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CyndeeM
CyndeeM
Inspiring
December 26, 2017
Answered

How to keep links live when creating PDF from other apps?

  • December 26, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 15693 views

Note: this a cross post from the Acrobat forum; I rarely get answers there, so I am also posting it here where I always get great solutions. Sorry if this inconveniences anyone.

I deal with an organization who has a print publication that will now also be available on a web page. This publication mainly consists of PDF ads created by outsiders (not me), most of whom are amateurs. Most ads are probably created in Word or Publisher (or other amateur type programs). And the PDFs are not normally created from Acrobat, but either saved directly from those applications or using a freebie program like Cute PDF.

It seems that when put online, some of the URLs in these ads are live and clickable and some are not. I presume that those that are not live exist in copy that has become flattened along the way.

What is the best advice to give to these amateurs as to how to create their PDFs (when not using Acrobat) and still keep the links live? Thanks.

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer Steve Werner

      As long as you set no standards about what application your amateur ad creators are using for creating a PDF, there is no general directions you can give them. Some applications may support saving links and some may not.

      If it's important that the ads have clickable, you'll have to add them yourself. The reason that some may have links is because Acrobat and Reader have a preferences turned on to try to create links "on the fly." It's called "Create links from URLs". However, they wouldn't be saved in the PDF, they would only work in Reader or Acrobat. It's found in General preferences:

      To reliably create links you would have to use the Edit PDF tool, and select Link on the lower toolbar:

      Then you can choose the URL to be used as a web link action:

      1 reply

      Steve Werner
      Steve WernerCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      December 26, 2017

      As long as you set no standards about what application your amateur ad creators are using for creating a PDF, there is no general directions you can give them. Some applications may support saving links and some may not.

      If it's important that the ads have clickable, you'll have to add them yourself. The reason that some may have links is because Acrobat and Reader have a preferences turned on to try to create links "on the fly." It's called "Create links from URLs". However, they wouldn't be saved in the PDF, they would only work in Reader or Acrobat. It's found in General preferences:

      To reliably create links you would have to use the Edit PDF tool, and select Link on the lower toolbar:

      Then you can choose the URL to be used as a web link action:

      CyndeeM
      CyndeeMAuthor
      Inspiring
      December 26, 2017

      Steve, could you please repost your last paragraph? The Link Properties dialog that you inserted covers some of the text/

      Dov Isaacs
      Dov Isaacs
      Brainiac
      January 1, 2018

      YES! I admit that I wouldn’t use it all the time, but it would certainly help during reviews. But it would be far more beneficial if we could keep at least some interactivity such as bookmarks and hyperlinks.


      Hyperlinks are reasonably easy to implement, but bookmarks, not so easy. Part of the problem is exactly where to place them in the container document's bookmarks (assuming it already has any).

      Quite a few PDF “features” are actually implemented via annotations including forms, multimedia, watermarks, etc. And many times when one receives a PDF file, it turns out that there is content that looks like it is part of the base PDF file, but in fact is annotation content that simply “disappears” when placed into InDesign or Illustrator.

      Also, FYI, PDF/X-6 will allow for most annotations including forms and hyperlinks! (PDF/X-6 due likely in 2019).

      No promises here, but wanted to test the waters amongst knowledgeable users.

                - Dov

      - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
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