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A
adieu
Inspiring
December 10, 2022
Question

Links have red dots, but still work

  • December 10, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 4573 views

We have seven ebooks created in InDesign, each with about 25 links to external URLs, so maybe 200 external links in total.

 

About a dozen of those links show up with a red dot in the Hyperlinks window. However, all the links work fine in both interactive PDF (Acrobat) and fixed-layout EPUB (Thorium) formats.

 

Okay, so we don't have a problem, but I thought green dot good, red dot bad, so it bothers me to have red dots.

 

I was able to fix one. I noticed, while the link worked, the URL had a "default.htm" extension when it opened. So I added the extension to the URL in the Hyperlinks window and the dot turned green. Didn't work any differently, but I can sleep easier.

 

Any suggestions or should I just be happy they work?

    2 replies

    twinbrush
    twinbrush
    Inspiring
    August 31, 2023

    Seeing the same issue on some pdf files I've created too. Links are all working fine but some show a red dot. Not sure it helps you but I noticed one of mine was to a automatic download so had the suffix '=1' at the end of the URL.

     

    If i change that to '=0' (disabling the automatic download the dot goes green). I however need to keep it as an instant/automatic download...looks like I just have to put up with an, as yet, inexplicable red dot  

      Rene Andritsch
      Community Expert
      Rene AndritschCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 11, 2022

      Maybe visit all URLs and edit the hyperlinks accordingly InDesign’s Hyperlink Panel to prevent problems and turn all of your light to green. If you don’t need it turn of the option “Shared Hyperlink Destination” as they can be a source of trouble as well.

        A
        adieuAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 11, 2022

        Rene, I have tried to edit all the ones with red dots, but nothing I try has any effect, the dots stay red.

        Also, I don't know what the shared hyperlink destination checkbox is for (okay, I do now after googling it). Sometimes it is checked, sometimes not. After reading your reply, I went and unchecked some and checked others. Had no affect.

        Thanks

        A
        adieuAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 11, 2022

        Afaik the green/red dot indicates if InDesign can reach the given URL (checking correctness of the URL).

        Red indicates InDesign can not reach that URL - for what reason ever.

        With another link you got the solution (adding "default.htm").

        If you want to get rid of the red dots you have check all the red dotted links like this one.

        But as long as the red dotted links work I think you are fine.


        That's also what I thought. But the links work fine.

        I have checked all the links with red dots, but none others have extensions like "default. htm". I even tried "index.htm" and "index.html" but no luck.

        My guess is a bug of some sort.

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