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Inspiring
April 28, 2025
Answered

Create link from table index to graphic hotspot

  • April 28, 2025
  • 7 replies
  • 1137 views

I have an internal parts breakdown table that I need to be able to hyperlink to hotspots in graphic or from graphic to the index number in the table.   I created a hyper text in the table index using specify destination name (ie. 110).  I created a hotspot in the graphic that links to the specify destination name marker (ie 110).  That works, and I could create a goto previous link.  That works.   However, If the user decides to press on the table index first, how  do I jump from the internal parts breakdown table to the hotspot in the graphic?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

    Correct answer Kimberly31933305yfj7

    If anyone is interested. We finally got it to work by putting a hypertext specify named destination on the figure 1 sheet 1  title of the graphic.  Then, in the table index drawing a hotspot box around all the index numbers with a destination of figure 1 sheet 1 (this matches the hypertext specify named destination in previous step).  I wasn't aware that you could put a hotspots in the text.  

    7 replies

    Community Expert
    May 5, 2025

    I have screenshots with lots of items. For each item I place labels (white circles with a black line) and inside the circle text frames. Below I have tables with running numbers for each item and its description. 

    Then I insert cross-references to the numbers in the tables.

    In the PDF the user can click on the labels and then jump to the description.

    No scripting involved.

    There are definitely about 1000 such cross-references in my document, and it works reliably.

    Possibly this is an alternative for you.

    Inspiring
    May 5, 2025

    Thanks, I will look at that.

     

    New Participant
    August 19, 2025

    Hello,

    I have a the same problem that you, but I can't find answers solve this problem. Winfried Reng and Kimberly 319333305yfj7 Can you show me how you solve ???

    Thanks in advance

    Grzegorz

    Matt-Tech Comm Tools
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2025

    Hi Kimberly, 

    My thoughts are in a different direction...are you looking to link a graphic produced by a 3D application like SolidWorks? If so, look to place a U3D image, which allows you to generate all manner of hotspots, links, tables, views, animations, to the extent those named things have been created in the modeling application.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_s8SRWu2_M

     

    -Matt SullivanFrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant
    Inspiring
    April 30, 2025

    Thanks, I will take a look

    frameexpert
    Community Expert
    April 29, 2025

    I have done scripts like this over the years, but I used form fields so that I could have a tool tip popup on the callout that would indicate the part number and description. They linked back to the table and the table linked back to the callout on the illustration. These were first written with FrameScript in the early 2000's and, suprisingly, at least two of my clients are still using them. Here is a small screenshot.

     

    There are several things that have changed over the years that make this solution less practical.

    1. I did most of these in conjunction with Microtype's TimeSavers add on for Distiller. This allowed me to use markers in the callouts and table cells instead of relying on PostScript text frames.
    2. FrameMaker 2019 and above uses a non-PostScript print engine, so these features only work if you use Distiller to make your PDFs. This bypasses the faster print engine of the later versions.
    3. Some PDF viewers on tablets and phones don't support Acrobat JavaScript, which my form fields used for some of the functionality. One client had me modify the scripts to just use links instead of form fields. As a result, they no longer have the part number/description tool tips on the callouts (see the screenshot).
    Inspiring
    April 28, 2025

    thanks 

    Kimberly31933305yfj7AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    April 28, 2025

    If anyone is interested. We finally got it to work by putting a hypertext specify named destination on the figure 1 sheet 1  title of the graphic.  Then, in the table index drawing a hotspot box around all the index numbers with a destination of figure 1 sheet 1 (this matches the hypertext specify named destination in previous step).  I wasn't aware that you could put a hotspots in the text.  

    Community Expert
    April 29, 2025

    To understand correctly...  The link back to the graphic goes to the title of the graphic and not to the hotspot position where it came from.... right?

    Bjørn Smalbro - FrameMaker.dk
    Inspiring
    April 28, 2025

    the graphic doesn't seem to allow me to add a marker, says no insertion point.  I don't think it is giving the hotspot any name, it only allows for a destination.   I'm not seeing how to link the table to the graphic.  I've even tried to cheat and link it to the figure but that didn't work(i can't create a new link with the same 110 number).  the only other alternative i see is to link to a page number and that only works as long as noone changes and I can't see framemaker not creating a way to link index numbers to a graphic for technical documents.   I'm missing something.

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    April 28, 2025

    Sorry, I don't have any experience doing what you're trying to accomplish (because my docs don't have any graphics in there) - maybe @Barb Binder or Matt R. Sullivan has a better idea?

    Inspiring
    April 28, 2025

    Let keep this simple.  say I have a picture of an engine.  the engine has several parts.   I have hotspotted the carborator as 110.  In the parts listing table in the document that is several pages away, i have the specified destination name of 110.  when the user clicks on the graphic 110 carborator it jumps the user down to the parts list to the 110 and all the details of this carborator.  I can't seem to figure out how to: if user is looking at the various parts in the table, clicks on the 110, to jump the user to the graphic to show them where the carborator is in the graphic?  thanks.

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    April 28, 2025

    Ah, so you have the graphic to the table link working, but not the other way round! Wouldn't you just do the same sort of thing? Create a named destination on the graphic end & make a link to it from the table?

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    April 28, 2025

    I'm having trouble visualizing what you're doing - you've got a table with links to hotspots on a graphic and your graphic has links back to the table? Or am I missing something here?