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sanjay_kothari
sanjay_kothari
Known Participant
May 13, 2020
Answered

Interactive PDF is not compatible with all browsers

  • May 13, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 7295 views

Hi Team,

I have a couple of questions listed below:

 

Q1. Not able to open hyperlinks inside embedded pdf in a new window

Custom Solution: We can add Java Script in Acrobat: (app.launchURL("http://www.MySampleURL.com/someFolder/somePage.html", true);)

But why this feature is not available in InDesign?

 

Q2. If we embed javascript to open links in a new tab, it worked on Internet Explorer only. It is not working with other browsers like google chrome Microsoft edge Mozilla fireworks and apple safari.

 

Q3. InDesign has multiple interactive features Like Animation, Play Video inside the PDF, 

Audio Play and Object State. But these are only for EPUB.

Why these features are not applicable for Interactive PDF?

 

Actually, I from the eLearning industry, And these features are most important for us. Please resolve these issues so we can use Interactive PDF as an eLearning best new modality.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Derek Cross

    Since Flash has become obsolete the kinds interactivity you describe, such as videos,  have not been available to be usable in all devices and readers (only simple hyperlinks). Hopefully if in due course vendors will implement PDF 2.0 though animation is not include the PDF 2.0 spec.

    You can get these interactive features with the InDesign plugin in5 (including animation).

    6 replies

    davidg9502748
    davidg9502748
    Participating Frequently
    July 8, 2021

    It's 2021 and we're still dealing with the same question posed by Sanjay a year ago in Q1 with no one from Adobe being able to give a logical and satisfactory answer. How do you make a PDF link viewed in a browser open in a new window?

    I have a PDF with a lot of hyperlinks to legal text and references. If the end user clicks on a link in the PDF for more information, the best user experience is to have that information open in a new pop-up window with the PDF in tact. If this were HTML, I could make a simple edit to the target modifier and specify Target="_blank" and the link would open in a new window. It should be that easy... and yet it's not.

    I have literally wasted an entire day reading complaints from people in forums with the same need followed by the same lame excuses from Adobe 'experts' telling us that it doesn't work, but no viable solutions and no developers trying to fix the problem. Interactivity through hyperlinks in InDesign—either as a HTML web page or as an interactive PDF—should function the same as any other hyperlink on the web. It should be just as important to set HOW that link is viewed to ensure the best user experience as linking to the content. At least with HTML, we can change the base code... with InDesign and Acrobat, we're at the mercy of the developers who keep our hands tied as to what they think we should do.

      T
      tinag18216012
      Participant
      August 25, 2021

      Try Publish Online. It makes it HTML5 and works great. You can update and write over it easily. Only downside is the published file lives on the Adobe site. 

      Diane Burns
      Diane Burns
      Inspiring
      January 12, 2021

      In addition to the In5 plugin as an option for publishing this, you already have Publish Online with InDesign. It allows you to create all kinds of interactivity. Here are some examples, all done with InDesign and Publish Online: http://bit.ly/PubOnCollection

      Derek Cross
      Community Expert
      Derek CrossCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 13, 2020

      Adobe don't own PDF any more – it's run and administered by the PDF Association who agree standards and specifications. Adobe and other vendors have seemed reluctant, so far, to implement PDF 2.0. But they have indicated they will during 2021. As these things take time to implement and for users to install suitable readers I wouldn't wait for it!

      HTML5 is the only format that will work on any platform  – PC, Mac, computer, tablet and smart phone –  or at least any device that has a compatible browser installed (which most do nowadays) and include the features you require. Also you can produce stand-alone documents.

        Derek Cross
        Community Expert
        Derek CrossCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 13, 2020

        I meant to add that Adobe (and hopefully some other vendors), have indicated they expect to implement PDF 2.0 in 2021.

          BobLevine
          Community Expert
          BobLevineCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 13, 2020

          This has nothing to do with InDesign but beyond Acrobat and Reader on a desktop, any interactivity in a PDF is a crapshoot at best. This is especially true for browsers. You need a new plan. Interactive PDF is not going to be the proper tool.

           

          For eLearning, check out Adobe Captivate or Articulate StoryLine.

           

          I wrote this several years ago, but it may give you a pretty good idea of why you should give this up: https://www.boblevine.us/its-okay-to-say-no-to-interactive-pdf/

            sanjay_kothari
            sanjay_kothariAuthor
            Known Participant
            May 13, 2020

            Thanks, BobLevine

            We are already using Captivate and Storyline, But if Adobe adds these features in PDF it would be great. Because now in the future every people want a compact and shareable thing which is light and play in every device. We can put the whole eLearning course in one PDF. People do not want to seat in front of the system. This is my thought.

            BobLevine
            Community Expert
            BobLevineCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            May 13, 2020

            Adobe has no power to add things to PDF. Nothing will work on every device...that is a pipedream.

             

            Your best bet is a fully functional eLearning website.

            Derek Cross
            Community Expert
            Derek CrossCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
            Community Expert
            May 13, 2020

            Since Flash has become obsolete the kinds interactivity you describe, such as videos,  have not been available to be usable in all devices and readers (only simple hyperlinks). Hopefully if in due course vendors will implement PDF 2.0 though animation is not include the PDF 2.0 spec.

            You can get these interactive features with the InDesign plugin in5 (including animation).

              sanjay_kothari
              sanjay_kothariAuthor
              Known Participant
              June 3, 2020

              Thanks, Derek

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