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Inspiring
October 27, 2016
Answered

Exporting PDF to a Smaller Size from InDesign

  • October 27, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 2622 views

Hello,

My question is about exporting pdfs from InDesign.  I have created a multi-page document in InDesign that needs to be exported to a PDF.  I can't use the print to PDF command because it includes hyperlinks that must work when the pdf will be viewed online.  The pdf needs to be a smaller size than the original (I made it too big).  It would be extremely time consuming to re-scale the whole document which includes many text styles, guides, master pages, etc.  When I go to Export, there is no option for page size like there is in Print to pdf.  How can I use the Export command to make the pdf a smaller page size so that I can also keep my hyperlinks?  Is there a way to edit the job options to create a custom job option with a smaller page size?

Thank you!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer kcelsi1999

I figured out a workaround for this issue.  When the file is open, I went to File>Properties and selected the option for initial view>magnification>fit visible.  Since this is a document that will be viewed online, it will now auto-fit to any screen.  I'd still like to know if there is a way to export it as a different size though.  I haven't found a solution to that.

2 replies

Karl Heinz  Kremer
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2016

This is a question you should ask in the InDesign forum.

If you already have a PDF file, and you have access to Adobe Acrobat DC Pro (it needs to be "DC Pro" - older versions of Pro or any version of Standard will not work), then you can use Acrobat's Preflight tool to resize your PDF file.

Bring up the Prefight tool, then select the "Individual Fixups" and search for "scale".

Inspiring
October 27, 2016

I did this and it reduced the size, but the hyperlinks were lost.  Is there a way to do it with Preflight and maintain the hyperlinks?

Karl Heinz  Kremer
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 28, 2016

That is what it's supposed to do: All links, form fields, annotations will be moved and scaled accordingly. Which of the preflight profiles did you use to scale your document? Did you modify and existing one? What page size did you scale to (and from what)?

kcelsi1999AuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
October 27, 2016

I figured out a workaround for this issue.  When the file is open, I went to File>Properties and selected the option for initial view>magnification>fit visible.  Since this is a document that will be viewed online, it will now auto-fit to any screen.  I'd still like to know if there is a way to export it as a different size though.  I haven't found a solution to that.

Inspiring
October 28, 2016

Just to update.  I've found from the InDesign forum that here is no way to export an interactive pdf to a smaller size or change an existing interactive pdf to a different size.  You just have to adjust the way it is viewed when it is opened.

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 28, 2016

When you want a smaller page size use the preflight tool of Acrobat DC Pro.