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Question

creating interactive multimedia PDFs in Indesign or Acrobat that work across different PDF readers

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
February 11, 2021
6 replies
2858 views

Hi, I'm trying to create an interactive PDF that is a series of pages containing a mix of text and images. I want to create a document with additional layers of information, so for example you click on an image and it might take you to additional video, 360 images, text or sound.

Add hyperlinks is not a problem and seems to work across devices and PDF readers.

Additional text can be added using buttons but only works when the document is opened in Adobe Acrobat and not, for example in Mac Preview.

I haven't as yet figured out how to insert sound or video using the Indesign buttons (any help welcome). I have theoretically added sound into the document using Acrobat but haven't been able to get playback and the message from Adobe is that it uses Flash which is no longer supported.

Neither sound or additional text work when published online via the Adobe Online Dashboard which would seem the obvious place for all to be able to access the features.

Please can anyone point me to a workaround for this? Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.

JonathanArias

Legend

the answer is no, .pdf will not support 360 images which require an image sequence, .pdf will however support a 3d object; something made in inventor, Rhino or other software for creating 3d renditions.

As you can have noticed there will be links for "workarounds", but you really need to ask yourself the following: How much time do i have for troubleshooting?, and helping all of your users with troubleshooting for their particular device and their version of whatever .pdf reader they wish to use?

Last, you really need to first outline the features you need, to match to the desired output (.pdf, html (the clear winner to get as many features to work consistenly across most devices [within this category you have publish online, free with your adobe subscription; or IN5, a paid plug in), epub (requires and epub reader).

so we ask you. what do you want to deliver at the end? a file that works across all devices? or troubleshooting a .pdf to get it to work in all devices? if you succeed on the last please comeaback and show us how you did it since many folks i am sure will benefit from seen what you did.

hope this helps

jonathan

JR Boulay

Community Expert

"but you really need to ask yourself the following:"
Why are you trying to explain to me that it is not possible to do what I have been doing for years for my clients when it seems that you do not understand this subject at all?

"so we ask you. what do you want to deliver at the end?"
Files that correspond to the needs and requests of my clients, so far so good.
When they meet me after meeting people who speak the same way as you, they consider me a savior.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

JonathanArias

Legend

I was not talking to you. I replied to the OP original post.

I think you are taking things personal on this thread.

cheers,

jonathan

JR Boulay

Community Expert

The latest InDesign version can export interactive PDFs that doesn't require the Flash Player, you can also use Acrobat Pro to place multimedia files, and/or for some fine tuning not available in InDesign.

Your issue is not InDesign nor the PDF format, your issue is Apple Preview, aka "the PDF killer", which only partially supports the old specifications of the PDF 1.4 format, which has been out of date for over 20 years.
These articles are still relevant today :

- http://khkonsulting.com/2013/06/preview-app-killer-of-pdf-files/

- http://duff-johnson.com/2014/04/07/apples-preview-still-not-safe-for-work/

This tutorial, in French, explains how to get around the problem, you can copy and paste this URL into Google Translate: https://www.abracadabrapdf.net/ressources-et-tutos/js-et-formulaires-ressources/forcer-utilisation-pdf-avec-acrobat-reader/

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

John Mensinger

Community Expert

Apple Preview is the primary obstacle on the desktop platform. Add in the mobile platforms and the failure possibilities explode beyond too-many-to-count.

Diane Burns

Inspiring

I'm not sure why Publish Online wouldn't work. You should be able to do this and more. Here is a document with many examples work done in InDesign with Publish Online: http://bit.ly/PubOnCollection

O

OrielbAuthor

Participating Frequently

That looks like just what I'm trying to do thanks. (Great portfolio by the way!). Nice that you've also included a couple of Indesign tutorials/ course at the end. Can you point me to which would give a concise workflow for creating the interactive elements? I've used Publish Online quite a bit so not too sure why I'm struggling with this. Thanks again, at least I know it's possible now so will keep trying.

Derek Cross

Community Expert

Diane's got a whole online video tutorial on creating InDesign Publish Online documents (you can get 30-days free access): https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-publish-online-2?trk=learning-serp_learning_search-card&upsellOrderOrigin=homepage-learning_learning-search-bar_search-submit

Frans v.d. Geest

Community Expert

Don't even try. It will not work.

Create a website, far simpler, far better.

O

OrielbAuthor

Participating Frequently

Ha ha. Thanks, and I guess that about covers it. Have a website, full of multimedia, but some people want a brochure so was trying to find a way to pull it together.

BobLevine

Community Expert

What you want is a nothing short of a pipedream. In5 would be the closest you'll come but even that isn't going to be a terrific solution for iPads.

In short, there is no single output format that will allow you to do what you want.

O

OrielbAuthor

Participating Frequently

Ok, thanks. I guess that's why I can't figure it.

Derek Cross

Community Expert

You can't successfully use PDF to include all the features you mentioned. There's no one clear alternative, they all have advantages and disadvantages. Have a look at FXL ePub, InDesign's Publish Online, and the InDesign plugin (at extra cost) in5 https://ajarproductions.com/pages/products/in5/

O

OrielbAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thanks. Will definitely take a look.

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