Navigation buttons not working once exported to PDF

[davidp67486349]

I have created some simple navigation buttons that take the reader to Next or Previous pages. Once I open the PDF in Acrobat on the iPad they don't work or respond as they have been set to do in the Events action from InDesign. I can only get the Event for: Go To Destination to work because I created a Bookmark.

I have read in some post related that the buttons may not work on iPad or other mobile devices. Is this true?

[try67]

What command did you use, exactly?

[davidp67486349]

1. Created the buttons for Next and Previous
2. Selected Buttons and Forms
3. Changed type to "button"
4. Event: On Release or Tap (as this will be viewed on an iPad)
5. Actions: Go To Next/Previous Page

See screen capture for reference.

Screen capture of InDesign buttons palette

[Bernd Alheit]

What app is this? 

[davidp67486349]

InDesign.

[try67]

I would use Acrobat for that.

[davidp67486349]

Not sure Acrobat can execute the action to Go To Next or Previous Page. I also think its bizarre that InDesign has the function available but mobile devices can't execute the commands. Thanks for your input.

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Of course Acrobat can do it. This is usually done via the "Execute a Menu Item" command, which would explain why it doesn't work on mobile devices, since the apps used there do not have the same menu structure as the non-mobile version.

[davidp67486349]

Thank you for the insight. I didn't realize it would handle that command. I was really just hoping that I could apply the command in InDesign and it would work once saved out as an Interactive PDF. Thanks for your help! Much appreaciated.

[davidp67486349]

So is it safe to assume that this type of function/command cannot be executed on the iPad or any other mobile device?

[Bernd Alheit]

Acrobat Reader for iOS and Android doesn't have this menu items.

[spotonjohn]

It's not just with mobile devices. Any button actions created in InDesign DO NOT FUNCTION when saved to a PDF (Interactive PDF) and opened on Mac either. It's a joke. I haven't found anyone that it's worked for. Why offer a function if it's just for looks and has absolutely no real functionality? I'm sure someone at Adobe will have a 12-step workaround, but how about they just make their products actually work? I pay a LOT of money for mediocre products. 

[Bernd Alheit]

Buttons will work when you use correct events and actions.

[davidp67486349]

The buttons work when viewed and used on a desktop or laptop but when viewed and used on a mobile device they didn't navigate to the next or previous pages.

[spotonjohn]

No, they DO NOT work when opened and viewed on a laptop either. ZERO functionality. Ridiculous!