Feature Request: Option to Save PDF Annotations Directly into the PDF File

renato

I would like to request an optional feature that allows Zotero to store annotations directly inside the PDF file, rather than only in the Zotero database. The internal PDF reader works very well and synchronizes annotations across devices, but in many workflows it is necessary to open the same document with external PDF readers on a computer such as Okular or Adobe Reader. In the current system, annotations created in Zotero are not visible when the PDF is opened outside Zotero, because they are not embedded in the file itself.

My typical workflow involves reading and annotating the same documents on different devices including PC, tablet and phone. Sometimes I need to continue working on the PDF using an external editor on my computer, and in these cases it would be very useful to have the annotations already embedded in the PDF, without having to export a separate annotated copy each time. Exporting creates duplicates and breaks the continuity of the workflow.

The feature could be optional, so that users who prefer Zotero’s current database-based handling of annotations can continue to use it, while those who need interoperability with external readers can enable the option. Having a way to keep annotations both synchronized in Zotero and also written directly into the PDF would greatly improve flexibility for users who work across multiple devices and applications.

dstillman

Sorry, we have no plans to do this. From Annotations in Database:

Early versions of Zotero 6 included a “Store Annotations in File…” option as well, but it could result in file conflicts and lost data, and it was removed.

renato

Thank you for the clarification. Since embedding annotations directly in the main PDF is not feasible, I would like to ask whether Zotero could provide a simple command to export a PDF with embedded annotations and automatically attach this exported copy to the same item. The goal is not to replace the current system, but to avoid exporting to the file system and manually reattaching the annotated version. This would offer a safe way to keep an annotated copy linked to the item and synced across devices, without affecting the original PDF.

dstillman

We wouldn't do that, but a plugin could do that.

renato

Thank you very much for your reply and for the suggestion about using a plugin.
I have been looking into the available documentation, but I have not been able to find a way to programmatically export a PDF with embedded annotations, either via the Web API or via the JavaScript API on the client side. As far as I can see, this functionality seems to be available only through the user interface (Export PDF / Export Items with “Include annotations”).
Could you please confirm whether there is currently any supported way for a plugin to trigger an “export PDF with annotations” operation programmatically, and, if so, point me to the relevant documentation or example code?

dstillman

Plugins can do essentially anything that Zotero can do. You’d have to look at the code to figure out how.