Need help with InDesign Book troubleshooting (TOC links and button links to other doc in the book)

[JS2354]

Hello,

I have been frustrated working with InDesign book. 

I have an InDesign book that has 18 Indd doc within.  And I have a main TOC that links to each chapter in the book, which is separated by each indd doc.

After I packaged the book doc into another folder, and exported a PDF from that packaged folder into an interactive PDF, my TOC links stopped working. I have to open my TOC doc in that new packaged folder, and updated the TOC again in order for it to be working.

This also happens to the button links that I have. I have a main link on top of each doc that will make ppl easily click to jump to different doc withou having to go back to the main TOC. These links stopped working in the newly packaged folder.

All of the TOC links and the button links are all working already in the other doc.

From a logical point of view, this shouldn't be happening as when packaging the book should be the way to do it.

The reason I have to package the book is because I periodically need to make updates to the content and the company needs to retain the older versions for legal reasons.

This is very frustrating and I am at a total loss. If I have to keep checking the TOC links and button links everytime I packaged the book, that will be very unproductive. 

Anyone have any insights on this?

Btw I am still using InDesign CC v 19 because the last time I tried using the new InDD version, I got a lot of trouble exporting to a PDF, which made me move back down to InDesign CC v19.

Thank you!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Have you selected "Create PDF Bookmarks" and "Include Book Documents selected in your TOC Style?

What are your PDF export settings? For example, if you export to any PDF/X setting, it will remove bookmarks and links. 

[JS2354]

Yes, I selected "Create PDF bookmarks" and "include Book documents" in my TOC style.

I exported PDF as an interactive PDF.  See screenshots for the settings. Like I mentioned, everything works until I packaged the files and then trying to generate PDF from the packaged file. Thanks.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

I had the same problem with a test on one of my books. 

Everything worked in PDF made from original files.

After packaging, bookmarks and buttons worked, but not TOC links. 

I smell a bug...

Workarounds until fixed...

1] Use bookmarks instead of TOC links. More useful for online reading anyway as the user does not have to go back to the TOC to click another link.

2] Give up on buttons and just use bookmarks and TOC links. Requires output to Print PDF.

[JS2354 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the insight! If i understand correctly, bookmarks are created from the TOC, right? So if the TOC is messed up, the bookmarks will be as well.

Another workaround that I found was instead packaging the book file, I duplicated the folder. I know not super ideal but I will always make sure to have all my asset links lined up correctly in the appropriate folder.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

Your second workaround could work with a slight modification: package the book to gather all the assets, then _copy_ the InDesign files over from the original folder. \

[JS2354]

So if my understanding is correct, this is what I did:

I packaged the book files and duplicated the book files.

Then, i copy over the duplicated book files into the packaged book files folder. The PDF TOC links and button links are working. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Isn't that what I suggested?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hello @JS2354 & @dAvE,

I really appreciate the thorough explanation. To further investigate this on our end, could you kindly provide a sample document from your book setup that demonstrates where the TOC links cease to function after packaging? You can upload the files to a secure cloud-sharing service and share the download link here.

If feasible, a brief screen recording of your process up to the point where the issue arises would be very beneficial for testing and identifying the cause.

Once I receive those, I will replicate the behavior and keep you updated with the results.

I look forward to your reply.

Abhishek

[JS2354]

Hello @Abhishek Rao 

Thank you. Please see the attached zip file. I included the original test book doc, duplicated test book  and packaged test book.
I also included all the screen recordings for each so you can see how the links aren't working on the packaged test book, but they are on the duplicated one.

Here's the link to download the working files. Unfortunately the link is only valid for 3 days because of our organization  file sharing rules:
https://wetransfer.com/downloads/e5c79bbfddc19a08bfb93d7a44bc02a620251201192118/4af020beea46ad619310...

Hope this is enough info for you to replicate the behavior. Thank you.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hello @JS2354,

I appreciate you providing the files and screen recordings. I have gone through them and was able to replicate the behavior on my side too. Furthermore, I am currently discussing this with the product team. 

I will notify you as soon as there are any updates.

Thank you once more for your understanding.

Abhishek