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Stephan Specht
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hyperlinks in pdf don't work

Apr 19, 2012 1:37 AM

Categories: Windows Tags: #pdf #hyperlink #reference

Hi.

 

I create pdfs with hyperlinks in adobe indesign 5.5.

The created Hyperlinks refer to other pdf documents and still work,

but if I open the same pdf Files with another computer,

the links don't work.

 

I don't know why hyperlinks don't work on the other computer.

 

Any ideas?

Both Acrobat Versions have the ability to use and open linked documents.

 

It seems to be a general problem from acrobat.

 

Thanks!

 

2578 Views   11 Replies   Latest reply: Stephan Specht, Apr 25, 2012 12:26 AM
 
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  • Bernd Alheit
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    1. Bernd Alheit,
    Apr 19, 2012 3:26 AM   in reply to Stephan Specht
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    It isn't a problem of Acrobat.

     
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  • Stephan Specht
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    2. Stephan Specht,
    Apr 19, 2012 11:52 PM   in reply to Bernd Alheit
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    Thanks. That's very useful...

    Is it possible to get one more hint?

     
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  • Bernd Alheit
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    3. Bernd Alheit,
    Apr 20, 2012 12:22 AM   in reply to Stephan Specht
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    Did you create the links in InDesign or Acrobat?

     
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  • Stephan Specht
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    4. Stephan Specht,
    Apr 20, 2012 12:39 AM   in reply to Bernd Alheit
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    I created the Documents with Links in InDesign 5.5.

    -Export interactive PDF.

     

    Some work, and some don't. It seems to be depending on the computer.

     
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  • Dave Merchant
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    5. Dave Merchant,
    Apr 20, 2012 12:55 AM   in reply to Stephan Specht
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    It's a known issue with InDesign - rather than creating "open file" link types, it creates URL links using a "file://" protocol on the address. These don't work if you change the locations of the file, e.g. by moving them to another computer.

     

    I can't comment on when it will be resolved, meanwhile you will have to create the links by hand in Acrobat, choosing the "open a file" action. It's not something which can be automated.

     
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  • Stephan Specht
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    6. Stephan Specht,
    Apr 20, 2012 2:49 AM   in reply to Dave Merchant
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    Thanks!

     

    There are difference between Acrobat Pro X and Reader 9.

    Partly the Links are working and partly not.

    (seems to be not a problem of InDesign only)

    -Links, which are created in InDesign and new linked in Acrobat, are also not working on another Computer (!).

     

    Are Wildcards in Hyperlinks accepted in Acrobat or InDesign?

    -this could be useful to define the file location.

     

     
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  • Dave Merchant
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    7. Dave Merchant,
    Apr 20, 2012 3:37 AM   in reply to Stephan Specht
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    No, a link has to point to a specific file (but the "open file" link type can refer to a relative path)


    Are Wildcards in Hyperlinks accepted in Acrobat or InDesign?

    -this could be useful to define the file location.

     

     
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  • Stephan Specht
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    8. Stephan Specht,
    Apr 20, 2012 6:05 AM   in reply to Dave Merchant
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    How is it possible to define a relative Link in "open file"?

     

    I can only define a relative path in "Webverknüpfung öffnen" (goto URL).

     
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  • Dave Merchant
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    9. Dave Merchant,
    Apr 20, 2012 6:47 AM   in reply to Stephan Specht
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    If you create a link in Acrobat to another PDF file in the same folder or in a subfolder of the source PDF's location, the link destination will always specify only the filename (and optional subfolder), not the absolute path. Provided those two files/folders are moved together, the link will always work.

     

    EG:

     

    "Index.pdf" in folder  "C:\Writing\Novels\MyBook"

    "chapter.pdf" in "C:\Writing\Novels\MyBook\Chapters"

     

    Linking from "index.pdf" to "chapter.pdf", the filespec attribute of the link will be "Chapters/chapter.pdf".

     

    Copying the entire "MyBook" or "Novels" folder and subfolders to another computer, CD, etc. the link will work as normal.

     
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  • Stephan Specht
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    10. Stephan Specht,
    Apr 23, 2012 12:28 AM   in reply to Dave Merchant
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    Hi.

     

    Thanks.

     

    I used the answer and created a File with Links to other PDF files in Subfolders in Acrobat X.

    The files are located on a server and if I open the pfd with another computer, the Links don't work.

     

    I have no Idea, why.

    Actually the pdfs should be made in Indesign, and exported in a pdf File..

     
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  • Stephan Specht
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    11. Stephan Specht,
    Apr 25, 2012 12:26 AM   in reply to Stephan Specht
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    Hi.

     

    When I create the linked PDF Files on a Mac and copy the Folders on the Server,

    the Links are working.

    (in both directions - from folder to subfolder and in the opposite direction).

     

    Any ideas, why this isn't able to do this on Windows?

     

    Greetings.

     
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