7 Replies Latest reply: Jun 20, 2014 5:14 PM by bfento RSS

    Linking to other folio articles

    Phil Allum Community Member
    Phil Allum Dec 17, 2013 2:23 AM

      This has been asked a few times but I haven't found a straight forward answer (for newbies) to the question "How do I link from one folio article to another folio article" even the DPS Tips app doesn't have a definitive answer to this specific question, the answer given is vague enough to get it wrong (several times)

       

      This is how I understand it

       

      1. You need to create a multi folio developer app (to test)
      2. You need to specify an Optional URL scheme in the DPS App Builder, preferably a reverse URL i.e. com.example.myapp
      3. You need to have at least 2 folios published
      4. You need to use the navto:// and the structure should be something like navto://com.example.myapp/FolioName/ArticleName#4 the hash 4 would be page number

       

      Is all this correct?

       

      There are a couple of things I'm unclear of

       

      1. Do I use forward slash or do I use colon to separate my URL string
        example 1: navto://com.example.myapp/FolioName/ArticleName#4
        example 2: navto://com.example.myapp:FolioName:ArticleName#4
      2. Is it all case sensitive
      3. Can the folio and article names have spaces and if they do how do I deal with them, example:
        example 1: navto://com.example.myapp/Folio Name/Article Name#4
      4. In the Indesign Document am I using the "Buttons and Forms" panel from the "Interactive" option
      5. Am I simply specifying a "Go To URL" command and placing my navto:// link in the box provided
        • 1. Re: Linking to other folio articles
          Casey Jensen Community Member
          Casey Jensen Dec 17, 2013 6:29 AM (in response to Phil Allum)

          I'm not aware of this being possible (it certainly doesn't mean that it's not), but it would seem like there are several issues that would be raised by such a scenario:

           

          • What if a user isn't entitled to the other folio?
          • What if a user hasn't downloaded the other folio?
          • How would you properly inform a user that they're switching to another issue?
          • 2. Re: Linking to other folio articles
            Phil Allum Community Member
            Phil Allum Dec 17, 2013 8:44 AM (in response to Casey Jensen)

            Hi Casey

             

            All of my folios are free and set to download the latest folio on launch, hopefully this way I can be relatively certain the linking shouldn't fail from a technical aspect. The links which take users to another folio are clearly labeled and are there to encouraging users to read the folio suggested.

             

            Basically I have 6 folios that cross reference each other, instead of just suggesting they should read the other folio I would like to make it more user friendly and take them there.

            • 3. Re: Linking to other folio articles
              Bob Bringhurst Adobe Employee
              Bob Bringhurst Dec 17, 2013 8:58 AM (in response to Phil Allum)

              Phil, a couple things. First, you're jumping into an advanced technique, which is difficult for a newbie. Second, this is not an officially supported workflow, but it's been working for quite a long time. Third, try creating an article with a link to a DPS Tips article so that you can experiment with the syntax.

               

              1. Forward slash. See the example on page 2, step 2 of the DPS Tips article. And note the "v1" after the URL scheme. You're missing that in your examples. And there's no "navto:" prefix for cross-folio linking.

               

              2. Yes, it's case-sensitive. Use the names of the folio and article as they appear in the Folio Builder panel, and replace any spaces or special characters with the appropriate HTML, such as %20 for a space.

               

              3. Yes, use %20 for a space. Again, see the DPS Tips example.

               

              4. Yes, Buttons and Forms panel.

               

              5. No, there is no navto: prefix. Again, see page 2, step 2 of the DPS Tips > Advanced Overlays > Advanced Linking article.

              • 4. Re: Linking to other folio articles
                Bob Bringhurst Adobe Employee
                Bob Bringhurst Jan 7, 2014 7:37 AM (in response to Casey Jensen)

                Casey, if the user hasn't downloaded the other folio, the folio is downloaded and opens to the target article. If the folio is retail, the user is prompted to purchase before downloading.

                 

                [Correction: Cross-folio linking doesn't work well for retail folios. Instead of prompting to download the retail folio, the app displays an error message.]

                • 5. Re: Linking to other folio articles
                  Casey Jensen Community Member
                  Casey Jensen Dec 17, 2013 10:53 AM (in response to Bob Bringhurst)

                  Thanks, Bob, that's interesting to know.

                  • 6. Re: Linking to other folio articles
                    Phil Allum Community Member
                    Phil Allum Jan 7, 2014 4:12 AM (in response to Bob Bringhurst)

                    Thanks Bob, just implimented it and it works like a charm

                    • 7. Re: Linking to other folio articles
                      bfento Community Member
                      bfento Jun 20, 2014 5:14 PM (in response to Phil Allum)

                      Hi Gang,

                       

                      I've set-up a test folio in Content Viewer to test links to my client's retail app in Newsstand. I set-up a button that should bring me to the client's app library and one that targets a free article in a previous issue (folio). Neither button works... As in nothing happens. Not even an error message.

                       

                      I can link to the DPS Tips app as the tutorial shows without problem though. So, is it possible that the URL scheme I've been given for my client's app is incorrect or that the fact it's in the Newsstand have any bearing on this lack of functionality?

                       

                      Any help would be greatly appreciated because the client would like the articles mentioned in the letters column each issue to link to the content in question.

                       

                      Thanks in advance,

                       

                      Brad Fenton