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eli bertuzz
eli bertuzz
Participant
February 20, 2018
Answered

Interactive pdf

  • February 20, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 3267 views

Hi,

we have a problem with the file that is generated from inDesign with the function "interactive":

when we add links and export the file as interactive pdf, we can see it in desktop screen but not in table or mobile.

For example, we created an eBook with buttons that show call to action. I can click on desktop but on tablet or mobile version the button disappear.

Instead if we create the pdf with keynote and export it in interactive we can see the button with the relative link in all version.

Anyone can help us please??

Have a good day, thank you

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Test Screen Name

Keynote is an Apple app, so is the default PDF viewer. So Apple will have worked with exactly what they know; there is every chance that they enhanced the viewer exactly as much as was needed for Keynote. Unfortunately Apple don't share any info about what small portion of interactive PDF they actually implement. So they can keep this competitive advantage.

4 replies

T
Test Screen NameCorrect answer
Legend
February 20, 2018

Keynote is an Apple app, so is the default PDF viewer. So Apple will have worked with exactly what they know; there is every chance that they enhanced the viewer exactly as much as was needed for Keynote. Unfortunately Apple don't share any info about what small portion of interactive PDF they actually implement. So they can keep this competitive advantage.

eli bertuzz
eli bertuzzAuthor
Participant
February 20, 2018

Ok, we have understand the real problem. Thank you very much!!

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
February 20, 2018

No idea how it works, but it's certainly not going to use form fields.

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
February 20, 2018

Mobile viewers are very limited especially the default iOS app. No form fields.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 20, 2018

Some PDF interactive functionalities don’t work on some devices also, ensure you’re using the Acrobat viewer.

This blog discusses some of the issues: http://boblevine.us/its-okay-to-say-no-to-interactive-pdf/

eli bertuzz
eli bertuzzAuthor
Participant
February 20, 2018

But if I create a pdf with keynote and export it in interactive, it works on mobile and tablet viewer, also in iOS.

How is it possible??

D
Dave Merchant
Legend
February 20, 2018

It depends how the PDF is constructed; there are many ways to implement a 'hyperlink' effect (form buttons, link regions, scripting, etc). InDesign's exporter assumes you are going to view in Acrobat, and uses all of its features. Third party software might instead downgrade everything to static images and link regions so it works in every app.

If you know a document is intended to be an 'interactive' PDF then you have two options: force users to install Acrobat and stick to desktop-only distribution, or create the interactivity by hand using a very sparse set of tools. Don't just drop stuff on the page from InDesign's toolkit and expect them to work - Adobe's dominance in PDF readers is very much a thing of the past.

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