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RobertPosma
Participant
April 1, 2026
Answered

Attached PDF document peculiarities

  • April 1, 2026
  • 11 replies
  • 183 views

I am creating a manual which has manuals and or drawing sets which are to be PDFs (over 300 of them) which can be selected and opened as a separate PDF document.  The selection is likely most important in the output PDF, but should be displayable while in FrameMaker. Ideally the same location would be have a link in both PDF and FrameMaker.   What I have been able to do so far is to create a common text frame shown below.  The upper left frame is the result of Insert>Attach file in PDF.  the Lower with icon is an File>Import>Object. 

FrameMaker file snip:

I am publishing with PDF A3b archive format which appears to be the only way to get the PDF embedded.  I have tried other formats without luck. 

Publishing the above file which I will also attach results in the following snip.  Loss of both graphics related to the Attach or OLE object.  Note the text from the OLE object is published in PDF, but nothing is selectable.  And the attached file without graphic has an active hyperlink in the upper left quadrant of the insertion.  

PDF File Snip. 

I have attached both the FM, and PDF output files for your consideration.  

Ideally, there would be an icon with the file name like the FM’s OLE object, and selectable in the PDF.  I am thinking of maybe having to overlay the Attachment Frame over the OLE’s Icon and maybe having to add another graphic at the same location to get a single “item” which works in both FrameMaker and published PDF. 

 

 

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    Correct answer Matt-Tech Comm Tools

    Have you reviewed the New Feature video I created?

     

    11 replies

    Matt-Tech Comm Tools
    Community Expert
    Matt-Tech Comm ToolsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    April 2, 2026

    Have you reviewed the New Feature video I created?

     

    -Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant
    Participating Frequently
    September 17, 2026

    Matt,  Sorry I didn’t reply earlier,  This information did help. 

     

    The problem I am having now using the PDFA3b to generate the files with the attached files.  What I am finding now is the attachments are sometimes not included.  It is not consistent when publishing.  Sometimes I get between 2-5 of 6 attached files on a PDF page.  Not sure if it is size of the attachments or length of tile going into the message embedPDF> command (but the do ones which attach vary), 

     

    Robert

    Matt-Tech Comm Tools
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 17, 2026

    Glad to hear! Please mark the comment as correct, etc. to help others find answers to that problem

    -Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant
    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 1, 2026

    Are you trying to make a master PDF that links to the PDF manuals?

    Have you looked at a PDF Portfolio?

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Participating Frequently
    September 22, 2026

    David, The client has asked for the single PDF with attached files which are opened by a double click in the body of the appendix within a document. 

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 1, 2026

    Personally, I’m still not clear as to what you’re trying to accomplish with these PDFs inside a PDF. OLE doesn’t really work all that well from what I recall & what would clicking on an embedded PDF be supposed to launch? Acrobat Pro?

    Participating Frequently
    September 17, 2026

    I agree that we have dropped the OLE as it was only being used to be able to open the attachment within the FrameMaker which the users of the document would need to do. 

     

    • Robert
    frameexpert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 1, 2026

    It’s not super-clear to me what you are trying to do. Are you able to meet via a web meeting so I can see what your goal is? Thanks. rick at frameexpert dot com

    www.frameexpert.com
    Participating Frequently
    September 17, 2026

    Rick,  If I don’t get an answer back from Matt on why some PDFs are attaching sometimes and not others when publishing, I’d be happy to work with you. 

     

    • Robert Posma
    Matt-Tech Comm Tools
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 23, 2026

    Hi Robert, it’s best to take these issues one at a time. You mentioned that you were able to attach PDFs using the info in the video. Great...Now, please close out this thread and open another so we can narrow down what it is about the PDFs you are trying to attach that sometimes fails when embedding the PDF.

     

    -Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant