Hyperlinks won't work after placing PDFs

Question

I create these large books about 5 times a year, where we place a LOT of PDF's like the below into one indesign file so we can export it to either the printer or a e-book software. Most of the time we do both, but COVID has cancelled our plans to print. Our workflow is that 1) someone creates a Word doc, links file to the word doc (ie. PRICE LIST, with the link hidden behind the text), saves as a PDF. 2) repeat times 200 3) I combine all the PDFs and place them into an Indesign file to correct colors, page number, insert ads, and create bleed. When I export from Indesign to a PDF, the links no longer work. I know the work flow is flawed, but we have a lot of people in the office working on these files, so we can't start with Indesign files. Is there a trick to get it to work, or do I need to figure something else out?

Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Answer

Why not try an InDesign book file to link your individual ID files? You could skip step 2. You can make your final PDF from the book file.

Questions--how are you correcting colors and creating bleeds from placed PDF files? You can't edit colors in the placed PDF; you can create a bleed if it doesn't exist in the original PDF.

If you really want to use your current workflow, you can check out this Acrobat plugin:

https://www.evermap.com/ABAddingHyperlinks.asp#:~:text=Start%20Adobe%20Acrobat%20and%20open,to%20open%20a%20link%20editor.

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