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J
JoePoland
Participating Frequently
October 15, 2024
Question

Issues with Incorrect Bookmark Links When Exporting Large PDF from InDesign

  • October 15, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 769 views

I have created a very large file of over 1300 pages. It is the entire Bible in the Polish language. I added bookmarks in order to go to each book and each chapter. When I click on the bookmark from the Indesign bookmarks panel, the bookmarks work perfectly. But when I export to PDF, some of the bookmarks are incorrectly linked. For example, if I click on a bookmark that is on page 1298, it takes me to a bookmark that's on page 1323. Every subsequent bookmark I click takes me to the next bookmark from that incorrect spot. In other words the bookmarks from page 1298 to page 1323 do not work. I have tried deleting and redoing them, I have tried exporting the PDF with different settings, but nothing seems to work. Any ideas?

 

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2 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 15, 2024

Could it possibly be the absolute page number of the document rather than the book page number? 

When you say you "created a very large file"--did you create separate documents and use a book file OR is it a single document?

Did you build a table of contents with bookmarks?

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
J
JoePolandAuthor
Participating Frequently
October 15, 2024

Thanks for the reply, Dave. I was totally new to Indesign and self-taught, so I made one large document. I did not create a table of contents. Rather, I manually entered bookmarks at each spot. Like I said, I was learning as I went.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 15, 2024

I would definitely break the book up into sections/chapters. The use a book-wide table of contents (TOC).

 

Check out this course: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-creating-long-documents-13887227/build-long-documents-with-indesign

 

You should be able to get a free trial here: 

https://learning.linkedin.com/cx/get-started?src=go-pa&trk=sem-ga_campid.20913255539_asid.161076145367_crid.686759883353_kw.linkedin%20learning%20trial_d.c_tid.kwd-267389114062_n.g_mt.e_geo.9031297&mcid=7148407339128156203&cid=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwpbi4BhByEiwAMC8JnWw09hRIBTNMDhfiSxDcEhhsoLlP64JXfoGe-lq3gjijcANBFbLrqhoCJyIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you don't want to keep it, cancel before the trial expires. 

 

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
Community Manager
October 15, 2024

Hi @JoePoland,

 

Thank you for reaching out! I understand how frustrating it can be to deal with incorrect bookmark links, especially in such a large document. To help us assist you better, could you please provide the following details:

1. The version of InDesign you are using.
2. The operating system details.

Additionally, it would be helpful if you could share a screen recording that demonstrates the issue within the InDesign file and then in the exported PDF. If possible, please also include a screenshot of your export settings.

 

Looking forward to your response!

 

Best,  
Abhishek Rao

J
JoePolandAuthor
Participating Frequently
October 15, 2024

Abhiszek, here is the screen recording. As you can see, the bookmark to the book of Hebrews works, as well as chapter 8, but when I click on chapter 10, it takes me to the wrong place and every bookmark after that takes me one page farther from this wrong page. I hope this makes sense.

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