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jma2's avatar
jma2
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago

My comments on PDF files are only visible on the site

I'm using Preview on a Mac to comment on a pdf file (adding text). Document is a pdf of a slide presentation, so each page is not text heavy. I worked on it all day yesterday (42 pages) and this morn...
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jma2's avatar
jma2
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago

I tried Adobe Acrobat as well in three different computers (Mac laptop, Mac desktop, and PC). Same issue. If I put in new comments in Preview, they remain in the document. I'm stumped. I hoping that there may be some issue with syncing and downloading on my account that will resolve itself overnight... Although anything new that I put in Dropbox seems to be okay.

Thank you!

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
6 years ago

Could you forward a screenshot of the Preview app you’re using to add comments, and also a screenshot of the PDF file on the site showing the comments themselves.

If possible, try to hide any personal details or info in the screenshots!

  • jma2's avatar
    jma2
    Explorer | Level 4
    6 years ago

    I was able to get a work around last night... I was able to open the file in my Chrome browser, went on the print window, and saved as a pdf onto my hard drive. I can't edit my added comments, but at least the information is there. 

    I was hoping the issue would resolve itself overnight, but not so.

    I attached the requested screenshots (kept it simple since this is work for a client). The red copy indicating that the information is verified appears on the file from Dropbox.com. The second shot is opening the file from the Dropbox file on my computer. 

    Screen shot from web view of pdf file.pngScreen shot from file using Preview.png

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
      6 years ago

      I’ve tried a few attempts here and can’t duplicate what you’re experiencing.

      The only possibility is that the file you’re opening after downloading is somehow not the same copy as the one on the Dropbox site, and that it’s opening an older copy, or that the downloaded copy is overwritten with the older version.

      Could you try downloading the PDF with a different browser to see if this helps?

      Otherwise, use incognito/private browsing mode without any extensions running, clearing your cache and even resetting your browser entirely.

      Let me know how it goes!

      • jma2's avatar
        jma2
        Explorer | Level 4
        6 years ago

        I'm not surprised that you can't duplicate it! I can't either with other files that I'm working with. All of those update, sync, and download as expected. I tried another browser (Firefox and Safari), cleared the cache, and incognito (Chrome). Everything is the same: the file from the Dropbox web site is not the file that downloads. I think something got corrupt with the sync of this particular file. What is on Dropbox web is not what downloads. And I what I need to work with the file on the Dropbox website, not what downloads or is available from the Dropbox folder on my computer. 

        Thanks for your help.

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