Adding Notes to a Highlighted Text (DT4)

DEVONthink
1

I’m having trouble understanding the functionality of PDF annotation - here’s the context and the question:

  1. I highlight text on a PDF
  2. I right click and select “add note”
  3. I write the note within the yellow expanded note box
  4. I don’t know how finish the process without clicking a new note to the document.
  5. I don’t see the new note in the list of annotations in the inspector.
  6. If I quit and re-open DEVONthink and the PDF I see the note added and attached to the highlight.

What am I doing wrong? Is there away to complete the annotation that I’m not aware of?

2

If you add a note to a Highlight annotation, the text appears under the highlighted text in the Document > Annotations inspector. It also appears in the Details section at the bottom of the inspector.

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1 Like
3

I think I may have figured it out. Please confirm:

If I keep the keep the highlight tool selected and click outside the note it doesn’t create a new note.

I ran into problems when lated I want to select the note using the edit tool bar for future edits or deletions I need to switch to the annotations inspector panel and either

  • right click on the selected annotation to delete.
  • edit within the details section of the selected annotation.

NOTE: In the documentation covering the edit PDF toolbar this functionality I couldn’t get the double click to work to select the note.

[Select Icon] Select annotations on the page. Double-click an annotation to edit its properties. Press the ⌦ Delete key to remove the annotation.

Let me know if this is a known issue or simply my misreading the docs.

4

Starting the note isn’t the issue. I’m able to highlight and add a note. What wasn’t clear was how to complete and submit the note. Clicking outside the note while still using highlight button worked.

5

With Tools > Mode > Text Selection active…

Screenshot 2025-12-28 at 2.12.06 PM
Screenshot 2025-12-28 at 2.12.06 PM966×1182 153 KB

With Tools > Mode > Annotation Selection active…
image

Double-click an annotation to open the Annotations panel.

6

There is no submission. The note is saved when you deselect the annotation.

1 Like
7

Thank you!

For future reference I’ve been working with Annotations Inspector open so I didn’t notice when I double clicked a note. My expectation was that double clicking with expand the note icon to display the note content where I could edit or delete.

8

You’re welcome.