What types of PDF annotations can this tool extract?

It extracts markups like highlights, underlines, and strike-outs, notes like text and free text, stamps, links, and shape annotations.

Does this tool upload my PDF files to a server?

No, all processing is performed locally in your web browser using client-side JavaScript, ensuring your document data remains private.

Can I download the output as a JSON file?

The tool displays the structured JSON directly in the output text area, allowing you to copy it to your clipboard.

Does the export include the page numbers of the annotations?

Yes, you can enable the page numbers option to map each extracted annotation to its corresponding page in the PDF.

Can this tool extract regular text that has not been annotated?

No, this tool is specifically designed to extract embedded annotations and markups, not the standard body text of the PDF.

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PDF Tools

PDF Annotation Export

Extract existing annotations (highlights, comments, stamps, links, markup) from a PDF into JSON

Details

What this tool helps you do

Reads annotations already embedded in a PDF and exports them as a structured JSON string shown directly in the output area (no file download). Markup (Highlight/Underline/StrikeOut), notes (Text/FreeText), stamps, links and shape annotations are all supported. Pure-JS via pdf-lib.

Execution

Run this tool

Fill in the form, run the tool, and review the result in one place.

Prepared example runs

Click an example to fill the form automatically. File inputs still need an upload.

1 examples

Export highlights and comments to JSON

Extracts all markup / note annotations from a reviewed PDF and returns a structured JSON string.

{ "sourceFile": "pdf-annotation-export-sample.pdf", "count": 2, "subtypes": { "Highlight": 1, "Text": 1 }, "annotations": [ { "page": 1, "subtype": "Highlight", "author": "Alice", "text": "important claim", "color": "#ffff00" }, { "page": 1, "subtype": "Text", "author": "Bob", "text": "Please review this section.", "color": "#ffcc00" } ] }

Inputs

Set the required fields, then run the tool.

2 options

FilesUpload source files for this workflow.1

PDF FilefileRequired

Single file max size: 100 MBSupported types: application/pdf

TogglesEnable or disable optional behavior.1

Include Page NumberscheckboxOptionalEnabled when checked

Result

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Samples

PDF Annotation Export

What this tool helps you do

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Prepared example runs

Inputs

Result

Examples that match this tool

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Prepared example runs

Inputs

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Key facts

Overview

When to use

How it works

Use cases

Examples

1. Extracting Editorial Feedback from a Manuscript

2. Auditing Document Links and Stamps

FAQ

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