PDF_Viewer no real editing with highlighting, annotations etc

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1
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The Basics

  • Nextcloud Server version (e.g., 29.x.x):
    • 33
  • Operating system and version (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04):
    • Win11
  • Web server and version (e.g, Apache 2.4.25):
    • Nginx 1.27.2
  • PHP version (e.g, 8.3):
    • 8.4
  • When did this problem seem to first start?
    • all versions

Summary of the issue you are facing:

Using NC since 25 to now Ver. 33 this PDF-Viewer does not support real pdf editing with highlighting, annotations etc.
This is all the more ridiculous since nowadays all modern browsers bring it with.
But this Nextcloud doesn’t even allow you to simply open it in your browser!
So - with collabora installed it’s NOT possible. With pdf-viewer it’s also NOT possible and you are forced to download the pdf in order to edit it in acrobat or similar and re-upload it!

That’s underground in 2026.

2

Hello @schnuppo ,

What will happen to your post?
Are you waiting for a solution?
Or did you just want to let off steam?
Do you feel better now?

1 Like
3

AFAIK, they are using PDF.js, Mozilla’s PDF engine, the same one that is built into Firefox, which does support the features you’re asking for, at least in current Firefox versions.

I can only speculate why not all the features available in Firefox are enabled in the version used by Nextcloud. Maybe they’re using an older version. Maybe certain features are deliberately disabled due to compatibility issues, unwanted side effects in combination with Nextcloud, security concerns, or other reasons I’m not aware of.

That said, the way you’re raising what I consider a legitimate feature request comes across, as somewhat “underground” as well, which probably doesn’t increase the developers’ motivation to implement the feature quickly.

So please try to frame your feature requests more positively in the future. It creates a better atmosphere for everyone, and increases the chances of constructive discussion.

1 Like