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BBX1
Participant
February 16, 2020
Answered

Button interactive pdf works only once

  • February 16, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 2511 views

Hi All,

I made an interactive pdf, using the buttons and forms tool in Indesign. The first time I click in the pdf on the button, the text that I want to pop up, pops up. However, the second time, the button seems to be dissapeared and makes it impossible the see the text again. 

 

Does anyone know how to solve this?

 

I'm using Adobe Indesign CC2019.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

 

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jaimiee79031690

I don't think I can delete or edit a post, so I'll just add this here:

 

I've found that, if you put all of your button graphics on a separate layer ABOVE. all of the other layers, it resolves this issue (for me, at least). No need to add an invisible box.

 

As far as the button activating over the pop up element, you can add a "show/hide buttons and forms" action and hide the initial button (the cross over the eye icon) and then have it show your close button (the visible eye icon). That way, when your text box animates and pops up, it will deactivate that initial button so you can't click on it, and activate the close button. Hope that makes sense!

 

Do the reverse of this for the close button (so hide the close button and show the initial button).

2 replies

V
veronicac85563250
Participant
July 1, 2020

This is really annoying and doesn't only happen on interactive pdf but also in digital publishing.  The only way I have found around this in digital publishing is as follows, maybe it will work on your pdf too.  It seems to happen when the pop up element covers the original button.  If it does, it seems to disable the button.  

 

1. Make your pop up element, add relevant animations.

2. Make the graphic for your button, place in a layer below the pop up element

3. Make an empty rectangle frame using the rectangle frame tool and place that in a layer that is above the layer containing the pop up element (so that effectively this rectangle frame is always "in front" of everything).

4. Make this empty rectangle the actual button, with the events.  Place it over your button graphic so that the empty rectangle is the "sphere of influence" for your button.

 

There is a drawback though.  The button continues active over the pop up element, so if you have something like rollover, and people run their mouse over it, it will activate all the button animations again... so if possible arrange your stuff away from the button or use click events rather than rollover.

 

I wish they would fix it, it's so bugged out.

    J
    jaimiee79031690
    Participant
    December 27, 2023

    Thank you for this! You saved me so much trouble

    J
    jaimiee79031690Correct answer
    Participant
    December 27, 2023

    I don't think I can delete or edit a post, so I'll just add this here:

     

    I've found that, if you put all of your button graphics on a separate layer ABOVE. all of the other layers, it resolves this issue (for me, at least). No need to add an invisible box.

     

    As far as the button activating over the pop up element, you can add a "show/hide buttons and forms" action and hide the initial button (the cross over the eye icon) and then have it show your close button (the visible eye icon). That way, when your text box animates and pops up, it will deactivate that initial button so you can't click on it, and activate the close button. Hope that makes sense!

     

    Do the reverse of this for the close button (so hide the close button and show the initial button).

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 16, 2020

    Not without more information. How are you hiding the text after it pops up. What are the show / hide settings for both?

    Finally, and most importantly, how are you viewing this PDF? Beyond Acrobat or Reader on a desktop this is nothing but a crapshoot. Even there, it can still be wonky.

      B
      BBX1Author
      Participant
      February 17, 2020

      - I'm viewing the PDF in Adobe Acrobat

       

      when clicking on the button a text box appears. Settings:

      - Type: button

      - Event: on Click

      - Action: show/hide buttons and forms

      - Visibility: (everything is on show)

      - Appearance: (everything is on show)

       

      Settings of the text box that appears:

      - Type: button

      - Event: On Click

      - No actions

      - Appearance: everything is on show

      - Hidden Until Triggered

       

      To hide this text box, I added an extra button (with a cross). Settings:

      - Type: Button

      - Event: On Click

      - Actions: Show/Hide buttons and forms

      - Visibility: everything on don't show

      - Appearance: everything off

      - Hidden Until Triggered

       

      With this information, do you understand why it only works once? Hope to hear from you. Thanks in advance,

       

      B
      BBX1Author
      Participant
      February 17, 2020

      Change the buttons to "on tap or release"


      I changed the buttons to On Realse or tap. However, it still does only works once in the pdf...

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