PDFAnnotation with PDFAnnotationSubtype equal to .widget is not refreshing its appearance after adding it to PDFPage

Question

After adding annotation to PDFPage (and rendering it on a screen), there is no way to update its appearance on PDFPage/PDFView.

To reproduce the problem:

1. Create PDFAnnotation and add it to the PDFPage:

   let bounds = CGRect(x: 20.0, y: 20.0, width: 200.0, height: 200.0)
   let annotation = PDFAnnotation(bounds: b, forType: .widget, withProperties: nil)
   annotation.widgetFieldType = .text
   annotation.backgroundColor = .gray
   annotation.font = .systemFont(ofSize: 18)
   annotation.widgetStringValue = "Test!"
   
   page.addAnnotation(annotation)
   

2. After it is presented on a PDFPage, try to edit its bounds/color/background color/string value etc.:

   annotation?.setValue("Help! SOS! Mayday!", forAnnotationKey: .widgetValue)
   annotation?.color = .green
   annotation?.bounds = CGRect(x: 0.0, y: 0.0, width: 100.0, height: 100.0)
   

Nothing happens.

I am aware of a trick:

    page.removeAnnotation(annotation)
    page.addAnnotation(annotation)

but it is rather a workaround, not real solution.

Rightwards

Answer 1

Can't you just use PDFAnnotation of type 'FreeText'. The size of this annotation type is updated when it's bounds are changed. I'm aware of the fact that this type is not editable by the user, but maybe you don't need this.

Slowwitted

Thank you for the response. Answering your question: I can't use freeText and editing text is exactly what I need there. – Lanti