# 1.9.1: PDF deep links to some text selections cannot be copied / text selection is not smooth

**URL:** <https://forum.obsidian.md/t/1-9-1-pdf-deep-links-to-some-text-selections-cannot-be-copied-text-selection-is-not-smooth/101227>\
**Category:** Bug graveyard\
**Tags:** pdf-viewer, repro\
**Created:** [May 28, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/1-9-1-pdf-deep-links-to-some-text-selections-cannot-be-copied-text-selection-is-not-smooth/101227 "2025-05-28T15:03:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ush](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/8e7dd6/32.png) [@ush](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/ush)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/1-9-1-pdf-deep-links-to-some-text-selections-cannot-be-copied-text-selection-is-not-smooth/101227/1 "2025-05-28T15:03:04Z")

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### Steps to reproduce

- In Obsidian 1.9.1, add [this sample PDF](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/19322327/Lorem.Ipsum.pdf) to the sandbox vault.
- Make a text selection that _ **ends at the end of a line** _, for example:  
 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/6/d/6d43fe8ac4fb84ee7cd3964f46145bad5bca8b07.png)
- Right-click to open a context menu.

### Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

Y

### Expected result

As in Obsidian 1.8.10, “Copy as quote” & “Copy link to selection” should be displayed.

 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/0/1/012a1623c3e7b89e6edaecc920f973ec157f2ee8.png)

In other words, the range of the text selection should be properly recognized by Obsidian.

### Actual result

Those two menu items are not shown.

 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/f/4/f4284bc71c7a07ea4e27486b2c0d95ab96f2011b.png)

In other words, Obsidian fails to recognize the text selection range. (Please see “Additional information” for more details!)

### Environment

SYSTEM INFO:  
Obsidian version: v1.9.1  
Installer version: v1.8.10  
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 24.5.0: Tue Apr 22 19:48:46 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.121.6~2/RELEASE\_ARM64\_T8103 24.5.0  
Login status: logged in  
Language: en  
Catalyst license: insider  
Insider build toggle: on  
Live preview: on  
Base theme: adapt to system  
Community theme: none  
Snippets enabled: 0  
Restricted mode: off  
Plugins installed: 0  
Plugins enabled: 0

RECOMMENDATIONS:  
none

* * *

### Additional information

#### 1. **Text selection range detection is failing because the selection ends in `div.textLayer` instead of a `Text` node**

After selecting a text range that ends at the end of any line, run `getSelection().focusNode` in the dev console.  
Obsidian 1.8.10: `focusNode` = a `Text` node

 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/4/9/49c95388b8c307349cd1ff70826d5abb8b149bbf.png)

Obsidian 1.9.1: `focusNode` = the entire `textLayer` of the page

 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/4/d/4defc0e0283f54aba2bf3d9398b719ad57c7190e.png)

#### 2. Text selection in general feels more unnatural/jerky in 1.9.1.

1.8.10: Nice and smooth

![Screen Recording 2025-05-29 at 0.01.16](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/5/8/58091e90ae90d64ce5b3ddfab98efbfe9a3690e5.gif)

1.9.1: Selection fails to expand when the mouse is moving outside of the text region

![Screen Recording 2025-05-28 at 23.57.31](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/3/f/3fae124326d40f592a9eecc2e1f491c385352b79.gif)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ush](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/8e7dd6/32.png) [@ush](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/ush)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/1-9-1-pdf-deep-links-to-some-text-selections-cannot-be-copied-text-selection-is-not-smooth/101227/2 "2025-06-03T03:25:59Z")

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I noticed the `onTextSelectionPointerDown` method has been removed in 1.9. I’m wondering if this can be the cause of the issue.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/whitenoise/32/11_2.png) [@WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/WhiteNoise)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/1-9-1-pdf-deep-links-to-some-text-selections-cannot-be-copied-text-selection-is-not-smooth/101227/3 "2025-06-10T19:06:45Z")

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This is caused by upstream regression introduced by pdf.js when we updated.  
It should be solved when we update again in v1.9.3

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/b/e/bec35fbd23ab28909bb6bfe62cb32eb82dd34019.png) [@system](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/1-9-1-pdf-deep-links-to-some-text-selections-cannot-be-copied-text-selection-is-not-smooth/101227/4 "2025-07-08T19:07:19Z")

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Closed on July 8, 2025, 7:07pm UTC

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