Can I modify how a link is created in InDesign?

[DigitalChickster]

OK, I had trouble wording the title so it made sense. Here's the issue. I create documents in InDesign. At the top of each page, is a list of "chapters" that are links. So in InDesign, I create hyperlinks that take you to a different page in the document, depending on what link you click on. When I export the document as a pdf, these links work fine. However, someone else then takes that pdf and merges it (using a program called "Select PDF," if that's relevant). When that happens, the links no longer work.

We did a test, and realized that if I create the links in Acrobat when the InDesign file has already been exported as a pdf... THOSE links work. So I found the "style" or "type" of links are different, when you look at them (see image below). The ones created by Acrobat are "cleaner."

Putting in all the links on all pages by hand in Acrobat is not a good solution. It would take me a long time to do ONE report... and I have to do many reports. So my question is, how can I create "cleaner" links from InDesign... that are similar to the ones created in Acrobat.

I'm using the Creative Cloud Suite on an iMac, just FYI.

julie

[Sandee Cohen]

Are you creating the links in Acrobat before the Select PDf merge or after?

Why do you have to use Select PDF for the merge? Obviously that's the problem.

[DigitalChickster]

I created the links in Acrobat before merging the documents. The guy who merges them did a text, and those links then worked fine... once the documents were merged.

I have asked  him why he uses Select PDF. He will let me know. I'll post the answer as soon as I hear back from him.

[DigitalChickster]

TEST not TEXT

[Sandee Cohen]

Yes, I figured TEST.

[DigitalChickster]

Ok, I got a response. Here is why we use SelectPDF:

"We are building a custom report PDF on demand for our clients. So we use selectPDF to merge and edit multiple PDFs to create a custom report for them. The links work correctly when the template report is converted to a PDF first and then added via acrobat. But if the links are created in InDesign before converting to a PDF, then links become corrupted after merging and building the final report via our server."

[DigitalChickster]

Thought I'd reply to boost this up. It's something I really need to figure out.

[Sandee Cohen]

OK, I just did a test on adding pages from  one ID document to another and my hyperlinks work just fine.

But I realize that you're using PAGE hyperlinks and I use Text Anchor hyperlinks.

If think if you use Text Anchor hyperlinks in the InDesign file, you may not have the problem. I think what is happening is when you merge the documents, Acrobat can't find the same page number that the ID file created for the link.

Let us know if this helps. (PS: Creating text anchor hyperlinks is more work, but if it solves your problem, do you really care?

[DigitalChickster]

Oh thank you! I hadn't thought of doing them that way. I'll give it a try and will see if it solves the problem.

julie

[wrensauer]

Hi Julie,

Were you able to find success with Sandee's suggestion? Please let us know if you need further help.

Best,

Wren

[DigitalChickster]

No, I was never able to get anything to work. So the guy handling the PDFs is working out a solution on his end.