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Inspiring
Mar 23, 2026 9:05 PM UTC
Question

How to create return links from glossary to original text in InDesign

I have a document that will be exported as web viewed PDF, I’ve set up the glossary with hyperlinked text anchors. But I’d like to include another link to jump back to the text so that readers aren’t ‘stranded’ in the glossary. Is there an easy or automated way to do? Or do I have to set up text anchors that move in the opposite direction (from definition to text).

    12 replies

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Mar 24, 2026 11:14 AM UTC

    Viewing in a browser is nothing but a crapshoot. When you export you’ll see that you’re exporting to Adobe PDF. Anything other than Acrobat/Reader on a desktop may or may not work.

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    Inspiring
    Mar 24, 2026 4:06 PM UTC

    Hi Bob

    Can elaborate on what you mean here?

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    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Mar 24, 2026 4:20 PM UTC

    You said you want this to work in a browser. You need to test whatever you’re doing in Acrobat before you test it anywhere else. If it works there but not the browser this practically nothing you can do.

    Since there’s no way to control what your audience is doing, you need to keep this as simple as possible.

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    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Mar 23, 2026 9:37 PM UTC

    You could put the Acrobat keyboard shortcut for Previous View on the header of the parent page of the glossary. (This is just a reminder, not a link.) They are Alt-Left Arrow or Cmd-Left Arrow.

    Another option is to add a button on the parent page of the glossary to go to the Preview View.

     

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    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Inspiring
    Mar 24, 2026 4:10 PM UTC

    Hi Dave

    Thanks for your reply and suggestion. I am concerned about relying on Acrobat shortcuts or Acrobat functionality. Is it reasonable it is to assume that everyone will be accessing the PDF through an Adobe product? Aren’t hyperlinks more universal and thus the safer option to ensure that the majority of users have the same experience?

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    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Mar 24, 2026 6:37 PM UTC

    A safer assumption would be that they’re not.

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