Is There a Way To Control Hyperlink Styles for Placed/Linked Documents in Print vs. Digital Exports

[achannell]

Hello,

I have a client who has a print version and a digital version of a publication issue (lets call it "Issue 1") they will be releasing. I currently have InDesign files for each article (because the articles are often a stand-alone piece as well) placed inside the main InDesign file for Issue 1 (this was honestly the most logical solution for their situation and how they use their articles and case studies individually and in publications).

IS THERE A WAY TO:

• have hyperlinks' style (underline and color) show up for the digital version when I export the main Issue 1 InDesign document to an interactive PDF?
• have the hyperlinks' style (underline and color) NOT show up for the print version when I export the main "Issue 1" InDesign document to a print-ready PDF?

...these two things without having to create separate versions (and digital version and a separate print version) of each placed article?

Thanks!!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

You can control link styling in some ways to some reader platforms, and not in others, and it's not always linear or sensible. Links are often handled by low-level reader code, and they will be (say) blue and underlined no matter what you do in the styling and export code.

Note that ID can be stupid-aggressive about re/applying the Hyperlink style to links, so you will have to apply and sometimes re-apply your chosen link style sometimes. That style may or may not successfully export to PDF because of the app's insistence.

It is not too hard to format links as you like in InDesign, for print/flat PDF export. (See the Layout pane of the Hyperlinks panel, as a start.) It may not be possible within reasonable effort to get anything but what the PDF reader in use (hopefully Acrobat, for interactive PDFs, and not any third-party, email or browser reader) chooses.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Yes, there is an option - but I'm not sure if it's quicker than editing Hyperlink CharStyle...

You would have to create two Books with two files - "master" file with "source styles" and your file.

Then, in one Book - Internet - in the "master" file - set Hyperlinks CharStyle to show underline and color.

In the second Book - Print - in the "master" file - set Hyperlinks CharStyle to DO NOT show underline and color. 

After you open one of the Books - all styles from the "master" will be synchronised with your document.

But again, I'm not sure if it's more convenient way...

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hello,

I have a client who has a print version and a digital version of a publication issue (lets call it "Issue 1") they will be releasing. I currently have InDesign files for each article (because the articles are often a stand-alone piece as well) placed inside the main InDesign file for Issue 1 [...]

By @achannell

I've read your post again - so you are not using Book option?

[venom_5561]

Hello,

Yes, you can achieve this without creating separate versions of each article by using Conditional Text or Object Styles in Adobe InDesign to control the hyperlink appearance in print vs. digital exports. 

Set Up Conditions:

Open the Conditional Text panel (Window > Type & Tables > Conditional Text).
Create two conditions: one for Print and one for Digital.
Apply Conditions to Hyperlinks:

Select the hyperlinks or the text containing them.
Apply the Digital condition to the hyperlink style (underline and color) for interactive PDFs.
Apply the Print condition for a style where hyperlinks appear without underline/color.
Export with Conditional Text:

When exporting to print, hide the Digital condition and show the Print condition.
When exporting to digital, hide the Print condition and show the Digital condition.

Best Regard,

ReadTheory