Retaining links between PDF files converted from source files (Word)

[bryan98]

Hello,

If I have two Word files and manage links between them (hyperlink on one to specific bookmark on the other), is there a way to easily retain (or reproduce) those links on the PDF files converted from Word files?

Here's what I have tested so far.

- On the source Word file, the format of hyperlink is "{filename}.docx#{bookmarkname}". I changed the extension from docx to pdf.

- Converted source/target Word files to PDF.

- The hyperlink on the converted source PDF is in the format of "file:///{targetpath}/{targetfile}%23{bookmarkname}"

- When I click on the hyperlink on the converted source PDF, security warning pop-up appears with "This document is trying to connect to..."

- If I click 'Allow' on the pop-up, web browser opens with 'Cannot show this page" error.

I guess using the hyperlink is not a viable solution. If retaining the links won't work, should I do the following manually?

- on the source Word file, remove all the hyperlinks (because they won't work on PDF anyway)

- convert files to PDF

- on the target PDF, set named destinations on the points corresponding to bookmarks

- on the source PDF, find the points corresponding to hyperlinks and set links to the named destinations on target PDF.

(Actually the situation is more complicated as the files are split in chapter level and they have to be merged for each release.)

If there is simpler method to achieve this, I would appreciate your help.

[try67]

How did you convert the Word files to PDF, exactly?

[bryan98]

I used Word's internal converter ('Save as' - 'PDF').

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Hence your problems... You should use the PDFMaker plugin, ie the Acrobat ribbon.

[bryan98]

Thanks for the response. I'll try that next week to see how it works.