Named destinations do not work in Acrobat

Question

I have two PDF files (testfile.pdf and styles.pdf, stored in the same folder on my local drive), with links from one file to the other.

- PDF link using file name only: this works: Acrobat opens the PDF

- link using page number: Acrobat says "could not open styles.pdf#page=3"

- link using destination: Acrobat says "could not open styles.pdf#ID_403"

When I open the URL in a browser, these links do work:

file:///C:/testfolder/styles.pdf#page=3

opens the PDF at the correct page,

file:///C:/testfolder/styles.pdf#ID_304

opens the PDF at the correct named destination.

This confirms the destinations exist and are accessible via these URLs.

So what could cause these links to not work in Acrobat?

This is with the current version of Acrobat from Creative Cloud.

HC de Jong · Accepted Answer

It turns out I had to make a change in the application that creates the PDF (Antennahouse Formatter). This change is not visible when I examine the links in Acrobat, but it has the desired result: links to a page number or named destination now work correctly.

try67 · Answer

You can link a Named Destination (even in another file) directly, without using a URL (which is not a good idea anyway, since it won't work if the files are moved to another folder, for example). To do so create a Link and set its action to "Go to a page view". A floating window will open with a "Set Action" button. Switch to the other file, open the Destinations panel and double-click the Destination you want the link to point it, and it will do so. The floating window will disappear and if you examine the properties of the link you should see it says "Go to a page in another document", with the path of the file and the destination name you clicked on below it.

Note that although the path seems absolute, it is in fact relative, so if you move both files to another folder (or another computer), the link will still work.

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