Enterprise Toolkit | Windows Registry Reference

Annots (Annotations and Commenting)

Note: Preferences belonging to this feature reside in multiple hives.

Annotations include most of the items users can add to a document in the form of comments, editing markup, and so on. Many of these preferences are mapped to UI items in Acrobat. Pre 10.x versions of Reader have no Commenting preferences UI since the feature was only enabled in right's-extended documents. However, most of these preferences can be configured at the registry or plist level and used with Reader. For 10.x and later, Reader can also be configured from the UI as commenting is fully supported.

There are three broad categories of annotations:


This preference category contains the following subfeature(s):

Popup Open Behavior

Controls how and when popups open when a PDF is opened.

Summary table
bautoOpenOther Automatically adds a popup note when another type of annotation is added.
bHidePopupIfShowSummary Hide comment popups when comment's list is open.
bHoveringPopups Automatically open popups on mouse rollover.
btransparencyOK Specifies whether to use the stroke color as the fill color for highlight annotations.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Automatically adds a popup note when another type of annotation is added.
Details In other words, a popup note appears when you create a new comment using a drawing tool, the Stamp tool, or the Pencil tool. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't add a popup note for other annot types.
  • 1: Do add a popup note for other annot types.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Automatically open comment popups for comments other than notes.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Hide comment popups when comment's list is open.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't hide popups.
  • 1: Do do hide popups.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Hide comment popups when comment's list is open.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Originals
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Automatically open popups on mouse rollover.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't open popups on mouse rollover.
  • 1: Don't open popups on mouse rollover.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Automatically open popups on mouse rollover.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 8.0-9.0
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to use the stroke color as the fill color for highlight annotations.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't use the stroke color as the fill color.
  • 1: Do use the stroke color as the fill color.

Making Comments

The preferences in this section control the creation of new comments and associated features.

Summary table
balwaysUseIdent Uses the login names as the comment author name.
bcopyTextToDrawAnnot Specifies whether to copy the encircled text into drawing comment popups.
bcopyTextToMarkupAnnot Copies the selected text into highlight, cross-out, and underline comment popups.
benableTextSelection Specifies whether to enable text selection for annotations such as highlight, strikethrough or underline.
bsideNotes Creates new popups aligned to the edge of the document.
tauthor The author name specified by balwaysUseIdent.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Uses the login names as the comment author name.
Details The login name is the name specified in the identity preferences panel. If it is not present, the login-name is used. If it is not present for comments in collaborative documents (shared-review, browser-based review, email based review), the comment author identity is used that the user has set. For Acrobat, the default is true; for Reader, it is false. Possible values include:
  • 0: Do use the login name as the comment author name.
  • 1: Don't use the login name as the comment author name.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Always use Log-in Name for Author name
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # DC Continuous, August 2017
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to enable text selection for annotations such as highlight, strikethrough or underline.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Do enable text selection. When enabled, the cursor changes to ][ mode when the annotation (highlight, strikethrough or underline) is clicked and hovered over for more than 2 seconds. The cursor reverts to the previous mode after a time duration of 3 seconds upon hovering outside the bounding box of the annot.
  • 1: Don't enable text selection. When disabled, the cursor changes to ][ mode only upon selecting Enable Text selection in the context menu. It will then remain in ][ mode for all annotations on the page.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Enable text selection for Highlight, Strikethrough, and Underline.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path cAnnots\cAnnot
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary The author name specified by balwaysUseIdent.
Details Possible values include:
  • N/A: User specified.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Creates new popups aligned to the edge of the document.
Details Controls popup positioning. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't align popups at the document edge.
  • 1: Align popups at the document edge.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Create new popups aligned to the edge of the document.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to copy the encircled text into drawing comment popups.
Details Adds a popup comment automatically to other markup types so that they can be annotated. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't copy the encircled text into comments.
  • 1: Do copy the encircled text into comments.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Copy encircled text into Drawing comment popups
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Copies the selected text into highlight, cross-out, and underline comment popups.
Details Adds a popup comment automatically to specified markup types so that they can be annotated. Possible values include:
  • 0: Copy selected text.
  • 1: Don't copy selected text.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Making Comments > Copy selected text into Highlight, Cross-Out, and Underline comment popups

Stamp Configuration

Stamps are an annotation feature that enables a quick method of using preconfigured and highly visual comments to indicate that a document has been approved, revised, etc. Choose stamps from the default library or create custom stamps.

Summary table
aAP The stamp name of a user favorited stamp.
bStampsPaletteInvisible Specifies whether to show the stamps palette automatically when the commenting toolbar is displayed.
cfavoriteStamps A list of cabs that stores the stamp name and title of a user's favorite stamps in c0, c1, etc.
tlastUsedStamp Remembers the last used stamp.
tlastViewedStampCategory Remembers the last viewed stamp category in the stamps palette.
ttitle The stamp title of a user favorited stamp.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the stamps palette automatically when the commenting toolbar is displayed.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the palette.
  • 1: Don't show the palette.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel.
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary A list of cabs that stores the stamp name and title of a user's favorite stamps in c0, c1, etc.
Details A stamp can be made favorite by choosing Stamps > Favourites > Add current stamp to favorites. Each cab contains aAP and ttitle. Possible values include:
  • N/A: User specified
GUI mapping From the commenting toolbar, select the stamp icon, and then choose Favorites > Add current stamp to favorities
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type atom: String value > REG_SZ
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs\cfavoriteStamps
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary The stamp name of a user favorited stamp.
Details Stored in c0, c1, etc. Possible values include:
  • N/A: User specified.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type text: String value > REG_SZ
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs\cfavoriteStamps
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary The stamp title of a user favorited stamp.
Details Stored in c0, c1, etc. Possible values include:
  • N/A: User specified.
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type text: String value > REG_SZ
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Remembers the last used stamp.
Details Possible values include:
  • N/A: User specified.
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Remembers the last viewed stamp category in the stamps palette.
Details Possible values include:
  • N/A: User specified.

Viewing Comments

Summary table
bprintCommentPopups Enables printing of comments and other annotations.
bshowMarkupModifiers Specifies whether to show markup tool-tips and text indicators.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show markup tool-tips and text indicators.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't show markup tool-tips and text indicators.
  • 1: Show markup tool-tips and text indicators.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Viewing Comments > Enable text indicators and tooltips
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs\
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Enables printing of comments and other annotations.
Details Notes and popups that are open will be printed when the rest of the document is printed. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't print comments.
  • 1: Do print comments.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Viewing Comments > Print notes and popups

Commenting-Misc Settings

These preferences control commenting behavior related to printing, appearance, etc.

Summary table
bcommentPanelOnImport Specifies whether to opens the comment list when comments are imported.
bconfirmEBRMerge Displays an alert on document open asking the user to confirm importing comments into an active review.
bemptyContentToolTip Displays a tooltip stating the comment being hovered over is empty.
bnoisyAnnots Enables playing sound when adding and deleting annotations.
bPopupsOpenIffSelected Specifies whether to open a popup when it is selected.
bprintNotesOpaque Makes popups opaque regardless of other settings.
bsendFinalApprovalEmail Specifies whether to send a notification email when the current approval is identified as the final one.
imaxPDFCommentsSize Sets the comment threshold size for determining whether comments are embedded or sent as FDF files.
lastBBRURL Specifies whether to remember the last browser based review (BBR) URL used.
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Makes popups opaque regardless of other settings.
Details Prints the popups as opaque without honoring the popup opacity specified by the user in commenting preferences (popup-opacity). Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't make popups opaque.
  • 1: Do make popups opaque.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 7.0-8.0
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Enables playing sound when adding and deleting annotations.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Disable sounds on annotation actions.
  • 1: Enable sounds on annotation actions.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Displays a tooltip stating the comment being hovered over is empty.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't indicate comment is empty.
  • 1: Do indicate comment is empty.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 9.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Displays an alert on document open asking the user to confirm importing comments into an active review.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Disable confirmation alert on import.
  • 1: Enable confirmation alert on import.
GUI mapping Preferences > Reviews > Confirm Importing of Comments into Active Reviews from PDF Files
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 9.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to opens the comment list when comments are imported.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't open the comment list when comments are imported.
  • 1: Do open the comment list when comments are imported.
GUI mapping Preferences > Reviews > Open the Comment List When Comments are imported
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type
Default 1
Version # 8.0-9.0
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to remember the last browser based review (BBR) URL used.
Details It is used to populate the wizard with the last used BBR url. Since BBR is deprecated, this preference may be omitted. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't remember the last browser based review URL.
  • 1: Don't remember the last browser based review URL.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 3 for Reader and 5 for Acrobat.
Version # 9.0+
HKCU Path Annots\cPrefs
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Sets the comment threshold size for determining whether comments are embedded or sent as FDF files.
Details When collaboration involves sending comments with a PDF, comments below the threshold size are embedded in the document. Comments above the threshold size are sent as FDF files. Possible values include:
  • 3: Max size for Reader (Acrobat is 5)
GUI mapping Preferences > Reviews > Email-based Review Options > Send comments as FDF for files greater than __ MB
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to send a notification email when the current approval is identified as the final one.
Details Only valid for an approval workflow. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't send an email on final approval.
  • 1: Do send an email on final approval.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to open a popup when it is selected.

2D Measuring

Summary table
aarrowBegin Sets the default measuring start line shape.
aarrowEnd Sets the default measuring end line shape.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type atom: String value > REG_SZ
Default Closed
Version # Continuous track Aug, 2020
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Sets the default measuring start line shape.
Details While the aarrowBegin and aarrowEnd are legacy preferences, the Document Properties dialog and the Preferences > Measuring (2D) dialog used different preferences that conflicted with one another and resulted in the preference dialog settings always getting overridden by document properties. The preferences dialog has now been updated for the Continuous track, and both dialogs use the same preferences. Possible values include:
  • A string value naming the line end type.
GUI mapping Preferences > Measuring (2D) > 2D Measuring > Line Start
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type atom: String value > REG_SZ
Default Closed
Version # Continuous track Aug, 2020
HKCU Path Annots
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Sets the default measuring end line shape.
Details While the aarrowBegin and aarrowEnd are legacy preferences, the Document Properties dialog and the Preferences > Measuring (2D) dialog used different preferences that conflicted with one another and resulted in the preference dialog settings always getting overridden by document properties. The preferences dialog has now been updated for the Continuous track, and both dialogs use the same preferences. Possible values include:
  • A string value naming the line end type.
GUI mapping Preferences > Measuring (2D) > 2D Measuring > Line Start