ABSOLUTE file paths a problem when copying to CD

Hi Queenie,

I would suggest that you setup a CD-ROM staging area to house all your files, (e.g., PDFs, Catalog index, installers) and act as a staging area for any other elements being added to the CD-ROM. Test the document links, bookmarks, actions, forms, and indexes to make sure everything works the way you planned. Staging all the elements within a single folder protects relative links between your PDF files and the Catalog index. Be aware that moving a file from its original location can corrupt the link relationship and cause a link or search result to fail. This folder can now be moved or copied to another location and all the files within it transfer together.

Hope this helps,
Lori

Thank you Lori,

I have indeed saved them all in a central folder. However, the Absolute path is very long eg. H:\1stlevel\2ndlevel\3rdlevel\4thlevel\filename.name

In one file alone I have 10 links to other files, so that means even if I keep them all together and copy enmasse to the CD I will need to manually change every single link. In fact what do I change it to ? Does the path name have to include a Drive letter, because the CD drive letter on my system wont be the same CD Drive letter on someone else's ?

Am I missing something in how to save the path within the link ?

Many thanks for your help.

Can anyone answer this query please, I am nearing completion of the content and need to get this resolved ?

I have the problem of all my files are in a staging area on my computer which I plan to copy to a CD. I have one pdf that is pointing to all these other pdfs but when I use the Acrobat 8 LINK tool I can only use an absolute path which will not work when the files are moved to a CD. How do I make this a relative link.

On the way out so, quick and short here...

#1 - What you want to do can be done.
#2 - Have all content that will go to the OSM on your local HDD under one "parent" folder/directory (I use "_aBurn").
#3 - Open Acrobat. Open PDF(s). Make the desired links.
#4 - Yes, the paths "show" as absolute. A function of how Acrobat is built.
Simplistically, the relative paths you have set are resolved to absolute in context of where the PDF(s) are.
Details in the PDF Reference(s) [now the ISO 32000-2 spec.]

#5 - Treat your "_aBurn" root as if it were the root of the OSM/OSM drive.

#6 - & Yes (again) it can be done. I do this regularly.oh yes - if you can, build it all or as much as possible upfront with your authoring application (FM works exceptionally well).

Be well...

Hi,
fwiw, some more information (hopefully providing encouragement to forge ahead with your efforts).

Using Acrobat 5 through 9, you've got your PDF collection(s) created. It can be done on the local HDD or a USB HDD.
With an established directory hierarchy *that is maintained*, you can copy the PDF file set(s) to other locations.
You maintain the "original location" when you copy the "parent" directory (and its contents) to where ever the destination is.

Any of these could be used: CD-ROM; DVD; attached USB HDD; a Network Storage Device; the local HDD; a web server; or a network server.
n.b., Remember that character case matters for UNIX/Linux. Avoid the use of the space character in paths to targets.

Queenie, in your hierarchy:
H:\1stlevel\2ndlevel\3rdlevel\4thlevel\filename.name
Under which "level" are *all* files located? That will be your "parent". Copy that "parent" to the local machine's HDD.
Avoid trying to burn to an OSM from a network drive.
Often, feeding the "burn" from a network location will not provide an adequate data input rate.

Burn this "parent" directory (from the local machine's HDD) to the OSM used (CD/DVD).
It might be helpful, to users, to have an "entry" PDF on the OSM's root.
e.g., C:\_aBurn\start.pdf\[parent directory name]\... content

The start file would provide a link or links into the contents where you'd have other, more robust user navigation pages.
For a straight up document collection you could likely get by (in Windows) with the use of a simple autorun.inf file on the OSM root.

bonnief,
Let's say you have something like this:
C:\staging\
Content\
PDF files
sub_directory01\
PDF files
etc.
You have used Acrobat's Link Tool to inter-link the PDF files.
Your "parent" is the directory "Content". When you burn, the "Content" directory and all its children go to the OSM.
If you have files you want on the OSM's root then put them under "staging" which will be your file source for files to burn to the OSM's root.


Examples of a path to the same target PDF (built "relative", displayed "absolute").

#1. On the local HDD
C:\_aburn\eLDL\(no.X)Master\(no.X)LIB\Document_A\Chapter10\Chap10.pdf

#2. On a USB HDD
J:\01_Work\_aBurn\eLDL\(no.X)Master\(no.X)LIB\Document_A\Chapter10\Chap10.pdf

#3. On the OSM
D:\eLDL\(no.X)Master\(no.X)LIB\Document_A\Chapter10\Chap10.pdf

#4. On the intranet web server
http://[the domain name]/[directory]/PDF/(no.X)LIB/Document_A/Chapter 10/Chap10.pdf

#5. On the intranet network server
[Server Name]\ ... \eLDL\(no.X)Master\(no.X)LIB\Document_A\Chapter10\Chap10.pdf


Document "A" consists of 20 Chapters and spans greater than 7,000 pages.
Part of the Document "A" PDF file set is an associated Figure directory (i.e., Document_A_Figures) which is a sibling to directory "Document_A" and contains 16 sub-directories.
Each sub-directory, associated with a specific Chapter, contains figures.
These PDF files are either sourced in CAD or are scanned images imported into PDF (OCR'd for Searchable Image, Exact).
The text in the Chapter PDF files provides extensive referencing to the Figures.
All such are linked to the appropriate Figure PDF file. Navigation back to the previous file/location is provided.
Additionally, within all Chapter PDFs, there are extensive links to content within a given Chapter and to other Chapters.

Links are set in the authoring application. All the links are present and functional in the output PDFs.
From the staging work zone, the PDF file set that comprises Document "A" are copied the burn directory (either on the local HDD of the box in use or on the USB HDD).
CD-ROMs are produced for distribution and records.
Additionally, the PDF file set is deployed to an intranet web server and to an intranet network server.
In/on each location/media of deployment any given link, when viewing the Link Properties under the Action Tab, show a unique "absolute path".
If, when you copy the PDF(s) from "staging", you maintain the parent/child directory hierarchy then, when Acrobat resolves the relative links to their absolute path all properly formed links will function.

Note that Document_A is not the sole document in its specific library. Each library contains a number of documents (PDF file(s)).
Multiple, integrated document sets (with cataloged indexes) from a library can be/have been burned to OSM, with all navigation functionality present.
Set in "staging" > copied to the burn directory > OSM created.So, again, you are on track. Here's to success with your activity!

hth

Be well...

I believe my problem was solved when I built my staging area on my local computer as opposed to a network drive.

Hi bonnief,
Yes - using the local machine's drive is a keystone.
You could build it all out on a network share. But then it does need to be copied to the local HDD.

Some time ago I'd tried burning to OSM from network shares. For a variety of reasons it was never a success.

Be well...

Is it possible to create an autorun on a USB (jump) portable stick that works when you insert it, just like a CD?

Hi Deb,
Yes it is possible.

For a Windows OS, the issue might be how to disable USB autorun.
[url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967715[/url]

Be well...