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twinbrush
twinbrush
Inspiring
January 10, 2025
Answered

Zoom level changing in PDF Export when TOC links are clicked

  • January 10, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 1339 views

Don't ever recall this being an issue in the past, but today I'm getting this bizarre issue.  I've created my doc (in Adobe InDesign 2025) and exported it as an interactive PDF. In the Export view settings, its set to 'Fit Width'. When the PDF file is initially loaded, this zoom level (zoom level is 190%) is honoured.

 

When I click on any of the Table of Contents links the PDF navigates to the correct page but the zoom level reverts to what i assume is either 'fit page' or 'fit height' (zoom level changes to 80%) and ignores the 'Fit Width' setting from the InDesign Export panel.

 

Can't see any other options anywhere, but it has been a while since I set up a TOC, so could be overlooking something very obvious! Any suggestions or thoughts would be very much appreciated

Correct answer Frans v.d. Geest

Yes, that is how InDesign handles it. Problem for Accessible PDF. It is about the value 'inherrit Zoom' not being set and the TOC link is always a page link. Sad but true. Peter Kahrel has a InDesign script (developed for Accessible PDF) that can solve this:

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/accessible-toc.html

 

4 replies

D
defaultbzgmghltg0qr
Participant
November 20, 2025

Hi,

Did you find a solution by anychance?

Did the installation of the script help with Interative pdf's?

Or did the bookmarks work better?

twinbrush
twinbrushAuthor
Inspiring
November 20, 2025

I found creating bookmarks in the pdf was the quickest and most efficient way for me

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 12, 2025

If you built a ToC including the switch that makes hyperlinks to the pages, then your next step is to work on the Bookmarks in the PDF in Acrobat Pro. Each Bookmark can be edited to have a zoom level in the Bookmarks panel of Acrobat Pro:

1. In the Bookmarks side panel, select the bookmark.

2. In the document pane, move to the location you want to specify as the new destination.

3. If necessary, adjust the view magnification.

4. Select Set Bookmark Destination in the Options menu.

Also, notice this:

1. In the Bookmarks side panel, select the Options menu.

2. Select Set Default Bookmark Zoom Level, and choose the desired zoom level. By default, the Inherit Zoom option is selected.

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/page-thumbnails-bookmarks-pdfs.html

Mike Witherell
    Frans v.d. Geest
    Community Expert
    Frans v.d. GeestCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 11, 2025

    Yes, that is how InDesign handles it. Problem for Accessible PDF. It is about the value 'inherrit Zoom' not being set and the TOC link is always a page link. Sad but true. Peter Kahrel has a InDesign script (developed for Accessible PDF) that can solve this:

    https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/accessible-toc.html

     

    twinbrush
    twinbrushAuthor
    Inspiring
    January 11, 2025

    It's a problem for PDF in general. I would have assumed all PDF files are accessible no?

    Frans v.d. Geest
    Community Expert
    Frans v.d. GeestCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 11, 2025

    No.

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 11, 2025

    The setting of the initial view is just that - when the file opens that it sets to that for the initial viewing. 

    The Fit Width would be screen independent, surely, so on different monitors it would different zoom levels, right?

     

    I'm not aware of any setting that would change the zoom setting on clicking a link, I would assume that the zoom level would remain the same when clicking a link. 

     

    Hard to know without seeing it.

     

    You could always try install 2024 from Creative Cloud and try export from there and see if there's a difference. 

    It might be a bug in 2025 - I have no idea.

     

    Would need to see the files.

    twinbrush
    twinbrushAuthor
    Inspiring
    January 11, 2025

    Cheers Eugene. Yeah the fit width (zoom percentage) would change depending on the users screen, but would keep the PDF set to fill the width, which is what I want.

     

    quote

    I'm not aware of any setting that would change the zoom setting on clicking a link, I would assume that the zoom level would remain the same when clicking a link.

     

    Me neither. I've looked everywhere when setting up the links, the TOC styles and options, the PDF export and don't see anything.

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