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M
Mathieu Christe CJBG
Known Participant
April 26, 2022
Answered

PDF Optimizer: broken hyperlinks

  • April 26, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 1203 views

Hi everyone,

I'm working as a typographer for scientific publications. For our main periodical, articles are being published online first then on paper. Before exporting PDF for the online community, I check each URL to make sure that hyperlinks will be active, then I'm exporting from InDesign (CC 2019 14.0.3) as PDF Print using the Include Hyperlinks setting. So far success, all hyperlinks end up responding to mouse hover and are active.

As I wanted to reduce the file size of some of those PDFs, I used PDF Otimizer in Acrobat Pro DC (2022.001.20112), unfortunately all hyperlinks end up broken, except those for emails (using mailto:). I created custom settings but it doesn't work either with the Mobile default preset. Note that when I mouse hover, the cursour changes shape, from a pointer to a hand but the inside is blank, whereas a lowercase w appears when the hypelink is active. I found this post witnessing the same problem: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/save-as-optimized-destroys-hyperlinks/m-p/11316595

Thanks in advance for your help,

Mathieu Christe

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer betht81716989

Maybe there was an update since this post. I found that of you uncheck "Discard external cross references" in the "Discard user data" pannel, the links are retained. See Screesnhot.

3 replies

betht81716989
betht81716989Correct answer
Participant
October 18, 2024

Maybe there was an update since this post. I found that of you uncheck "Discard external cross references" in the "Discard user data" pannel, the links are retained. See Screesnhot.

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
April 26, 2022

Also, make sure you are NOT flattening transparency in the PDF optimizer. This completely deletes and replaces the pages that need flattening, losing all interactivity. Turn this option off.

M
Mathieu Christe CJBGAuthor
Known Participant
April 27, 2022

Flattening transparency is OFF (I've tested using the default Mobile preset where this option is off).

try67
Community Expert
try67Community Expert
Community Expert
April 26, 2022

Are you using actual link objects, or are you relying on the application's built-in setting to convert plain-text URLs into clickable links? Can you share a sample file?

M
Mathieu Christe CJBGAuthor
Known Participant
April 27, 2022

I'm using the proper Hyperlinks panel to make sure that even hyperlinks ending up on two lines will work. Here's the article I've used to make tests: https://vdgbox.ville-geneve.ch/index.php/s/pezzonGzKFDfxjb

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