Import and Export PDF with annotations

sahil48 · March 21, 2022

Is there a way to export a PDF with the annotations embedded in the PDF so you can read it on other PDF readers with the annotations.

Can a PDF with annotations made with another PDF reader be imported into Zotero?

warguelles · March 21, 2022

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/annotations_in_database#interacting_with_embedded_annotations

sahil48 · March 21, 2022

Thanks warguelles. Looking at Data Portability, must you export the entire PDF library, or can a single PDF be exported with annotations?

Thanks.

adamsmith · March 21, 2022

You can export individual or any number of PDFs with annotations. Just try it out.

verazorita · April 12, 2024

When Zotero exports a pdf with annotations, does it modify anything else from the file?

Would it be the same pdf document with the same image quality?

adamsmith · April 12, 2024

It should in all expectation be the same PDF and the way PDF annotations work in the file format, I'd think that would be pretty reliable, but it's certainly _possible_ you might see something else.

verazorita · April 12, 2024

So the best practice would be to keep the original file just in case...

How could I handle this redundancy within the program? Two pdfs under the same entry?

adamsmith · April 12, 2024

No, there's no need for that: Zotero keeps the original file -- if you export _without_ annotations (or just use Show file), you'll definitely get the exact same file.