InDesign interactive features that work in PDF

[jay fresno]

I'm designing an electronic newsletter in InDesign that will be saved as a PDF. I want to use as many interactive feaures as possible. Which InDesign animation and interactive features will work properly when the InDesign file is saved as an interactive PDF?

[Derek Cross]

Most of these features won't work in Interactive PDFs; try InDesign’s Publish Online instead. You can include animations, video, links and more. You can't monetise the content and readers have to be online to access it, but it can be read on any device that has a HTML5 browser - PCs, Macs, Tablets and Smart phones and you can enable it so readers can download a (static) PDF version.

[jay fresno]

With publish online do viewers need to install a special reader and learn a new interface or can they use Adobe reader which they are familiar with?

[Derek Cross]

No speecial reader needed,  readers use their browser (you send them a link) – the document is HTML5 not PDF.

[BobLevine]

Publish online requires an active internet connection. I realize that's almost always going to be available but it is worth noting.

You may want to look into Fixed Layout EPUB but users will need a good EPUB reader. For Macs it's pre-installed but for Windows, Thorium Reader is about the best there is.

[jay fresno]

Thanks for that tip, Bob.

[Test Screen Name]

The real-world answer is essentially none. Because you cannot control the app your newsletter subscribers will use to read it, they will probably NOT use Adobe apps. This means all bets are off on interactivity. Some, perhaps more than half, will view on a phone or tablet where this stuff doesn't work even in the Adobe apps. Basic links may be OK, but that's it.

[jay fresno]

Good point.
I should have mentioned that almost all will be viewing  on a laptop using Adobe reader. 

[Derek Cross]

Using Adobe Reader won't make any difference to the interactively, such as animations, you seek to use. Just simple hyperlinks will work.

[Derek Cross]

If you're considering trying InDesign Publish Online, have a look at this excellent online video tutorial (you can get 30-days free access):

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-publish-online-2?trk=learning-serp_learning_search-card&u...

[jay fresno]

Thanks for the suggestion, Derek. I will definitely check out that tutorial.

[Frans v.d. Geest · Accepted solution]

The things that will work in iPDF:

- Anything that is a hyperlink (web, but also goto page, TOC, index etc.)

- Hide/Show button actions

The rest will not work in iPDF.

[Derek Cross]

You can have a word or words or an image in an Interactive PDF (such as a button shape) as a document hyperlink to say another page in the document, or to an external website.
Some devices, for example, iPads, don't have rollover capability – only click – you should avoid multi-action buttons  like On Click, On Roll Over, etc.  Multi-state object (MSO) don’t work at all in an Interactive PDFs.

[jay fresno]

Thanks, Derek.

[jay fresno]

Thank you, Frans.