Preview 5.0.3 Unable to highlight text - why?
 

I don't seem to be able to highlight text in Preview. I have followed the directions in the help menu to no avail. I can add notes, comments, arrows, text, ovals and squares but when I click on highlight my mouse pointer stays as a pointer and doesn't shift to cross-hairs so I can't select any text to highlight. When I choose text in the tool bar I have the same problem. I have checked the encryption status in inspector and I am told that I have full permission. What's up? What can I do?

Is the PDF itself a picture of the text as opposed to text itself? I know from experience that certain PDF files are simply scans of text or a picture of it and thus, it is not interpreted as text.

Yes, of course. Thanks, I reckon the file I'm working on probably originated as a scan. That explains it. Many thanks.