I wish there was a way in Okular to apply annotations (eg highlight) to selected text, in addition to the current method, like in every PDF reader I am aware of. For example, in my workflow I often select the text, make small adjustments to that selection (possibly using Ctrl+arrows, which is not even possible in Okular), press Ctrl+C to copy the text and Ctrl+H to highlight it.
This is one of 3-4 major annoyances that stop me from adopting Okular as my main reader.
Okular allows you to annotate documents just like any other document viewer. And much more.
The tools are not necessarily displayed by default (Menu bar â> Settings â> Configure toolbars.)
The Okular manual is available in the KDE Help Centre:
Application Manuals â> Office â> Okular.
I think you misread my post. I was talking about the missing ability to highlight pre-selected text. As I said, thatâs âin addition to the current methodâ. I described the steps as select text first, then highlight. Or have I been missing a setting for years?
I know this is an unpopular take but on the general point, Okular does a lot and itâs fast, but also misses quite a few features, some of them critical for some users. Eg it doesnât support nested replies and doesnât remember sessions.
iâm confused too.
are you saying you want the text selection and the hightlight tool to be integrated?
because right now they are separate tools
you can select text for copy/paste by either rectangle or by text selection
or
you can markup text with a highlighter
they would seem to be separate operations
I am surprised this is not a given. Try this: open a PDF in Firefox and select some text. You should see a tooltip that lets you apply the highlight to the text you had preselected.
I use PDFs a lot in my work and I have literally used tens of readers/editors over many years. Most if not all applications support both methods: (a) drag the highlighter over text or (b) apply the highlight to preselected text. Okular is the only one Iâve seen that only does (a).
The advantage of (b) is that you can be more precise in selecting the text you want highlighted. Even from an accessibility point of view, it should be possible. Also, with (b) you can efficiently do a Ctrl+C and then Ctrl+H (or whatever shortcut applies the highlight to preselected text). As an alternative to a key combination practically all PDF readers also give you a context menu with âHighlight thisâ. Believe me, for people used to method (b) Okular is extremely annoying.
EDIT: the principle is the same as in selecting text in word processing and pressing Ctrl+B, Ctr+I etc to apply formatting.
ah, i see what you mean now.
and i agree when selecting text the highlight and underline tools should be integrated so they are offered right along side copy, speak text and search whenever you select some text (either by rectangle or by cursor).
i would also like to see text selection based on keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+Shift+arrow to highlight a word at a time.
feel free to add a âwishlistâ item to the bugs.kde.org website
It turns out someone submitted an issue in 2022 and there have been no responses at all in four years! I added my bit but I am not holding my breath.
I can never understand why PDF support is not taken seriously at all in Linux.
it was waiting in REPORTED status
i moved it to CONFIRMED⌠in case that helps.