Animation in PDF?

[RyanNighel]

Hello!

I was wondering if I can in any way add an animation to my Interactive PDF. I am trying to make my Curriculum Vitae, and I I want to add a small animation like a loading bar. So it's not a complex animation, something that's 1 second long and 500kbs large at most. I have searched online for different supported video formats but these are not supported by PDF. Is it in any way possible to add an animation to my PDF, through MP4, SWF, Animated GIF, Quicktime Animation, F4V or FLV or something because I am running out of idea's.

Sincerely,

Ryan

[Scott Citron]

Both video (mp4) and SWF are supported in PDF. Not sure about other formats, though.

[Dov Isaacs]

And you don't want to use SWF since SWF is not supported in most PDF viewers (including Adobe's mobile viewers). And even with Adobe Reader and Acrobat on desktop / laptop computers, you must explicitly install Flash Player in addition to Reader or Acrobat in order to use the SWF content.

You might be better off sticking with static content in PDF.

          - Dov

[RyanNighel]

Thanks for the usefull response Will take that into considiration

[BobLevine]

Forget it!

https://www.boblevine.us/its-okay-to-say-no-to-interactive-pdf/

[chanaart]

I agree with mr. Levine!

Make it nice a classy!

[Derek Cross]

You could use InDesign‘s Publish Online, which allows documents with animations and more, and includes the facility for a (static) PDF version able to be downloaded. The advantage is that it can be accessed on virtually any device with a modern browser, the disadvantage is you have to be online to access it.

[Dov Isaacs]

Don't think that would work well for a résumé, the stated intent for the PDF file.

          - Dov

[BobLevine]

When all you have is a hammer…

[Derek Cross]

I think you misunderstood Dov. In the UK you often have to submit an online application form for jobs (nothing to do with PDFs).

[Test Screen Name]

On NO ACCOUNT do this. Only Adobe PDF viewers on Mac and Windows will show multimedia elements. People reading a CV will probably not use Adobe software, or may view it on a phone or tablet. Focus on general usability for everyone, a CV that doesn't work is a red flag.

[Test Screen Name]

Oh, one other thing: you may not welcome this advice but never mind. Consider who will read your CV. It's a busy person who has 50 CVs to read before their next cup of coffee. Even a second's delay will be a major irritant ! And an irritating CV might as well not exist. Focus on usability by a busy, bored, person. Make sure you follow industry standards for presenting your material, and be sure it copy/pastes neatly, because that's a fail too.

[Derek Cross]

Test Screen is absolutely right on this matter, you must present your CV in the normal printed copy way unless you've been asked specifically to produce it in a certain way, perhaps for a creative job situation, where they want to see what you can do with a particular digital way.

[BobLevine]

I’ll go even further. Most of these documents are read by a computer before a human even sees them and many companies want the document in Word format.

[Derek Cross]

I'd go even further than that, many companies want applicants to complete an online questionnaire!

[RyanNighel]

Thanks for the feedback. I've taken that into considiration before I started working on my interactive CV. That's why I would (if I could) only use a really short animation. My intention was to use a 'sort of' loading animation where my skills are. So for instance:
Adobe InDesign CC ███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ 10/100
Adobe InDesign CC █████▒▒▒▒▒ 30/100
Adobe InDesign CC   ███████▒▒▒ 50/100

So something really short, but done in a way that doesn't annoy the person who intends to read it. The company where I am going to apply for a job is a pretty big gaming company, so showing of my creativity would help.

[Test Screen Name]

It could be worth a shot with that specific company in theory, but you are probably going to a recruitment specialist rather than a creative person. You really don't want to irritate recruiters, but read carefully what their CV requirements are. Also consider the effect on your CV when this does not display.

[Test Screen Name]

PS: it can be useful to create and keep separate "CV" and "portfolio".