How can I add a hyperlink in illustrator cc and export a pdf with that link?

[dougbrown123]

How can I add a hyperlink in illustrator cc and export a pdf with that link? I have a CTA button that I would like to add a hyperlink to and then save as a pdf with the working hyperlink. Thanks!

[Bill Silbert]

You can't directly create a hyperlink in Illustrator for use in a pdf but you can add hyperlinks to your Illustrator artwork using either InDesign or Acrobat. See https://www.wikihow.com/Add-a-Hyperlink-in-Illustrator for details.

[StefG13]

Well at this level of version, for so many years ... it's completely crazy that this is not possible !!! It is a function which is used to export PDf of a document. Illustrator has the same legitimacy as Indesign on this subject! In any case, that's how Illustrator is sold! I quote the site: "The industry-standard vector graphics software is used by millions of designers and artists to create everything from gorgeous web and mobile graphics to logos, icons, book illustrations, product packaging, and billboards."

[Monika Gause]

If you want to make a feature request, it doesn't make any sense to do that in this forum.

Please report feature requests to http://illustrator.uservoice.com

[dmick1977]

I'm forced to use CorelDRAW for many tasks, and, shockingly, you can attach a hyperlink to an image/text, and then publish to PDF from CorelDRAW, and the hyperlink works in the pdf file.  

I know the scoreboard looks bad for Corel, but they definitely score a few points with some software features.

[Astonished_SerenadeB82A]

CorelDRAW does indeed win with some key features. Because I'm transitioning from CorelDRAW to Illustrator, I realize this frustrating fact more and more. 

[CRAIG23211880j0eg]

Low-key one of the absolute best features about CorelDRAW was the insane ease of object alignment shortcuts. I miss that. 

[StefG13]

It has been almost 15 years that I have been talking about it to the Adobe team (at the time at the show in Paris) by all means planned. Never integrated!

[Rogério Weikersheimer]

I agree - it's just ABSURD we can create a hiperlink in AI with a simple right-click - AI and ID should be more similar to each other - also I don't get it the shortcuts are different to bring to front and send to back - why are they different?? 

[Masihdesigner]

You can create hyperlinks from text in Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics program, by creating a slice with the program's Make Slice feature. Then you use the Slice Options dialog box to assign the URL to the slice.

[StefG13]

No it does not work

[CRAIG23211880j0eg]

Yeah, this doesn't work at all once you export to a PDF.

[Michael5ED9]

Hi Bill

Only just discovered the strikingly odd hyperlinks omission in Illustrator so it's an interesting thread.

One of my clients won't use https:// in their web address because their customers understand that '.com' is a URL and if it's got an @, an email address so the wikihow workaround won't work. Because of this I've just created artwork in Illustrator but deleted the email and URL and after importing it into InDesign, reinsert both and then create hyperlinks. Normally I'd do the graphic in Illustrator and import into Id then add all the text including hyperlinks which is what I'll be doing in future.

But appreciate the link anyway.

[meganchi]

Actually, this can be done. In Illustrator bring up your Variables window. Select the the text you wish to make a hyperlink of. Then in the Variable windows hamburger menu, select "make text dynamic". Now, export your PDF. When the PDF is openened, then the hyperlink should work.

[Kurt Gold]

No, meganchi, unfortunately this is a mirage. Illustrator's dynamic text objects are not capable to do that.

Your approach is just dependent on a preference in Acrobat. It's called Create links from URLs (see general preferences in Acrobat). It may also work in other PDF applications with similar options.

[meganchi]

Kurt,

I'm very confused. I do not see "Create links from URL's in my General preferences. To test out things, I created an Illustrator file, opened the variable window, made it dynamic text with hyperlink address, then saved a PDF from Illustrator. When opening that PDF in Acrobat I clicked on the link and it navigated directly to the url I specified in lllustrator. 

[meganchi]

I am using Adobe Illustrator 24.0.1. As you can see, I don't see the "Create links from URLs" preference in the General dialog area.

[Larry G. Schneider]

meganchi,

The option that Kurt refers to is a User-defined preference in Acrobat or Reader. I believe it is on by default but can be canceled by any user so is not a reliable method.

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, it is only a preferences setting in Acrobat.

To make the links permanent you need to edit the PDF and save it.

[meganchi]

Oh, I see that you meant the preferences in Acrobat. Thank you gentlemen, I understand now. Many apologies for the confusion!

[defaultozzdflv06kt9]

This worked for me.  Thanks

[MacLean ODonnell]

This 100% works.

[meganchi]

I want to add to my answer, that if you have a fancy button design or graphic object, then type out the web address with http:// included, then set it on top of your graphic object or button design, create your variable dynamic text, then change the hyperlink text fill to none. Now, when you export the PDF, they hyperlink should work when hovering over the object and the pointer changes to a pointed hand.

[Ton Frederiks]

Like Kurt said, it is an Acrobat Preferences setting and works with every url typed in the document. No dynamic text needed.

[Bill Silbert]

Meganchi's method will work if the text you've selected is actually the web address. If you need the hyperlink to work as navigation within the pdf then you will need the method from my first post.