What features will work in an Interactive PDF on ipad

[umagurl77]

Hi there,

I need to create an interactive PDF of a sales tool to view on an ipad. There will be different models from older to newer that they will be viewed on. My initial research shows that I can't really do anything fancy. Just basic link to pages and hyperlinks. 

Am I correct?

Any help of articles you could share would be great!

Thanks

[BobLevine]

You are correct. Currently, interactive PDF on mobile is nothing short of a crapshoot.

For iPads that all have iBooks, I would recommend you use fixed layout epub.

[umagurl77]

Thanks BobLevine...

Can you tell me why any fancy things won't work? I just want to be able to tell the higher up people...

I don't think the client is interested in using another program for it. It's a sales tool that 200 or so stores will be using. They probably only have the bare bones on their ipads.

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

The developers of most PDF readers are aiming at the average user. Most users have no clue about interactive PDF and aren't expecting it.

Strangely, Adobe has chosen not to implement interactive PDF features in their mobile PDF readers.

You have to buy a PDF reader like PDF Expert which handles interactivity (for example, displaying video).

[umagurl77]

Thank you. PDF Expert... Is that owned by Adobe?

[BobLevine]

No.

[umagurl77]

Is there anything cool functionality wise I can add in Acrobat after I make the PDF? I guess not. The problem is in acrobat not recognizing it on the ipad, right?

[BobLevine]

That and the fact that much of what people consider “cool” won’t work in PDF anywhere.

[Test Screen Name]

The really key problem is that 99% of people use a PDF reader that has no Adobe involvement at all. On an iPad, there is no way to change that PDF reader that's built into almost every app that shows PDFs, even if you can persuade people to download another app, they won't go to the effort of sending their files to it.

Interactivity in PDF files is essentially dead, but hasn't quite stopped moving yet.

[umagurl77]

Hey everyone,

Client is wondering if an interactive PDF That I create in INDD with advanced features will work on a Microsoft surface. Is that still a flash device?

[BobLevine]

A surface Pro is a full blown computer.

That said, what “advanced features” are you referring to?

[umagurl77]

Hi Bob, Thx! Mainly multi state objects, to create simple pop up boxes, and go to pages throughout the PDF. Enough that it won't work on an ipad.

[BobLevine]

MSOs are not supported in PDF. Never have been.

[Test Screen Name]

Surface Pro, yes, because it runs normal Windows. But keyboard& trackpad probably needed (test it!)

[umagurl77]

Thx, yes we will for sure!

[umagurl77]

Thx Bob, correct, but the MSOs should work in a interactive PDF on an actual computer correct?

[BobLevine]

NO! They do not work in a PDF!

[umagurl77]

I'm so confused. So if they don't work in a PDF, what would be the output for someone to use them in, that they would work on a desktop computer. I'm creating a sales tool for a client to view on their computer.

[Test Screen Name]

Read this Multi-State Objects | Working with Interactive and Multimedia in Adobe InDesign CS6 | Peachpit and look at the first big note.

[umagurl77]

Thank you. Yes, I see it says it doesn't work. So I found this video. I guess, this is different because it doesn't use MSO? Just buttons. Regardless, this is what I want to do and it works in a PDF.

Creating a popup window in a PDF - YouTube