[ARCHIVED] Annotating PDF's in Speedgrader not working

[aaronpachta]

I am attempting to annotate PDF's in speedgrader with a touchscreen laptop and a stylus. I select the pen tool but it just drags the PDF around when I try to write anything. This happens with any annotation tool I select. This is very frustrating as I do not want to have to use a separate application to annotate the PDF's and then re-upload them for my students.

[lisa_james]

I am able to annotate with my mouse.  But it's very sloppy and I want to with my stylus instead!

[sfitch]

I agree.  We should just be able to use a touchscreen or a tablet with stylus.  I hear you can download Canvas Teacher App if you have an iPad or iPhone.  Annotating on my phone sounds nearly impossible, and I don't have an iPad, so I guess I'm stuck with the terrible mouse method?  This REALLY needs to be fixed!

[LMAlexander]

I agree! Trying to annotate student submitted work using the trackpad is ridiculous. 

I have a XP-PEN Deco 3 that works with everything except Canvas SpeedGrader. My roommate has a Wacom and that also works with everything except Canvas SpeedGrader. She also has an iPad so she uses that with her stylus to grade and leave feedback, but I can't afford to buy one; nor should I have to. There has to be something Canvas can do to make SpeedGrader stylus friendly.

[sfitch]

Got help with this from my IT folks.  They had me download Chrome and try again, and in Chrome, the stylus works to annotate in SpeedGrader.  I hope this can work for others.

[lisa_james]

I already use Chrome:( and nothing

Lisa

[ericwerth]

Hi  @lisa_james   Do you know what version of Chrome you are using or if you can upgrade to a newer version. I don't know about this functionality specifically but have run into instances where an older version of the browser doesn't work but the most updated version does.  Just a thought!

[aaronpachta · Accepted solution]

I think I've found the root of the issue. I'm fairly certain the laptop I was using won't allow a passive stylus to draw in Chrome or other applications. To actually draw, the computer needs an actual mouse click, and a passive stylus won't do this. I've moved to the Canvas Teacher app on an android tablet to annotate assignments and that seems to work ok. An actual active stylus that connects to the laptop would likely work. 

[ericwerth]

Thanks for the update  @aaronpachta   That's good information to keep in mind for the future.

All the best---

[RichardTêtu]

I have a problem with this because I am on an iPad Air with the Apple 2 pencil. It drags the students' pdfs when I attempt to annotate the pdf they submitted. Any hints for my type of user?

[KristinL]

@RichardTêtu - Is your device running iOS 15? The Community has noted an increased number of questions regarding speedgrader and functionality since the release of iOS15, and I wonder if there's a connection.