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Amy Pace
Known Participant
May 13, 2020
Answered

InDesign footnotes not hyperlinked in Interactive PDF

  • May 13, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 3749 views

I discovered today that my footnotes are not coming out as clickable hyperlinks in my exported (Interactive) PDF while my endnotes are hyperlinks. I'm using the latest version. I tried an older version but got the same results. Has this always been the case and is there a workaround besides manually adding hyperlinks, perhaps a script? Isn't a hyperlinked footnote best for accessibility? Thank you.

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Correct answer Steve Werner

I researched further. I believe that footnotes don't automatically create hyperlinks (obviously, I hadn't tested this before).

 

I found a script by Peter Kahlel that allows you to create hyperlinks:

 

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/footnotes_hyperlinks.html

 

2 replies

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 13, 2020

I researched further. I believe that footnotes don't automatically create hyperlinks (obviously, I hadn't tested this before).

 

I found a script by Peter Kahlel that allows you to create hyperlinks:

 

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/footnotes_hyperlinks.html

 

A
Amy PaceAuthor
Known Participant
May 13, 2020

Thanks, Steve.

 

I did use Peter's script and it works nicely, although I am not sure that the proper accessibility tags are embedded. (My client for this document is blind.) I hesitated to use it because I just thought it should be a feature and I swear I have done this successfully in the past. Should have known better since Peter had to write a script to do it. Thank you for taking the time to reply and research this for me.

 

PS. InDesign 2020 and MacOS Mojave.

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Nadia2552522809rr
Participant
February 27, 2023

I also swear it's worked for me automatically in the past (at least 5 years ago). I slso think it should be an automated feature when exporting PDFs.

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 13, 2020

What PDF reader application are you using to test the hyperlinks? When you say you're using the "latest version," do you mean InDesign 2020 (15.0.2)? What operating system are you running?

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