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Create an interactive pdf with check boxes/buttons

New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hello. I need to create an interactive PDF with check boxes and buttons that would change visibility of the layers. The concept is to make dynamic scheme, where the user can choose options from the check boxes and the picture will change accordingly to his needs. The scheme before was drawn in Autocad program and made with blocks( each block has his own layer). After dwg drawing was printed in PDF with layers. So when I import pdf into Indesign I see that one pdf with all layers(Object layers). The question in that, is it possible to transfer all that layers from PDF to Indesign layers, to change visibility after for that layers with check boxes?

Thanks a lot for the answers!

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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There's a useful blog and discussion about issues with Interactive PDFs here: It's okay to say no to interactive PDF

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hello Derek.

Thank you for the answer, but I did not find that blog very useful for me. Still want to make an interactive pdf, because I saw how it was done and for me was very useful and I think that for the last user it will be very helpful also.

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Do you know which devices the end-user will be using to access your Interactive PDF?

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Only PC(on Windows).

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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It might be worth you having a look at this new online video tutorial which looks at the various interactive document options:

InDesign CC: Interactive Document Fundamentals You can get a 10-day free trial.

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Thank you Derek. Will try to look that one.

But one questions disturbs me the most- is it possible somehow  to transfer automatically "Object layers" from pdf to Indesing layers or it should be done manually?

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Advocate ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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I'm not sure - manually

Maybe script?

Pawel

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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I am not really good at scripts, Pawel. But is it possible to write such script?

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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No. You cannot do this automatically. You’d need to place the PDF multiple times displaying each layer and when you export you’d also have those layers available to turn on and off manually.

What is the end result supposed to be? Why does this have to be a PDF?

Finally, everything you need can and should be done in Acrobat since you’re starting with the PDF you want to have interactivity in.

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hello Bob. Thanks for the answer. Now not very sure that I understand correct, but with Indesign there is a possibility to make all layers as sublayers for one layer. So they will be not visible and all all control for that layers will be provided with checkboxes/buttons. I saw such dynamic pdf-s. There are only 3  layers- 2 were done for buttons and one layer was for the scheme, under which were 14 sublayers, which are not visible in final pdf.

I am not so good in scripting, but may be is possible to make such script that will be hiding one by one "Object layers" and saving them with the same name in Indesign.

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Guide ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hi

You may try the trial version of PDF2ID plugin : PDF2ID - PDF to InDesign, How to convert PDF to InDesign, Convert PDF to InDesign

Never used it, dunno if it keeps layers or not... or if it's efficient...

It's easy (but may be long) to import acrobat layers into INDD, but you won't have any ability to edit, select objects or anything else than... seeing (or not) a layer... Wouldn't that be a problem in your case?

There is a lack of information about what you're trying to achieve, so it's hard to give advises...

but Acrobat Pro seems to be the app you need

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hello Vinny. Thanks for the answer. Yes I understand what you are meaning, but it is a bit another thing. I have a scheme where are different devices, each device is a block with his own layer. Layers are more than 30 at the moment and after will be more. The main though is to hide all that layers to one( may be with sublayers that after export will be not visible?) and their visibility controlled by buttons.

I have seen also that PDF2ID program, but did not tried yet. All an all I do not need to edit the layers after, just need to change visibility.

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Guide ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hi sponge...

Please note there is no such thing as sublayer in InDesign.

I think screenshots might help to understand what you are up to...

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Sorry Vinny. May be I am naming it wrong. Find some information from that sites. Sorr, maybe providing information not so exactly.

Creating Multi-object Buttons in Adobe InDesign | Graphics.com

InDesign CS5 New Feature: Layers & Sublayers | Tiny Tutorials' Adobe Classroom

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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The only way to do this with an interactive PDF is turn every layer into an individual button and then use show/hide for each of them. This is an insane use of interactive PDF but can be done.

There is simply no good way to do this with layers and as already pointed out there is no such thing as a sublayer in InDesign. Layers contain objects and nothing else.

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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OK, thank you Bob. But how would you do such things, with Acrobat Pro?

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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How about experimenting with Publish Online or maybe in5 Ajar Productions: in5 - Home ?

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Not really understood what for to use that Publish Online. Paid service and still before you need to create project in Indesign.

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Publish Online is ​not a paid service. ​It's included in your Creative Cloud subscription.

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Community Expert ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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You can do it in InDesign or Acrobat Pro. You seem to want the layers to be hidden from any possible use, though. I don't think that's possible but you can certainly pop over to the Acrobat forum and see if it can be done with some javascript.

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Guide ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Hi again

There are several ways to achieve that. Using Acrobat Pro is one of them, as it has been said.

Now, if you want to use INDD only, it's gonna be a bit tricky, but doable.

First of all, forget about layers. All you need are elements, set up as buttons.

Basically, to create some sort of toggle button, you need 3 buttons:

One will show the illustration and the "hide" button:

bouton1.jpg

The second one will hide the illustration and show back the first button.

Its initial view must be set up as "invisible":

It will be placed exactly on top of the "show" button

hide.jpg

Finally, the illustration button have no action, but must be set up as "invisible":

You'll understand that placing the different illustrations is going to be tricky. But let's assume it's no problem for you:

illu.jpg

Final result:

result.jpg

I just want to add one thing:

Good luck ^^

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Thank you Vinny for the information. Will try to make in your way also.

I will also try another things. If I come out with a good idea or method, I will write here back.

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Advocate ,
Dec 19, 2016 Dec 19, 2016

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Do you really want to use InDesign?

You can add buttons and check boxes using Acrobat. This way you ahve no problems with layers and it works fine.

Just try to use Acrobat Pro

Pawel

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