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debedgio
Participant
March 6, 2020
Answered

Adobe InDesign Hyperlinks Don't Open for All in PDF

  • March 6, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 2200 views

Hi,

 

I am creating a catalog with multiple hyperlinks to online training. I am using Adobe InDesign. Each hyperlink is under a text entry description of the course and contains a hyperlink character style that I created. So, many of the hyperlinks contain the same preview text (they all say Click Here to access the training, but each physical link is different.) I inserted the hyperlink by highlighting the appropriate Click Here text, right-clicking, and selecting Hyperlink > New Hyperlink. I have diligently checked each link for spaces and no extra spaces occur. I have deselected Share Hyperlink Destination. In the hyperlinks panel, all links are green and work correctly when I click them.

 

I then export the PDF as a Print PDF with Hyperlinks enabled. I have tried both an older version of PDF (Adobe Acrobat 5 PDF 1.4) and a newer version of PDF (Adobe Acrobat 7 PDF 1.6). 

 

What happens is the PDF works correctly for me when I open it and view it, but other people experience difficulty opening links. My supervisor has many broken links on her end. Many times our clients can't open the links. All the links work for me when I open the PDF on my laptop, but the results seem varied among other users. This is problematic because we can't send out a PDF where many of our users can't open all of the links.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com

    Quote: << I then export the PDF as a Print PDF with Hyperlinks enabled. I have tried both an older version of PDF (Adobe Acrobat 5 PDF 1.4) and a newer version of PDF (Adobe Acrobat 7 PDF 1.6). >>

     

    For starters, why export a PDF with interactive features (your hyperlinks) using a Print PDF standard?

     

    Instead, use Export / Adobe PDF (Interactive) and let us know if this improves the interactivity.

     

    And, as Bob Levine commented, only an Adobe technology is guaranteed to work. That's Adobe Acrobat Standard, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Adobe Acrobat Reader (the free version). There are hundreds of other PDF reading programs on the market, but none match the capabilities of Adobe's.

     

    Also, are your colleagues viewing the PDF in a browser? Windows often opens PDF files in the MS Edge browser, and Apple often opens them in Apple Preview. Neither browser adheres to the full PDF standard and features.

     

    3 replies

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 6, 2020

    I have found over the years that when dealing with hyperlinks out of InDesign for a mass user pdf that it is always best to include a line of copy to the effect of "The links included with this PDF may not work with all PDF readers. Please download the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com if there is a problem using the links."

    Also, as far as the choice of Interactive PDF versus Print PDF please know that Interactive PDFs can only be read by Acrobat 9 or later (which may further limit usability of the links for some users).

      V
      Valerie_Laz
      Participant
      July 4, 2023

      I've literally just had the same problem. Turnsout, if users open the file, it would open it with whatever program they have including Publisher and the links - won't work. However, if they download the file - they 'd suddenly have Acrobat discovered in their system and vois la - all links are fine! So adding to the the previous suggestion: "Please download the file"

        Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
        Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.comCorrect answer
        Legend
        March 6, 2020

        Quote: << I then export the PDF as a Print PDF with Hyperlinks enabled. I have tried both an older version of PDF (Adobe Acrobat 5 PDF 1.4) and a newer version of PDF (Adobe Acrobat 7 PDF 1.6). >>

         

        For starters, why export a PDF with interactive features (your hyperlinks) using a Print PDF standard?

         

        Instead, use Export / Adobe PDF (Interactive) and let us know if this improves the interactivity.

         

        And, as Bob Levine commented, only an Adobe technology is guaranteed to work. That's Adobe Acrobat Standard, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Adobe Acrobat Reader (the free version). There are hundreds of other PDF reading programs on the market, but none match the capabilities of Adobe's.

         

        Also, are your colleagues viewing the PDF in a browser? Windows often opens PDF files in the MS Edge browser, and Apple often opens them in Apple Preview. Neither browser adheres to the full PDF standard and features.

         

        |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bevi Chagnon &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;Designer, Trainer, &amp; Technologist for Accessible Documents ||&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;PubCom |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Classes &amp; Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs &amp; MS Office |
        BobLevine
        Community Expert
        BobLevineCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 6, 2020
        Unless it's being opened in Reader or Acrobat Pro all bets are off. This is especially true in browsers or mobile devices.
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