Have been trying to create hyperlinks in Illustrator CC following the usual procedures of typing the full URL, using Slices etc. Whatever I do, it just isn't outputting clickable links in the generated PDF. Does anyone know of other methods or if there is something I am missing in the way I'm saving or something?
You cannot create hyperlinks with Illustrator. You need to add the links in Acrobat. Or if it is a www.example.com it will auto pick up when saved as a PDF.
The automatic linking of URLs is a user-defined preference in Acrobat. Some people may have it turned off. Always make sure that you have enabled full URLs by linking in Acrobat.
This is possible in Illustrator, but it's a bit "hacky". First of all, I'm making the assumption here that the "generated PDF" is:
you saving the .ai file as an Illustrator PDF (btw: technically they all are—sort of—unless you turn off "Create PDF Compatible File" in the save options dialog) or
You opening the .ai file in Acrobat
If it's "A":
Add the hyperlinks in Acrobat. They should be preserved even if you edit the file later in Illustrator. In Acrobat DC, you use the Edit Page tools and the Link toolbar item to add them.
If it's "B":
All text that begins with "http" should automatically become a hyperlink in the PDF you send out. You could create that text, and put it behind objects—as interactive elements live on an invisible layer above everything else, the object will become clickable. This may involve you having several instances of the hyperlink behind the object.
The Better Way
Import the .ai file into an InDesign document
With the rectangle tool, create invisible shapes (no fill/stroke attributes) over the areas you want to make clickable, then export using the PDF (Interactive) preset.
Typically, this sucks. Adobe Illustrator can save PDFs but making a linked graphic requires a hack or a slice (which can fail in Adobe Acrobat/everywhere else). This is 2018- we should be able to just select a symbol, embedded raster image or text object and right-click to add a working hyperlink. Talk about primitive!
Found this useful though (when applied to embedded raster images though it requires another unreliable kludge fix).
1. Put your CTA text in place, e.g. Click Here. Then convert to outline.
2. Create a new text box and insert your "www.xyz.com" link and make it the colour of the background of your PDF, e.g. white or whatever you need to make it disappear.
3. Position that text box behind your CTA Outline.
When you export, Illustrator will pick up the white (or other colour) text as a url and make it clickable but the viewer will only see the CTA button.
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