.
•Line Starting Style determines the style used at the start of arrow annotations.
•Line Ending Style determines the style used at the end of arrow annotations.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in arrow annotations.
•Blend Mode determines how arrow annotations blend with underlying content. These options are explained here.
•Keep Selected determines whether or not the Arrow Tool remains selected after an annotation has been created. If this option is enabled then the tool will remain selected and can be used to create several arrow annotations consecutively. If this option is not enabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool immediately after creating a single annotation.
•Exclusive Mode simplifies the process of using the Arrow Tool. When Exclusive Mode is enabled, the pointer ignores all interactive elements of documents other than base content. This makes it possible to create content on areas that overlap with other content without the risk of accidentally selecting undesired items. When Exclusive Mode is disabled, the pointer recognizes and interacts with all underlying elements in the usual manner.
•Click Properties to view/edit additional arrow annotation properties, as detailed below.
•Note that several default styles are available for arrow annotations. Right-click the Line icon in the Comment Toolbar to view existing styles and/or access the Comment Styles Palette, which can be used to save customized arrow annotation styles for subsequent use.
•The Commenting section of the Preferences dialog box can be used to view/edit preferences for comments.
Arrow Properties Pane
Figure 3. Arrow Properties Pane
•Subject is the name of the arrow annotation, as referenced in the Comments pane.
•Author is the name of the user that created the arrow annotation.
•Name is the unique name of the arrow annotation, as referenced within the application.
•Created is the date and time at which the arrow annotation was created.
•Modified is the date and time at which the arrow annotation was last modified.
•Read Only is the read only status of the arrow annotation. If this property is enabled then users cannot interact with the annotation. Please note that it is necessary to use JavaScript to change the value of this property.
•Printable is the print status of the arrow annotation. If this property is enabled then the annotation is printed with the document. If this property is not enabled then the annotation is not printed.
•Locked is the locked status of the arrow annotation. If this property is enabled then the annotation cannot be deleted and its properties (including its position and size) cannot be modified by users.
•Layer specifies the optional content layer to which the arrow annotation belongs. Further information about layers is available here.
•Fill Color determines the color of the line ending style used at the start of the arrow annotation. The line ending property is detailed below.
•Stroke Color determines the color of the arrow annotation.
•Border Style determines the style of the annotation.
•Border Width determines the width of the annotation.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in the arrow annotation.
•Blend Mode determines how arrow annotations blend with overlapping content. These options are explained here.
•Start determines the line ending style used at the start of the arrow annotation.
•End determines the line ending style used at the end of the arrow annotation.
•Start Scale determines the size of the line ending used at the start of the arrow annotation.
•End Scale determines the size of the line ending used at the end of the arrow annotation.
•Leader Length determines the length of the leader lines used for the arrow annotation. Leader lines extend from each endpoint of the arrow annotation, perpendicular to the arrow annotation itself.
•Leader Extension determines the length of leader line extensions that extend from the arrow annotation.
•Leader Offset determines the length of the leader line offset, which is the amount of empty space between the endpoints of the arrow annotation and the beginning of the leader lines.
•Show Caption determines whether or not the text contained in the pop-up note of the annotation is displayed.
•Inline Caption determines whether or not the caption is an inline caption. If this option is enabled then captions are placed inside the arrow annotation instead of on top of the arrow annotation.
•Length determines the length of the arrow annotation.
Convert Arrow Annotations to Distance Annotations
If you want to convert arrow annotations to distance annotations, then right-click the annotation and click Convert to Measurement:
Figure 4. Right-Click Shortcut Menu, Convert to Measurement Highlighted
The annotation will then convert into a distance annotation. Note that it is possible to convert multiple annotations at the same time.