InDesign CC2018 Hyperlink Issues

[Magic_Moon]

Is anyone else having issues with the hyperlinks menu? When using the "convert urls to hyperlinks" function, it comes back with 0 hyperlinks found (when there are many), and when it does find them, it now includes punctuation. Additionally, it seems to lose a chunk of the functionality when you close the document, even after being saved. This is all stuff that worked correctly with previous versions. I have the same issues on my work computer (Windows) and my home system (Apple). Can anyone assist? It's getting to be ridiculous to go through each URL one by one when there are docs with hundreds. Thank you!

[Barbara Ash]

I'm not able to reproduce this issue in InDesign CC 2018 or in InDesign CC 2019.

Are the URLs showing up in the Hyperlinks panel?

You could try resetting preferences Set preferences in Adobe InDesign and if that doesn't work you may need to reinstall InDesign.

[Magic_Moon]

The URLs show up. It's happening in two totally different environments, on two independent systems. It's also happening with a coworker. It's mostly with the "Convert URLs to Hyperlinks" function. If the URL is included at the end of a sentence (i.e with a period at the end, like http://www.google.com.) it includes the period at the end as part of the hyperlink. I then have to go in manually and fix the issue. It also freezes up consistently when using the hyperlink functions.

[Barbara Ash]

I tried the command again with InDesign CC 2018, using your tip that it happens when the URL is at the end of a sentence and followed by a period.

I still can't reproduce the issue. It is working fine on my computer.

What happens if you click the green dot in the Hyperlinks panel to test the hyperlink -- does it go to the correct URL destination?

[Magic_Moon]

When I click on the dot next to the hyperlink, it does not go to the correct URL. It includes the punctuation.

[Barbara Ash]

On my computer, InDesign CC 2018 is not including the period at the end of a sentence when creating a hyperlink. I'm using InDesign 13.1. Make sure you have the 13.1 update installed (under the Help menu choose About InDesign). If you don't, then launch the Creative Cloud app. One way is to choose Updates from the Help menu. If you already have 13.1, then try deleting preferences.

[Magic_Moon]

Both systems are running 13.1. I removed the preferences from the Mac, which seems to have fixed the program's inability to find links, but the punctuation is still being included.

[Barbara Ash · Accepted solution]

As far as I know, this is not a known issue. Try uninstall / reinstall InDesign using the Adobe CC Cleaner Tool.

Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems

Alternatively, you might try deleting the cache files first. Some people have been able to fix problems by deleting the cache files.

On Mac, close InDesign. Go to the User Library folder in which InDesign's cache files are stored. It may be a hidden file. The path is normally User > Home folder (looks like a little house). Select the Home folder. Press down the Option key and choose Library from the Finder Go menu. Library should appear in the Home folder. Inside the Library folder find the Caches folder. Inside the Caches folder find the Adobe InDesign folder and delete it.

The cashes files are usually also hidden on Windows. Go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and click on the VIew tab. Select Show Hidden Files and Folders  in advanced settings. Delete the folder at the end of the path C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Local\Adobe\InDesign\Version [#]\<Language>\Cache.

[Magic_Moon]

Thanks, Barbara. Reinstalling seems to have fixed the home computer.

[Barbara Ash]

I'm glad you were able to fix it on your home computer. Any luck with the Windows computer?

[StakeholderDemocracy]

I have the same issue on:

InDesign 16.4x64 Windows 10.

There's other threads with many more people experiencing this issue. The answer from Adobe cannot be reinstall each time! That takes a while to set things up again after  - good luck explaining that to my client, or do I sacrifice my evening because Adobe won't fix the bug in software that costs hundreds each year?