What is an XFDF file?
XFDF is a separate file that can hold PDF comment data. It can include words, author labels, page positions, replies and decisions. It does not contain the PDF pages themselves. Different tools support different parts of the format.
Pagekind 0.65.0 can inspect local XFDF files and export complete supported plain-text sticky-note conversations. To bring supported conversations into a receiving PDF, use the separate review and import workflow. Inspection and export do not add an Undo step or change your PDF.
Read the comments in a file.
- Open a PDF, then choose Comments. Expand Exchange comments below the comment list.
- Choose Inspect XFDF. Select a local XFDF or XML file. The inspection shows its record count and which records fit the supported plain-text subset.
- Select a record. Read its full text, author label, exchange name, parent reference and recorded decision. A record outside the supported subset remains visible with a reason.
- Use Search exchange text or author. Filtering narrows the list while keeping the selected record's text available. The inspection stays with its document when you change tools, pages or tabs.
The filename reference is displayed without opening it. Matching pages have not been established: a filename or page number does not prove that the comments belong to this PDF. A missing page is marked. If the working PDF changes after inspection, inspect the data again before comparing positions.
Cancelling the picker or choosing an unreadable file keeps the previous inspection. Clear inspection clears the panel without deleting either file. Closing the document tab clears its inspection; inspect the file again after reopening.
Export one complete conversation.
- Select a note or reply in the PDF comment list. This selection chooses the conversation to export; it is separate from the list of inspected XFDF records.
- Choose Export selected conversation. Pick a new filename. The exported file includes the root, nested replies and decision records together.
- Check the result message. It reports how many records were exported. Your PDF, its saved copies and its Undo history stay unchanged.
Export all comments as XFDF exports all supported comments in the working PDF. It includes comments outside the current list filter. Both options stop if any record in their scope cannot be exported completely; unsupported records are not silently dropped.
The export retains supported text, names, authors, dates, rectangles, flags, note icons, RGB colors, opacity, replies and decision relationships. An unnamed note receives a name in the exchange file only. Author labels and dates are unverified metadata.
If export cannot finish.
- A file already exists: choose a different filename. Pagekind does not replace existing export files.
- The PDF disallows copying: open it with the owner password or use a copy-enabled PDF.
- A conversation contains unsupported data: keep reading it in Comments. Rich text, custom appearances, popups, grouped records, non-Text annotation types and ambiguous relationships are outside this first export subset.
- The result is interrupted: an export file may already have been written. Check the chosen location before trying again; retrying cannot overwrite it or add comments to the PDF.
Inspection accepts files up to 4 MiB and 10,000 records. Export accepts source PDFs up to 128 MiB and requires a complete readable comment index. XML document types, entities and processing instructions are refused; referenced files, websites and actions are not opened or executed.
Keep control of the file.
An exported XFDF file is unencrypted and includes comment text and metadata, even when the source PDF required a password. Pagekind saves it locally and does not upload or send it. Choose where to keep it and who to share it with.
This unsigned engineering preview has independent XML and PDF readback checks for the supported exports. Full XFDF import and compatibility with every Acrobat or other producer workflow remain unverified. Keep the original PDF when trying an exchange with another tool.