Double-clicking on text annotations in Preview automatically changes the text size.

Question

Double-clicking on text annotations in Preview automatically changes the text size.

The issue started after installing the newest High Sierra 10.13 update. Whenever i edit/double click my Pdf's Text Annotations ("These are my notes"), then preview automatically changes the text size (Look picture #2). I then have to revert the changes by clicking CMD+Z which shows that a "Change of Bounds" (Picture 3) has been reverted. In addition, if i go to text properties (Picutre 4) it shows as Text Size 12 and Helvetica, but I have to change the new text to size 8 to match the original text (which was size 12).

This only occurs when I have saved the text annotations/changes and fully closed Preview. Then reopening the program and clicking on the notes made from the last time. The bug has been reproduced on my girlfriends Macbook Retina late-2013 with the same OS.

Picture 1.

Picture 2.

Picture 3

Picture 4.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), macOS High Sierra (10.13), null

Posted on Oct 22, 2017 9:38 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Oct 22, 2017 1:29 PM in response to KristofferHansen

I wasn't able to reproduce your problem. Log into another user account on your Mac and see if it repeats there. If it does boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and test from there. Any change? Reboot normally.

Lastly, go into your User/Home/Library/Containers folder and move the com.apple.Preview folder to the Desktop. Reboot, launch Preview and test again. the com.apple.Preview folder will be recreated the next time you use Preview.

NOTE: In Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra and High Sierra the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.

For Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra and High Sierra go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring up this window:

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Answer 2

Oct 22, 2017 1:33 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for input.

I would just like to preface that the frequency of this happening varies. I've been trying to reproduce the issue and on certain text annotations/notes it occurs 100% while other times it only happens to 1 out of 10 text annotations on a certain document. I've tried to change size, font and other stuff and I can click on the text annotation and edit several times, re-start and save, then suddenly it starts happening after doing this a few times on the same document.

I tried starting up in Safe Mode and while the frequency was lower (1/10 notes) it still occurred from time to time. See pictures. I also deleted the container preview. Nothing really changed. Note: I tried this on 2 macs and the issue persists on both. Although I guess a lot of programs installed are very similar on both (Word programs etc), but running in safe mode should exclude that, right?

Pictures from safe mode test, showing the issue.
Note: Safe mode made all the backgrounds black on the text annotations, so i changed the text color to red.

Picture 1: I tried clicking on all the comments and only the "Test 2" would change.

Picture 2: I double clicked the Test 2 in the top left corner, and the text "disappeared" and the size changed. Highlightning the field shows that its still there, just that the color changed to black and presumeably the standard text setting:Helvetica, font 12 and black color.

Picture 3: Highlighting the text to shows it still there.

Picture 4: These settings shows up as for the text.

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,428 points

Oct 22, 2017 1:29 PM in response to KristofferHansen

I am using macOS High Sierra with supplemental update. I have generated two different PDF with Helvetica Regular 12pt. I add, a Text annotation, “These are my notes.,” without the quotes in the same font attributes, save the PDF, and exit Preview.

When I reopen the PDF in Preview, I can double-click on the annotation and the text does not enlarge, nor is there any other change to the annotation box. I have now repeated this test with two different PDF documents without experiencing any text box changes. My Helvetica font is the one that shipped with macOS, and not installed by Office 2008/2011 for Mac, which forced the Microsoft Helvetica font. Using the built-in trackpad on a 2014 MacBook Air.

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Answer 4

Oct 28, 2017 4:13 PM in response to KristofferHansen

To conclude how this ended.

I did all the tips above.

- Safemode ran: Issue occurred
- Deleted the Preview settings in Library folder.

- Reformated and Reinstalled High Sierra: Still occurred.

Eventually I had to roll-back and reinstall the old Sierra, which fixed the issue.

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