Hyperlinks get truncated when running 'Advanced Optimization' on PDF

Report · Mar 03, 2017

I've been fighting this issue for over 2 years now and would REALLY appreciate some assistance solving it. And for the record, I still consider myself a novice at most Adobe programs.

I publish two magazine in a 3-column, A4-size format. For those of you in the States, an 'A4' document is about 8.25 x 11.5 inches.

The attached image below is a screenshot of a standard, random page from one of my recent magazine issues. Please disregard the fact that the hyperlinks are not underlined. This is simply the formatting preference I have chosen.

I know that all the hyperlinks are complete and functional when the document is initially exported from InDesign into a PDF file.

My problem is that the initial PDF file size is usually 22MB - 25MB, which is too large, as I need them under 15MB (for email server restrictions and other reasons not relevant to this request).

I am able to reduce the file size a little by running the "Reduce File Size" option in the "Optimize PDF" Section of the TOOLS menu in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

But, unfortunately, the resulting file size is still over 20MB, which is still too large. However, all the hyperlinks are still functional at this point.

The problem occurs when I run the "Advanced Optimization" option (also from the TOOLS menu) to remove the image masks and further decrease the file size.

While this does result in an acceptable file size of 10MB - 12MB, it also truncates nearly EVERY hyperlink (usually at the first text-wrap).

So in the attached image below, only the top line of each Hyperlink is recognized as the hyperlink. For example, the hyperlink at the bottom-right becomes a link to http://www.agreenroadjournal./ instead of http://www.agreenroadjournal.com/2013/10/the-deep-pacificocean-is-brokendead.html

So I am forced to manually correct 200+ hyperlinks to make them functional in a PDF under 15MB.

This only takes a few hours, so it's not the end of the world as I only have to do it once a month.

But I would be most appreciative to anybody that can provide instructions on how to achieve the same results without the additional time investment

Even identifying the specific parameter in "Advanced Optimization" that is responsible for truncating the hyperlinks would be of great benefit.

Thank you in advance,

Brian

brian@uncensored.co.nz

Report · Mar 04, 2017

These hyperlinks. You're fixing them with the link tool? Or firm tool? Whichever one it is... When you fix them, do they exist? Or do you have to recreate them? And did they exist before optimisation (please use the tool to check, don't click on the link)

Report · Mar 09, 2017

Thank you and sorry for the delayed response…

As mentioned, I am a novice at nearly all adobe programs and did not know what the ‘firm’ tool is or does, so I had to research.

Unfortunately, after nearly 2 hours of searching the internet, I was unable to find any mention of a ‘Firm Tool’ in either Adobe InDesign or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. However, this probably means that I am not using it.

Here is what I know…

Ø The links are complete (non-truncated) when I export the file from InDesign to a PDF.

Ø They are still complete after I run the “Reduce File Size” option/tool

Ø The links become truncated when I run the “Advanced Optimization” which apparently resamples and removes image masks.

I don’t actually know what image masks are what resampling does, but I do know that this is the crucial step that reduces the 100-page PDF file size from 20-25MB down to about 10MB so they can be attached to standard emails.

As mentioned, the “Advanced Optimization’ truncates the majority of the links, so I then have to check each one by following these steps:

Ø While in EDIT mode/tool, I click ‘Link” (between ‘Add Image’ and ‘Crop Pages’) and choose “Add/Edit Web or Document Link” from the drop-down menu which shows all the links on the page.

Ø Then I double-click each link to open its link properties box, from which I select the ‘Actions’ tab to reveal the destination URL.

Ø If the linked URL has been truncated, then I click ‘Edit’ and enter the complete URL address

I hope that clarifies my dilemma and that you are able to assist further.

Thanks again,

Brian

Report · Mar 09, 2017

My apologies I meant to type "form tool". Sorry to waste your time.

I think your problem may be that you are flattening transparency. This will lose links and other things. This is an option, so turn it off. Also do not save as PDF 1.3 format which also flattens transparency.

Report · Mar 09, 2017

Thanks!

I can’t find the “Flatten Transparency” option… Is it the same as “Discard Hidden Layer Content and Flatten Visible Layers”?

Report · Mar 09, 2017

If you're using the same optimizer as me (there are two, so maybe not), then in the left box there are Images/Fonts/Transparency/Discard Objects/Discard User Data/Clean Up. Make sure there is no check box against Transparency.

Report · Mar 09, 2017

I have those same headers, so it looks like we’re using the same optimizer.

But unfortunately, even with the check removed in the “Transparancy” check-box, the hyperlinks still get truncated at the end of the first line.

I’m going to try removing the checks one at a time until I can identify the culprit.

Other than that, any other ideas?

Report · Mar 09, 2017

That was the only one I know about (that and saving as PDF 1.3 which forces transparency flattening).

Report · Mar 09, 2017

No worries… Thank you so much for trying!

But just before I give-up, when a link is working (not truncated), the cursor turns into a small, pointing hand with a “W” in it when you hover over it. But if a link has been truncated, hovering over it brings-up the same hand but without the “W”.

I have no idea what the “W” indicates, but I thought I’d let you know what I observed before I throw in the towel.

Thanks again,

Brian

Report · Mar 09, 2017

The "W" stands for web, meaning it's a link to a web-page.

Report · Mar 09, 2017

Thanks for that clarification!

Expanding on your suggestion to remove a section in the optimization process, I was able to narrow the problem down to the “Discard User Data” section.

Then by disabling each of the 7 options one at a time, I identified the culprit as. . . . . (that’s a drum roll) “Discard All Object Data”.

I’m over the moon and couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you soooo much again,

Brian

Report · Mar 09, 2017

Expanding on your suggestion to remove a section in the optimization process, I was able to narrow the problem down to the “Discard User Data” section.

Then by disabling each of the 7 options one at a time, I identified the culprit as. . . . . (that’s a drum roll) “Discard All Object Data”.

I’m over the moon and couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you soooo much again,

Brian

Report · Mar 09, 2017

Thanks for sharing your solution. I wouldn't have expected that.

Report · Mar 09, 2017

You’re most welcome!

I was extremely tired when I finally cracked the code last night and made an error in what I conveyed to you as the solution.

The problem was in the “Discard User Data” section, but it was due to the “Discard all Comments, Forms and Multimedia” checkbox, not “Discard all Object Data” as I’d indicated last night.

My apologies… and my thanks,

Brian