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Weblinks in PDF don't work right; open web page once, then not again

Forum Index > Accessibility > Weblinks in PDF don't work right; open web page once, then not again
2008-07-11 11:54:40
Simon134
Registered: Feb 28 2008
Posts: 19
Answered

I've put together a single page "quick links" PDF for a law-firm client.

The PDF has a 31 embedded weblinks (i.e. you can't see the url) to various intranet pages and internal-system pages -- but links work on some machines and not others.

Weblink behaviour is very odd on machines where problem is -- the links will work the first time they're clicked, but won't work next time. Closing and re-opening the PDF makes no difference.
All users can see the hover-text description of link.

PDF was created with Acrobat Professional 8.1.2, and is set to be compatible with Acrobat Reader version 4.0. And I've tested re-made versions of the PDF set to be compatible with 5.0 and 3.0 and it makes no difference.

File was created on Mac using Word 2004, links added using the link tool (Acrobat Professional 8.1.2)

Clients have Acrobat reader 7.0 on their desktop.

Q1: Are there known conflicts between weblinks in PDFs and desktop/system settings (seems unlikely as weblinks in PDF are amazingly common)?

Q2: Many law-firms block access to certain websites (although all links are to internal sites) -- could this be causing the problem?

Q3: Anyone seen this before, or any ideas?

Thanks
Simon

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2008-07-23 11:01:33
#1
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
It's possible that the Trust Manager settings are different. For the machines in which you cannot select the link have you checked to see if the Edit --> Preferences --> Trust Manager setting are different?What point version of Adobe Reader 7 are the clients using?

Lori Kassuba is an AUC Expert and Community Manager for AcrobatUsers.com.

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2008-07-30 10:07:29
#2
Simon134
Registered: Feb 28 2008
Posts: 19
Ikassuba, thanks for suggestion but this has now been resolved... in an unexpected way, but one that others may find useful.

Problem was that when users clicked a weblink in the PDF, the link would open the web page in an open browser window. THey were then closing that browser window (or minimising it) and then when they clicked on the next web link they thought it didn't work.

I'm not clear on whether Acrobat 7.0 wasn't opening a browser window if one wasn't open -- would be great if you could confirm (I'm a Mac user and have no idea what goes on in teh weird world of PCs and Windows).

I've solved the problem by using the javascript that forces teh opening of a new browser window with each web link. Incidentally, I found a lot of posts from people who'd ahd trouble getting teh javascript to work as did I.

The full javascript I used in the end was:
app.launchURL("http://www.websitename.com/", true);

Thanks again for help, adn would be grateful if you could tell me if a weblink in a PDF will open a browser window if none are open.

Best
Simon
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