Cloud Tool

<< Click to Display Table of Contents >>

Navigation:  PDF-XChange Editor V8 User Manual > Tabs Guide > Comment Tab >

Cloud Tool


 

editor.icon Cloud Tool

 


 

Click Cloud Tool to add cloud annotations to documents:

 

cloud.tool.location.ribbon

Figure 1. Comment Tab, Cloud Tool

 

When the Cloud Tool is enabled, the pointer is becomes a crosshairs icon. Click to designate the starting point of the cloud annotation. Drag the crosshairs to the location at which the first line is to be made. Click again to define the first line of the annotation. Repeat the process until the desired shape is complete and then double-click to define the final point:

 

cloud.tool.examples.ribbon

Figure 2. Cloud Tool Examples

 

Click to select cloud annotations, as detailed in the lower annotation in the image above. Selected annotations can be edited as follows:

 

Click and drag the outer control points to resize cloud annotations.

Click and drag the inner control points to reposition cloud annotations.

Click and drag cloud annotations 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 cloud annotations. Hold down Shift to rotate at increments of fifteen degrees.

Use the arrow keys to reposition cloud annotations. Hold down Shift to move at an increased increment.

Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of cloud annotations.

Right-click cloud annotations for further options. See here for an explanation of these options.

Press Ctrl+' to open the Properties pane for selected annotations and view/edit properties:

 

cloud.properties.pane

Figure 3. Cloud Tool, Cloud Properties Pane

 

Subject is the name of the cloud annotation, as referenced in the Comments pane.

Author is the name of the user that created the cloud annotation.

Name is the unique name of the cloud annotation, as referenced within the application.

Created is the date and time at which the cloud annotation was created.

Modified is the date and time at which the cloud annotation was last modified.

Read Only is the read only status of the cloud 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 cloud 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 cloud 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 cloud 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 cloud annotation. The line ending property is detailed below.

Stroke Color determines the color of the cloud 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 cloud annotation.

Blend Mode determines how cloud annotations blend with overlapping content. These options are explained here.

Rotation determines the degrees of rotation of the cloud annotation.

 

Note that when the Cloud Tool is enabled, the Format tab is available and can be used to customize the default properties of cloud annotations:

 

cloud.tool.format.ribbon

Figure 4. Format Tab, Cloud Tool

 

Click options in the Shape Style group to select alternative default cloud annotation styles.

Click Keep Selected to keep the Cloud Tool enabled and add multiple cloud annotations to the document. If this option is not enabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool immediately after creating one cloud annotation.

Click Exclusive Mode to enable exclusive mode, which simplifies the process of using the Cloud Tool. When Exclusive Mode is enabled, the pointer ignores all interactive elements of documents other than base content. This makes it possible to create cloud annotations 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 open the Properties pane and view/edit Cloud Tool properties, as detailed above.

When cloud annotations are selected, the Style Tools dropdown menu is available in the Format tab. It contains the following options:

Click Copy Comment Style to copy the style properties of cloud annotations.

Click Apply Copied Comment Style to apply a copied cloud annotation style to selected annotations.

Click Apply Copied Comment Appearance to apply a copied cloud annotation style to selected annotations.

Click Make Current Properties Default to set the properties of the cloud annotation as the default properties for subsequent annotations.

Click Apply Default Properties to apply the default cloud annotation properties to selected cloud annotations.

When cloud annotations are selected, the Pop-up group is available in the Format tab and can be used to interact with the pop-up note of the annotation:

Click Open to open the pop-up note.

Click Hide to hide the pop-up note.

Click Reset Location to reset the location of the pop-up note.

When cloud annotations are selected, the Arrange tab is also available and can be used to manipulate comments as detailed here.

 

Note that the Comment Styles Palette can be used to edit and save customized cloud annotation styles for subsequent use, and the Commenting preferences can be used to view/edit preferences for all comments.