Multiple Leaders on Callout

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xuser-steve
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Multiple Leaders on Callout

Post by xuser-steve »

It would be useful to be able to add multiple leaders to a callout that applies to several items in a document, instead of having to copy the callout multiple times.
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TrackerSupp-Daniel
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Re: Multiple Leaders on Callout

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello, xuser-steve

Unfortunately, the PDF specification does not allow multiple leaders on a single callout comment. Any software which is offering this is breaking the spec, and could cause damage to your files in doing so. This has been a recurring request for a few years now, and will continue to be rejected until such a time that the specification changes to allow it.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

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xuser-steve
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Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2021 5:36 pm

Re: Multiple Leaders on Callout

Post by xuser-steve »

Bluebeam has the feature. It views fine within PDF_XChange with multiple leaders, but if edited all but the first leader disappear. It would be nice to have the same feature set at home as at work, and I prefer PDF_XChange interface and other features.
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TrackerSupp-Daniel
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Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: Multiple Leaders on Callout

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello, xuser-steve

Unfortunately, Bluebeam is one competitor who is notorious for not following the PDF specification, and indeed causing damage to documents when items like this are added. The reason that the specification exists is not to prevent us or others from adding content that into PDF files that we would like, but to ensure there is a uniform understanding from a coding perspective. As this is not detailed in the specification, ANY instances of it that exist have the potential to damage the document, whether that "damage" is simple data loss, like some of the leaders disappearing, or complete document corruption, rendering the file entirely unusable, varies from case to case and is not something we want to be responsible for.

Just as an example, lets take a look at English. Now, you and I both have the understanding that "comment" and "note" are interchangeable. That interchangeability is similar to the PDF specification, there is a basic understanding between both of us (separate applications), and we can both properly interpret it. Now, imagine someone else comes along and decides that they want to use the word "fork" instead of comment or note. This again, is where a problem arises. If you and I see something that says "slide the comment across the document" or "slide the note across the document" we will perform the same action reliably, because the "English specification" states those are both correct. Our friend here however, has used "fork" so the instructions we both see now state "slide the fork across the document". Evidently, sliding a fork across a page, could in many cases, cause damage to the file.

As I mentioned before, this is something which has come up many times over the years, and our dev team has explicitly stated that we cannot, and will not, be offering this until the specification is changed to allow it. As this discussion is complete, and not open to negotiation, I will be locking this topic.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
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