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SoNo321564
Participating Frequently
May 30, 2023
Answered

Exported InDesign interactive pdf not working - elements missing or moved

  • May 30, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 721 views

Hello,

I have made a 95 page InDesign report, with bookmarks and links throughout.

I have used parent pages for the different layouts and there is quite a lot of transparency used in the report.

 

The file was created on a MacBook Pro using the latest version of the software.The file looks completely fine when opened with Adobe Reader/Acrobat. When it is opened online however, elements are missing/moved. The same file looks completely fine on a mobile phone. Can someone explain how this is possible with a pdf?

I hope someone can help quickly! Launch is today...

Thank you

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer BobLevine

    This has been discussed ad nauseam! If it works in Acrobat / Reader that's the best you're going to get. When you export you will notice it's an Adobe PDF, not a Chrome PDF, Edge PDF or Safari PDF.

     

    Interactive PDF is pretty much a crapshoot at this point. I'm sorry if that comes off as cold, but that's just the way it is.

    3 replies

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 30, 2023

    This has been discussed ad nauseam! If it works in Acrobat / Reader that's the best you're going to get. When you export you will notice it's an Adobe PDF, not a Chrome PDF, Edge PDF or Safari PDF.

     

    Interactive PDF is pretty much a crapshoot at this point. I'm sorry if that comes off as cold, but that's just the way it is.

    S
    SoNo321564Author
    Participating Frequently
    May 30, 2023

    Thank you for your reply. I'm seriously annoyed that the functionality is essentially useless. When the report is published it will be opened on countless systems with varying problems. Great, how professional for the global company it is made for, and what a waste of time.  I also couldn't allow the download option from publish online. 

    Thanks again for your reply, I do appreciate the brutal honesty 🙂

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 30, 2023

    Again, sorry for your frustration, but PDF is an open source format and because of that there are countless PDF readers and most of them, quite frankly, suck.

     

    There is nothing Adobe can do about it. All you can do is recommend Acrobat or Reader to those viewing it.

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 30, 2023

    in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

     

    p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post if it helps you get responses.

     

    <moved from using the community>

    S
    SoNo321564Author
    Participating Frequently
    May 30, 2023

    Update - it looks fine when using Edge, seems to be Chrome that has the biggest problem.

     

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