Hypertext - how to?

[adrianaharper]

I want to do two things:

1-link words in my FM document to my TOC in the same FM document

2-link external files to my FM document (i.e. have a word that says Conversion Table and when you click on it, it opens an excel spreadsheet or PDF of conversion table)

I am trying to insert hypertext markers to accomplish this. However, I am getting the error: specify named destination when I try to link to an external PDF (I am entering Open Document as my hypertext command, and openlink Import demographic Codes.pdf as the text in the syntax box) it also tells me that the document is not a FM document which I am well aware of. Even if I change the filename to a FM document, it then tells me the document does not exist (which it does).

I do not know how to begin accomplishing my #1 goal (of linking within my document to the TOC, for example).

[Shlomo Perets]

As to #1:

You can create a cross-reference to the "ContentsTitle" (or similar) paragraph, or you can add named destination to the ContentsTitle paragraph, and then add hypertext links pointing to that destination in the TOC file.
Adding direct links (cross-references or hypertext markers) to TOC entries is not recommended, as the supporting markers in the TOC will be deleted when you update/regenerate.

Have you considered including a bookmark to the Contents, so that it is available at the top of the list of bookmarks in the PDF?
[ a better yet approach is to provide direct access to related topics, as demonstrated in http://www.microtype.com/showcase/NavigationAsst/PopUpMenus.pdf , but this is not supported natively with FM->PDF conversion ]

As to #2:
[Yesterday, I responded to a similar question in the FrameUsers list]

In the Special > Hypertext dialog box, type
message openfile
followed by the file name (or path/filename).

For example:
message openfile name.doc
message openfile path/name.tif
message openfile ../name.pdf

Important: use a forward slash (and not a backslash) when specifying path.

Upon conversion to PDF, these markers will create "Launch File" links.
Unless pointing to PDF files, these links trigger the corresponding security alert message (which can be suppressed by clicking the "Do not show this message again" box, effective until Acrobat or Reader are restarted).

Note: target PDF will open at the default opening page (typically the first page).
(With the FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers add-on, you can define links/bookmarks that control the opening location and the new window property, see http://www.microtype.com/ImprovePDF17.html for examples)

Shlomo Perets

MicroType * http://www.microtype.com
FrameMaker training & consulting * FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers

"Improve Your FrameMaker Skills" live web-based training sessions

[adrianaharper]

Thanks - but I'm not having any luck.

I copied exactly: message openfile ../Import demographic Codes.pdf (Import demographic Codes.pdf is the name of the file I am trying to link to). Command autopopulated to: Message Client (when I typed in the above)

I hit "Edit Hypertext Marker", and save. When I create PDF, I can click on the name of the text where I inserted the hypertext, but nothing happens- no warning, nor does my file open. Any other suggestions that I'm doing wrong?

[_Van_Kurtz_]

This is purely a guess, but maybe the file name can have no spaces in it.

[adrianaharper]

I thought that as well, but when I removed the spaces, it continues not to work.

[adrianaharper]

Update: it is working now in FM (after inserting " message openfile Import demographic Codes.pdf" and saving the new hypertext marker, I can click CTRL+ALT+the text and the pdf document I have linked opens. But when I save the FM document as PDF (file, save as PDF) and then open that PDF and click, nothing happens. I am sooo close!!! Any help is greatly appreciated.

[_Van_Kurtz_]

I hear it is not a good idea to Save as PDF to create a PDF.

Instead, PRINT the document or book and select Adobe PDF as the printer. BE SURE to select Generate Acrobat Data (without this, you will not get ANY links to work in the PDF). AND, in the PDF Setup dialog box, select the Links tab and SELECT Create Named Destinations...

Hope this works,
Van

[AxialInfo]

Adriana, it helps us provide better suggestions if you include your specific FM version (from Help > About, including the "pxxx" numbers) each time you post in the forum.

[adrianaharper]

Thanks Van. I tried your suggestions- my PDF hyperlinks continue not to work. Cross-references work just fine...(in case that provides any additional light on the subject for anyone). I am using FM8, out of the Adobe TechComm Suite. I don't know the pxxx numbers - if you tell me where to find those, I will update my post again.

[AxialInfo]

Unless there's something completely different about the TCS, the FM version numbers are shown when you click the Help menu item (furthest right menu item) and then scroll to "About".

[adrianaharper]

Thanks. I'm using 8.0p277

[AxialInfo]

Good, that at least rules out known problems that have a fix in one of the updates.

[AxialInfo]

Can you look at the not-working link in Acrobat with the Link tool and see what (if any) part of the hyperlink is getting created? This would be in the full Acrobat program, I don't believe this can be done from Reader.

That might tell us whether it's a path problem, or whether the link is getting truncated somehow.

[adrianaharper]

I'm sorry- I'm extremely new to FM and I don't know how to do what you are asking. I printed the FM doc as PDF, then tried to open the post script file (that is what it created on my desktop) with Adobe Acrobat Distiller... under tools, I didn't have any choices of LINK. Can you give me info on how to get at the link tool? Or a site where I can see how to do that?

[Arnis Gubins]

Adriana,

The Link tool is in the Adobe Acrobat Professional 3D (or Acrobat 9
depending upon the release of your TCS) product that is installed with
the TechComm Suite. In Acrobat, Look under the Tools > Advanced
Editing > Link Tool. When you activate the tool, you will see all of
the link locations on your PDF pages. Right click on a link to get at
the Properties and see where the link is pointing too.

It's quite possible that your link area in FM is quite small and hence
hard to hit in the PDF. FM uses any change in character/paragraph
attributes as the boundaries for creating the link area.

You can also test links at the FM end by holding down the ctrl+alt
keyboard buttons and mousing over the hypertext areas in your FM
document. The mouse pointer will change to a hand with a pointing
finger over any link and perform the required action when clicked.
Check out the links in FM first to see if they're going to where you
expect them to. If these don't go where you want, it's unlikely the
PDF links will.