External Cross-references between FM books don't work between PDF's

Report · Mar 23, 2011

I have an external cross-reference from a file in FM book A to a paragraph in FM book B. When the link in the PDF of A is clicked, it opens the PDF of B but does not go to the paragraph, instead It opens at page 1. I am using Framemaker V8.0p277. To create the PDFs I put all the files of the 2 books in one folder, opened all the files, created the PDF of A then B. When printing both books, I verified that in the Print Book dialog - PDF Setup - Links, there is a check next to Create Named Destinations for all Paragraphs. Created the PDFs by printing to file, then distilling (V5.0).

Any help would be appreciated.

Steve

Report · Mar 23, 2011

Steve,

Did you have both .book files open when you created the output files for PDFs?

Report · Mar 23, 2011

Yes, both books and all the files in them were open.

Report · Mar 23, 2011

Have you checked the links in Acrobat to see exactly what they are pointing to in the other file? This works in my installaions, and you only need to have the book files open (not all of the .fm files). Also, if that is the correct version of Distiller (v.5.0 ?) then it's quite ancient and perhaps may be a contributing factor. Have cross-book links worked for you before?

Report · Mar 23, 2011

The links are pointing to the corect location. Yes V.5.0 is correct for Acrobat Distiller. Times are tough but maybe this is the impetus for my company to spring for an updated version. I'll see if I can find someone who has a later copy and try distilling it again. Other than than, no other options/setting to try?

Report · Mar 23, 2011

I forgot to mention that this is the first time I am trying cross book references.

Report · Mar 23, 2011

Steve,

The behaviour of opening the cross-linked file at the first page typically indicates that the actual destination link is missing, that's why I suggested examing the full text of the link in Acrobat using the Link tool properties. It should be to a destination like Gnn.nnnnn (where the "n" is a digit). The "Created Named Destinations for All Paragraphs" setting being enabled usually ensures that these targets all get written in to the postscript file.

What printer instance are you using to create the postscript file? What joboptions file are you specifying for the distilling step? Are you specifying any of the PDF optimizations in FM?

You might want to consider trying the PDF Creator that comes with FM8.0 - it's just a stripped down version of Distiller v.8. However, you would have to remove your version of Acrobat prior to uninstalling this.The SaveAsPDF function works a lot better in FM8, so it shouldn't be ignored.

Report · Mar 24, 2011

The destination of the link in Link properties: M10.9.28733.p...ile:booktitle.pdf

I have Acrobat Distiller as my default printer. I print the book as "Print to file" with the destination as the "in" folder of distiller.

Distiller job options that I thought might have an effect

General: Compatibility - Acrobat 3.0 (changed to Acrobat 5.0 with the same result)

Compression: All checked except Anti-alias to gray

Fonts: Embed all Fonts and Subset embedded fonts (100%) are checked,

- When embedding fails: Ignore

- Embedding:Base 14 Fonts, 14 fonts listed under Embedding,

- Always Embed and Never Embed are empty.

- Color: defaults, nothing checked

Advanced: Here are the items checked:

- Allow Postscript file to override job options

- Preserve Level 2 copypage semantics

- Illustrator overprint mode

- Convert gradients to smooth shades

- Process DSC comments

- Resize page and center artwork for EPS files

- Preserve Document information from DSC

When I run Distiller I consistently get a message:

Warning The following Names in Name Tree Dests were not defined

G12.510757

G24.510838

G24.511963

I don't think this is related because I have more than three crossreferences between books and they all produce the same result, and the destinations are not the same as the one I've been using as a test case (M10.9.28733.p...ile:booktitle.pdf)

I tried saving both books as PDF - same result. Link properties still M10.9.28733.p...ile:booktitle.pdf

I tried optimizing book A (the one withe the source reference) with the same result. I optrimized all linked files, Forced optimization and Clear Existing Optimization info were checked. I did get a Framemaker Console message:

[PDF Size] Dumping Error Information

[PDF Size]

I don't know what the preceeding error message means or how to proceed further regarding it.

Are there any specific Optimizations that I should or should not do that might affect the crosslinking problem?

Report · Mar 24, 2011

SteveKepco wrote:
The destination of the link in Link properties: M10.9.28733.p...ile:booktitle.pdf
I have Acrobat Distiller as my default printer. I print the book as "Print to file" with the destination as the "in" folder of distiller.
Distiller job options that I thought might have an effect
General: Compatibility - Acrobat 3.0 (changed to Acrobat 5.0 with the same result)
Compression: All checked except Anti-alias to gray
Fonts: Embed all Fonts and Subset embedded fonts (100%) are checked,
- When embedding fails: Ignore
- Embedding:Base 14 Fonts, 14 fonts listed under Embedding,
- Always Embed and Never Embed are empty.
- Color: defaults, nothing checked
Advanced: Here are the items checked:
- Allow Postscript file to override job options
- Preserve Level 2 copypage semantics
- Illustrator overprint mode
- Convert gradients to smooth shades
- Process DSC comments
- Resize page and center artwork for EPS files
- Preserve Document information from DSC
When I run Distiller I consistently get a message:
Warning The following Names in Name Tree Dests were not defined
G12.510757
G24.510838
G24.511963
I don't think this is related because I have more than three crossreferences between books and they all produce the same result, and the destinations are not the same as the one I've been using as a test case (M10.9.28733.p...ile:booktitle.pdf)
I tried saving both books as PDF - same result. Link properties still M10.9.28733.p...ile:booktitle.pdf
I tried optimizing book A (the one withe the source reference) with the same result. I optrimized all linked files, Forced optimization and Clear Existing Optimization info were checked. I did get a Framemaker Console message:
[PDF Size] Dumping Error Information
[PDF Size]
I don't know what the preceeding error message means or how to proceed further regarding it.
Are there any specific Optimizations that I should or should not do that might affect the crosslinking problem?

A Google search for "FrameMaker name tree dests not defined" without quotes turns up some discussions on this issue.

HTH

Regards,

Peter

_______________________

Peter Gold

KnowHow ProServices

Report · Mar 24, 2011

Thanks, Peter.

Turned up some interesting info but nothing that shed any light on the present problem.

Steve

Report · Mar 23, 2011

Yes, both books and the all the files were open.