Animated objects and rollovers disappear from PDF (ID and Publish Online)

[Bigwig]

This problem is vexing me and I can't find an answer online. I designed a product sheet for a client (see link below) that uses both animated objects (icons) and rollovers. I want the corresponding downloadable PDF to contain these objects as well. I don't need these effects for the PDF, in fact it can simply be a flat version of the animated document. Unfortunately, the text and icons disappear completely from the PDF and I can't figure out how to retain them. Does anyone have a clue or suggestion? Thanks!

https://indd.adobe.com/view/cdc66fb1-60f2-4709-97ab-25d16793216e

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

PDF does not support animation. But if you look at the export option you'll see that you can retain the appearance of interactive items.

[Bigwig]

Thanks, all. The solution, as Bob mentioned, was to set up a PDF preset to "retain appearance of interactive items." Since the Publish Online dialog box only lets you choose from presets, I realized that I had neglected to specify one with this option set to "on". I did understand that PDF didn't support animation but I couldn't figure out why my viewers couldn't download a "flattened" version of my document. THANKS AGAIN!!

[BobLevine]

Glad you got it sorted out.

[Frans v.d. Geest]

interactive PDF simply does not support this, the only thing that will work are of the hyperlink kind (like http, mailto or navigation links inside the document like index, cross refs, TOC or anchors (text, page). Hide/show buttons will also work but no MSO or animation stuff. If you want all this you have to forget PDF and use FXL ePub instead...

[Steve Werner]

And to further support what Bob and Frans said, there is tremendous variability in support for interactivity in PDF readers, especially on mobile devices. You'd get the best results on Acrobat or Reader on a desktop computer. On mobile devices and viewing PDF in browsers, it's a total "crap shoot" (as Bob likes to say).