How can I use a math formula as annotation text that will be displayed on mouse hover in LaTex?

Question

I am using the pdfcomment package to annotate my PDF file, allowing comments to be hidden and revealed upon mouse hover. However, when I include a mathematical formula in the comments, it generates an error. Below is the Minimal Working Example (MWE) to reproduce the issue:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{pdfcomment}
\begin{document}
A comment appears here: \pdfcomment{Use this formula: $y = \frac{u}{v}$}
\end{document}

The math formula is not processed and generates the following errors/warnings:

Package hyperref Warning: Token not allowed in a PDF string (Unicode): removing `\endgroup' on input line 5.
Package hyperref Warning: Token not allowed in a PDF string (Unicode): removing `math shift' on input line 5.
Package hyperref Warning: Token not allowed in a PDF string (Unicode): removing `\over' on input line 5.
Package hyperref Warning: Token not allowed in a PDF string (Unicode): removing `\begingroup' on input line 5.

Hi and welcome. I have no errors with your code with pdflatex. What build engine are you using? — AndréC, Mar 31 '24 at 08:21
pdfcomments are like the outline bookmarks and are pdf text strings not latex formatted output, use \pdfcomment{y=u/v} — David Carlisle, Mar 31 '24 at 08:50
@AndréC the math formula is not being processed: the output is "Use this formula: y = uv". — ukbasak, Mar 31 '24 at 10:42
@DavidCarlisle Perhaps I can use y = u/v for this simple case. What should I do for a more complex mathematical expression? — ukbasak, Mar 31 '24 at 10:49
it's a feature of pdf, latex can not change that, you need to express whatever you want to say as plain text — David Carlisle, Mar 31 '24 at 11:00

How can I use a math formula as annotation text that will be displayed on mouse hover in LaTex?

0 Answers0