Cannot change original document in Preview

I have a similar problem that occurs when I use Zotero. Specifically, when I withdraw a pdf file from the Zotero database, then attempt to Markup in Preview.

I note there is a similarity to in my implementation of Zotero on my Mac to that described by a discussant below. Namely, that the Zotero and Evernote libraries are stored in a place named, in my case: Users/Showroom ([Me]/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/o4hrtze1.default/zotero

Here is the Error Report I filed on the Zotero discussion Forum today:

System:

Mac OS Sierra 10.12.2

Zotero 4.0.29.15

1. I create a pdf in Preview.

2. I use File Info to confirm: Permissions (Me) has Read and Write, Fetching has Read, Everyone has Read.

3. I drag to Zotero Library.

4. I click on the Zotero pdf to open (or use Zotero View PDF, or Show File, then click to open in Preview... same result as follows occurs)

5. I attempt to use Preview to Markup the document.

6. Preview says: "The original document can't be changed, so a duplicate with your changes has been created")

7. Show Info confirms the Zotero pdf file has Permissions= (Me) has Read and Write, Fetching has Read, Everyone has Read.

8. Curiously, the pulldown file menu in the middle of Preview shows the WRONG path to the file.

I think it should show: Zotero Data Directory Location:

Users/Showroom ([Me]/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/o4hrtze1.default/zotero

... But instead, the path is to a directory to which I recently saved another pdf.

... So I am wondering if Sierra and/or Preview app has changed malevolently in some way, rather than Zotero?

I've only the problem in association with pdf files I want to annotate that are in my Zotero library. I haven't tested this exhaustively. However, if I randomly select both old and newly created pdf files from my Zotero library, the same result appears.

I'm pretty sure the problem has only become obviously apparent strongly in the last week or two. However, since I installed Sierra in September 2016, I've not been using my Zotero since this week, as I have been on an extended travel away from my base computer.

I am about to begin investigating whether this feature is more widely known in the Apple discussions. I did note that Apple is introducing a new file system in Sierra....

Mendelson, E. (2016, June 23). What MacOS Sierra’s New APFS File System Means to You. Retrieved 5 January 2017, from http://www.pcmag.com/article/345519/what-macos-sierras-new-apfs-file-system-mean s-to-you

I'll also repair permissions on my Mac disk, though I'm pretty sure I did that a week or two ago.

The fault I just reported (MyndSurfers, January 5, 2017) is a 'known feature' for Zotero users. The fault is discussed here:

In summary, the fault appears to be that Sierra forbids editing using Preview of pdf files stored in /Library/Application Support/blah blah.

Zotero 5.0 intends to fix the problem by moving the Zotero library elsewhere. A Beta Zotero 5.0 is available. Follow the link above.

Your problem is completely different from the one discussed in this thread (inability to edit a pdf inside the ~/Library folder). Instead of hijacking the thread, start a new one with a descriptive title and give specific details about your mac model and os version.

I had this problem when I tried to open a file from another application Zotero. I found a solution in their message boards. Try moving the Evernote default file location out of ~/Library/Application Support/. It seems like Preview can't edit files there.

macOS Sierra: papers protected? - Zotero Forums

Now on Sierra when I try to copy and paste some selection of PDF this bellow problem happens. Even in JPG or PNG files this still happen

Original

COMMAND + C

Preview continues to be a viewer and annotation tool, but it is not a PDF editor. You can add multiple annotations, and save the PDF on itself, and quit Preview. When you open the document again, you can edit your annotations.

I can open a PDF form, enter some content into the form fields with Preview, and then save it onto itself again. On reopening it in Preview, I can edit the content previously entered in the form fields. Still no offer to duplicate the PDF.

Can't duplicate your issue with Preview 9.0 and macOS Sierra 10.12.0 (16A323).

Not using Evernote.

I am having the same exact problem. My workflow pre-Sierra was to open a PDF from Evernote in Preview, do some highlighting, and then save... but now I can't do that as when I try to save my highlights in Preview I get "The original document can't be changed, so a duplicate with your changes has been created."

I am not seeing this either.

Maybe there is a permissions issue.

Where is the pdf stored? Does it happen with another pdf, not coming from Evernote?

Looks like you don't have permission to write on that folder.

Select the folder in the Finder anf do command-I to open the Get Info window.

Do you have read and write permissions?

As everyone has mentioned, it seems to be a Permissions issue. However, you're saying if you have the permissions.

I'd recommend Repairing Disk Permissions through Terminal (if you're comfortable):

sudo /usr/libexec/repair_packages --repair --standard-pkgs --volume /

Else, I think you'll have to wait for an answer from Evernote.

Am having this same problem. Very frustrating.

If I have two pdf documents open in Preview, select some pages in one document, & drag them into the other pdf document, pre-Sierra behavior was for the selected pages to be added to the target document without any kind of copy being made (& why is one needed, I have to ask?) . Sierra behavior is to add the dragged pages to the target document, but to announce by a bubble up above that "could not edit the original document, so a copy has been made" which simply multiplies old & new copies of one & the same. Requiring more steps in the work flow to locate the original to delete it; & also any copies made sequentially in a normal pdf concatenating process, to locate & delete all the intermediate steps. Am not seeing the "Sierra difference" here in a very positive light.

Am not understanding the sudden total reverence for "originals" preserving them (for posterity? for a mind-blowingly encyclopedic time-machine "versions" backup of epic proportions? for what, please?) with every intermediate step.

Closing the app after what should be a simple added-a-couple-pages-to-an-existing-document brings on a series of decisions about the fate of each and every one of the intermediate-step copies of the same blasted thing I opened because I wanted to change it. If I wanted the original, I wouldn't have added pages to it. I wanted the original plus the pages I added. I am a simple man, trying to do simple things. (insert imoji here)

Also, the deletion behavior of the "source" pages (source of what was dragged into the target document) seems to have changed.

Also, the selection behavior of pages in documents open in Preview has changed (specifically, select two pages in a pdf document, rotate them, & then drag them into another document, (pre-Sierra) the two selected pages remain selected after rotation & can be both dragged; (Sierra) rotate two pages, one page remains selected after being rotated, user has to go back & reselect the 2nd page to drag or do whatever else. And who knows what all else has changed.

Tempted to revert to my clone backup immediately, before discovering other changes in behavior in a basic OS app which I use frequently. I mean really.