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mikefwd
mikefwd
Known Participant
October 27, 2023
Answered

InDesign hyperlink or button that opens a separate locally saved PDF on a specific page

  • October 27, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 644 views

Hi all

 

I'm creating an interactive PDF that contains many links that need to link to specific pages of external PDFs. Is there any way of doing this via hyperlinks or buttons?

 

The document is a kit of parts catalogue containing hundreds of products. On the pages that list the kit of parts product numbers, each product will have a link beside the product code that links to that products' technical drawings.

 

I would like this to function like so:

Clicking on link adjacent a product code within the kit of parts document will open a specific PDF drawing package at the specific page that shows the technical drawing for that product, in a separate window to the main kit of parts document PDF.

 

Any solutions to this would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Jeffrey_Smith

When you say external PDF, I assume these PDFs are accessible online.

If yes, you can create a link with an URL like this: http://www.yoursite.com/yourfile.pdf#page=X

 

#page=X follows the url, and x is the page that you will go to.

3 replies

J
Community Expert
Jeffrey_SmithCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 27, 2023

When you say external PDF, I assume these PDFs are accessible online.

If yes, you can create a link with an URL like this: http://www.yoursite.com/yourfile.pdf#page=X

 

#page=X follows the url, and x is the page that you will go to.

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    October 27, 2023

    Technically correct, yes... but relative links can be unreliable and not all third-party readers 'open to page' properly. If the content will live on one and only one web/intranet location (making hard links acceptable), and readers will follow a suggestion to use Acrobat and not browser or third-party readers, then this is probably the 'correctest' answer. But if any portability is desired and the tendency of users will be to use their default PDF readers... there will be headaches.

     

    I'd just suggest the OP experiment with a fairly limited time investment before committing to building a huge library of cross-linked PDFs. The moreso since PDF links can't (easily) be edited after export. (But HTML links can... just sayin'. 🙂 )

    J
    Community Expert
    Jeffrey_SmithCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 27, 2023

    The example I gave is an absolute link, not a relative link.

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    October 27, 2023

    I'd consider doing this with HTML pages rather than PDFs. In trading away the simple rigidity of PDF, you would get fluid documents that could be easily viewed on any device and far superior linking and cross-indexing features. Consider also that well-designed 'web' pages can be more consistent and stable than anything but vanilla PDF across a variety of platforms and readers... and that most PDF readers insist on opening a new pane for each new document, whereas a browser can make a choice to load in same/new tab.

     

    Also: not sure there are reliable means to link to other PDFs, again, across differing readers.

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 27, 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 (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.



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