Interactive PDFs on iPad?

[alexcutter66]

Hi all,

First of all, I'm trying to avoid having to use Flash.

That being said, do the various interactive elements I can add to an InDesign file (including embedded video) work within the iPad ecosystem when exported as an Interactive PDF?

For example, will buttons/links respond to a "touch" rather than a mouse-click?

Thanks!

ac

[MBochiaro]

Thank you all for your input!  I appreciate it

[vivrainbow]

Check out ezPDF Reader - it reads embedded video on the iPad and iPhone. Great. And only costs £1.99 from the App store. This means that the PDF is back. All those expensive apps not necessary.

[LisaNewZealand]

Hi, I too am interested in this question.

I understand that swf files won't work on an ipad but the question seems to be about interactive pdfs? Will a pdf with interactivity (created in InDesign CS5) work on an ipad? ie. buttons/links work with touch rather than a mouse click?

Thanks,

Lisa

[BobLevine]

Again, it's going to depend on the limitations of the PDF reader. I've heard pretty good things about GoodReader. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goodreader-for-ipad/id363448914?mt=8

HTH

Bob

[LisaNewZealand]

Thanks for your reply Bob - I don't (yet) have an ipad so am a little in the dark - so you can't veiw pdfs (interactive or otherwise) with Acrobat reader on an ipad?

Thanks,

Lisa

[BobLevine]

There is no Adobe Reader for the iPad.

Bob

[Steve Werner]

I just did a test of an Interactive PDF file with GoodReader on an iPad. It recognizes hyperlinks to URLs and switches to a browser. It currently ignores buttons.

But the creator of GoodReader has regularly upgraded the application, so it may just be a matter of time.

[BobLevine]

Thanks for that update, Steve.

Bob

[LisaNewZealand]

Hi Bob and Steve, thanks for the info - much appreciated!

Lisa

[alexcutter66]

I emailed the makers of GoodReader and got the following reply:

I was wondering if an \"interactive\" PDF -- a PDF with links/buttons -- would work on an iPad using your software?

Links/buttons should work, but, of course, there's no way to give a 100% reliable answer without testing your particular file.

What about elements like embedded video?

Embeded PDF video is not supported.

[alexcutter66]

One last question for the experts...

Seeing that an interactive PDF isn't going to work on an iPad, what is the best (only?) way to make an interactive presentation within CS5/5.5 that will work on an iPad?

Thanks again for your insight.

ac

[myDwayneSmith]

Adobe Digital Publishing Suite — relatively easy, but not cheap.

[SwinertonMarketing]

Adobe reader is available for iPad...not sure if this is a recent release but it's available in the App store. You have to have iOS 4.2.5 to download but it is free. Haven't been able to test it's compatability yet with interactive PDFs but am hoping it will allow for more interaction besides just hyperlinks.

[BobLevine]

Be prepared to be very disappointed.

Bob

[Steve Werner]

My preliminary testing with Adobe Reader on the iPad is that it lags other third party PDF readers. It doesn't support forms, hyperlinks, or multimedia.

[owdgit]

Interactive pdf's from indesign work brilliantly on iPad with an app called Goodreader, I use it as a presentation tool and that particular combo is way better than re-working all your assets again in keynote (the iPad app does not seem to allow slide to slide navigation . . . Oops!). For multimedia It's easy to create links to stored files on an external server eg Youtube and your interactive file is kept small enough to email.

I think adobe and apple just want us all to rush out and spend spend spend again to jump on the digi-publishing wave that's why they haven't created an 'interactive pdf reader' . . . . .this solution negates the need to buy in, it may not be right for everyone but it can and does work. I have also used it for iphone and ipad app presentation mock-ups directly on my iPad to give the client an idea of navigation and look.

[sfoms]

I just received an iPad2 for Christmas.  I uploaded 4 like files that are interactive PDFs into iBooks.  All 4 open, only one will function as an interactive PDF.  Coincidentally the functioning file is 18mb, the other three are all larger (30-250mb).  Any suggestions to get the other 3 functioning? I dont want to buy a bunch of apps to learn that they function no better than the basic iBooks.  Thanks for your time.

[BobLevine]

Interactive PDFs are a crapshoot on the iPad. There are several PDF readers you can try.

Bob

[sfoms]

they sure seem to be! thanks for the reply.  If anyone has had reliable success with a certain app please advise before I spend money on an app that may not live up to my expectations of managing an interactive PDF.

[BobLevine]

Good Reader has gotten some positive reviews but I’ve never used it.

Bob

[Guest]

I try to create my PDFs for iPad users for viewing in iBooks (since it is the most common reader on iPads... I can't expect all my users to download a 3rd party app just to view a PDF). In my experience, buttons and links exported out of InDD aren't supported in in iBooks, but if I program the buttons in Acrobat Pro (with the links tool), then the buttons function fine. Same with hyperlinks. This is enough to keep me happy for now, but I long for more interactive content.

I should add that any button animation you assign in InDD will not animate on the iPad.