Mathtype eqution hyperlinks does not work in converting word to pdf

I’ve had the same problem since I upgraded from Word 2003 to Word 2013. I suspect the problem arose from changes in PDFMaker for Word 2007 and later. According to Adobe, Word 2003 and earlier used Acrobat Distiller to generate PDFs, while Word 2007 and later use Adobe PDF Library. In PDFs I’ve generated from Word 95, 2000, and 2003 using versions of MathType from 3.5 to 6.6 and versions of Acrobat from 4.0 to XI, the links have worked fine; with Word 2013 files, using MathType 6.6, 6.9, and 7 (trial) and Acrobat XI and DC (2015), no equation references are created.

MathType uses GOTOBUTTON fields for equation-reference links; PDF Library does not seem to generate links from these fields whether they’re done with MathType or inserted manually. REF fields work fine. I don’t know why MathType uses such a complicated approach, but I assume there is some reason for it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work, and if the transition is indeed at Word 2007, this problem has been around since late 2006.

I think it’s long past time to quit choking this chicken. It would of course help if Adobe could provide an answer (it cannot be that difficult), even if it’s to the effect of “we no longer convert GOTOBUTTON fields and have no intention of ever doing so again.” Perhaps there was a good reason for this decision; it would help for Adobe to say what it is. Though that’s hardly the answer I would like, it’s at least an answer, which would be far preferable to 11 years of wishin’ and hopin’ the problem will somehow go away. If that indeed is the case, WIRIS may need to make some changes if the equation links are to be of any real value.

Sorry for the delay; I just now saw your post while looking at another thread.

Please see the parallel thread here: Re: Internal link to eq. numbers from Word