Rectangle Tool
Click Rectangle Tool to add rectangle annotations to documents:
Figure 1. Tools Tab Submenu, Rectangle Tool
When the Rectangle Tool is selected, click and drag the pointer to determine rectangle borders:
Figure 2. Rectangle Tool Examples
The upper rectangle has just been placed, which means editing options are enabled:
•Click and drag the control points to resize rectangles.
•Click and drag rectangles to reposition them. The circle at the center can also be used for this purpose.
•Click and drag the green control point at the top to rotate rectangles. Hold down Shift to rotate at increments of fifteen degrees.
•Use the arrow keys to reposition rectangles. Hold down Shift to move at an increased increment.
•Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of rectangles.
•Right-click rectangles for further options. See here for an explanation of these options.
•Hold down Ctrl to create rectangles from their center.
•Hold down Alt to constrain rectangle proportions.
•When the Rectangle Tool is selected, the following options are enabled in the Properties Toolbar:
•Fill Color determines the fill color of rectangles.
•Stroke Color determines the color of rectangle borders.
•Border Style determines the style of rectangle borders.
•Border Width determines the width of rectangle borders.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in rectangles.
•Blend Mode determines how rectangles blend with underlying content. These options are explained here.
•Keep Selected determines whether or not the Rectangle Tool remains selected after a rectangle has been created. If this option is enabled then the tool will remain selected and can be used to create several rectangles consecutively. If this option is not enabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool immediately after creating a rectangle.
•Exclusive Mode simplifies the process of using the Rectangle Tool. When Exclusive Mode is enabled, the pointer ignores all interactive elements of documents other than base content. This makes it possible to create rectangles 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 rectangle annotation properties, as detailed below.
•Note that several default styles are available for rectangles, as detailed in (figure 1). Click to select alternative annotation styles. The Comment Styles Palette can be used to save customized rectangle styles for subsequent use. Right-click the Rectangle icon in the Comment Toolbar to view existing styles and/or access the Comment Styles Palette.
•The Commenting section of the Preferences dialog box can be used to view/edit preferences for comments.
Figure 3. Rectangle Properties Pane
•Subject is the name of the rectangle annotation, as referenced in the Comments pane.
•Author is the name of the user that created the rectangle annotation.
•Name is the unique name of the rectangle annotation, as referenced within the application.
•Created is the date and time at which the rectangle annotation was created.
•Modified is the date and time at which the rectangle annotation was last modified.
•Read Only is the read only status of the rectangle 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 rectangle 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 rectangle 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 rectangle 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 rectangle annotation. The line ending property is detailed below.
•Stroke Color determines the color of the rectangle 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 rectangle annotation.
•Blend Mode determines how rectangle annotations blend with overlapping content. These options are explained here.
•Rotation determines the degrees of rotation of the rectangle annotation.