Excel hyperlinks not working after convert to PDF

Report · Oct 29, 2016

I am using your Acrobat Pro XII trial version, I am running Excel 2016 for PC. I have hyperlinks in my excel form and when I convert it to PDF they do not transfer over. I have tried "Save as" a PDF and also "Print", save as PDF, convert the Excel file to PDF using Adobe PDF maker. none will work.

Please help.

Report · Oct 31, 2016

The problem is that you've created your links via a macro - for the link to work, Excel needs to execute the HYPERLINK macro, and get it's target from a different cell. No macros in an Excel document are getting converted to JavaScript in the PDF file. If you create your links as true links (Insert>Hyperlink), then the link will survive the conversion to PDF. You have two options: You can either convert your links in the Excel documents to true (and static) links, or you can add your links manually in Acrobat using the link tool.

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Report · Aug 04, 2020

I had a similar problem. I wanted to make a Phone Directory for work which was loaded up to Microsoft TEAMS. I searched everywhere. I was stuck with uploading an Excel file. It worked but I wasn't happy with it.

Then through a lot of trial and error I found in Excel I go to "Page Layout" and select "Print Area". I then save the document and select Copy. The go to Word and Paste it. From there I can adjust the Custom page size to fit and I even changed the Paper colour to match the Original Excel file so I don't see the white areas at the bottom. It now looks and operates just like an APP, so good. Now to use the Phone directory the other staff only need to click on the name and the dialer opens up on their phone and they're on their way! I'm now making a contact list for all the other departments.

So to summerise, Excel- copy your work- paste to word, then save as a PDF.

Report · Nov 02, 2020

Links exported from Excel to a PDF are suboptimal in Adobe Acrobat DC if the link is in a merged cell. Merged cell links may not work or only work in one area and not others where the text is or is not. Be sure your link is in a unique cell for best results. Using PC, Excel 2016.

Report · Nov 19, 2020

So I've been having a similar issues.... this may apply to you as well... I thought I had an issue, until I realized that it is hyperlinking to PDF **BUT** because I merged a bunch of cells to fit the hyperlink, it only recognized the first cell in the merge. Basically, simple solution was to unmerge the hyper link text, then insert the link across several cells, instead of just one cell. The text will still show up across all the cells, as long as there is no text in the cells adjacent to it. I hope this helps...

Report · May 26, 2021

I read through the list of 'solutions' and none of them worked for me. What I ended up having to do is save the file as an html page and then print the html page to PDF. This ended up converting the hyperlinks to PDF. I know it's a little bit of a hack, but it worked for me. Hopefully this is helpful to someone else.

Report · Jul 08, 2021

I have tried every way possilbe using Excel and can't get it to work. What I did do what import my spreadheet into google docs, and then "download" the spreadsheet as a PDF. That maintained the hyperlinks.

Report · Jul 08, 2021

Correction: into Google SHEETS