Hi,
I've searched this site a fair bit, but I can't find a definite answer to my question...found lots of other good stuff, though!
I have a FrameMaker 7.2 unstructured document (called 'index' for the sake of this question) that links to 20 or so other FrameMaker books. If I open all the books and then create a new 'index' pdf, all the links work perfectly: they take you to the pdf version of each of the books.
However, for ease of transfer, I'd like to combine all these files into either one large pdf file, or a portfolio. The problem is, doing either of these actions breaks the links. I'm using Acrobat 9 Pro Extended.
Is there a way around this? I have more than 20 of these 'index' files, linking to literally hundreds of different FrameMaker books, and each book is saved as a separate pdf. I know this is a weird set-up, but its a legacy project, so I'd like to find an easy/quick solution!
Many thanks!
Combining PDF files, without losing links?
2011-04-19 04:08:32
My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro Extended 9.4.3, Windows
Acrobat Pro Extended 9.4.3, Windows
2011-04-19 07:38:37
#2
Thanks for the quick response!
I'm guessing that the 'super book' would have to be created in FrameMaker 9 or 10, where 'book within a book' functionality is allowed?
I'm guessing that the 'super book' would have to be created in FrameMaker 9 or 10, where 'book within a book' functionality is allowed?
2011-04-19 08:04:37
#3
Actually, you could go back to FM 6 (have not used FM 5 for some time & no 'box' appropriate for reloading to do a look see).
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Say you have a parent dirctory [My20Books] which contains child directories [Book_01] through [Book_20].
Within each [Book_nn] directory you have the Book file and its attendant FM files & generated files.
.
In the parent directory [My20Books], create a Book file ("SuperBook"). Add the files for each of the subordinate files in the 20 Book directories (don't need their Book file). Gin up a generated 'List of...' for an appropriate index / TOC that will be generated by "SuperBook". Process "SuperBook" like you would any Book file.
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One 'big' SuperBook.pdf is obtained.
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If you need a Tagged output PDF you have, most likely, *alot* of FM file remediation to do.
Alternate Text for all anchored frames, *no* 'layout' tables - only properly made 'data tables' (i.e., Header Row), data tables that are 'clean' (no unworkable/unusable mix master blend of information), Headings that use FM's built-in Heading Tag(s), etc. In short, much of legacy FM files and contemporay FM files reflect a 'make paper' centric build which is the bane of producing well-formed Tagged output PDF (same for MS Word and other authoring applications).
.
.
Say you have a parent dirctory [My20Books] which contains child directories [Book_01] through [Book_20].
Within each [Book_nn] directory you have the Book file and its attendant FM files & generated files.
.
In the parent directory [My20Books], create a Book file ("SuperBook"). Add the files for each of the subordinate files in the 20 Book directories (don't need their Book file). Gin up a generated 'List of...' for an appropriate index / TOC that will be generated by "SuperBook". Process "SuperBook" like you would any Book file.
.
One 'big' SuperBook.pdf is obtained.
.
If you need a Tagged output PDF you have, most likely, *alot* of FM file remediation to do.
Alternate Text for all anchored frames, *no* 'layout' tables - only properly made 'data tables' (i.e., Header Row), data tables that are 'clean' (no unworkable/unusable mix master blend of information), Headings that use FM's built-in Heading Tag(s), etc. In short, much of legacy FM files and contemporay FM files reflect a 'make paper' centric build which is the bane of producing well-formed Tagged output PDF (same for MS Word and other authoring applications).
.
2011-05-06 04:04:12
#4
Sorry for the delay in responding, and thanks for the additional help. I've been playing with other 'work arounds'.
The solution for me was to create a portfolio of the 'index' files, without adding the indexed files to the porfolio: they remained outside this.
I now have all the indexes in one document, which links (by relative location) to all the hundreds of other pdf files. These are set to open in a new window, which means the end user can always find the index portfolio easily!
Even better, the links from the index file porfolio are active in 'preview' mode, which means you don't actually have to open the index PDFs.
Thought I'd post this here, as I've noticed other people asking similar questions on the interweb. It also avoided a lot of reworking of my existing FrameMaker 7 files.
Adobe could do with coming up with a 'fix' for combining multiple, cross-referenced pdfs into a portfolio, without then breaking the links! I'm sure there's a technical reason why this is hard to do, but it certainly feels like something a Portfolio should be capable of.
The solution for me was to create a portfolio of the 'index' files, without adding the indexed files to the porfolio: they remained outside this.
I now have all the indexes in one document, which links (by relative location) to all the hundreds of other pdf files. These are set to open in a new window, which means the end user can always find the index portfolio easily!
Even better, the links from the index file porfolio are active in 'preview' mode, which means you don't actually have to open the index PDFs.
Thought I'd post this here, as I've noticed other people asking similar questions on the interweb. It also avoided a lot of reworking of my existing FrameMaker 7 files.
Adobe could do with coming up with a 'fix' for combining multiple, cross-referenced pdfs into a portfolio, without then breaking the links! I'm sure there's a technical reason why this is hard to do, but it certainly feels like something a Portfolio should be capable of.
Print the super book to one PDF.
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Putting the 20 some individual Book PDFs into a 'combined' single PDF or a Portfolio will (as expected) result in links between each PDF file being 'broken'. The link path set into the PDFs when they were made becomes invalid when everything is combined into a new, single PDF or placed into a Portfolio where the PDFs are, essentially, attachments within a new PDF that is the Portfolio.
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A search for third-party plug-ins to Acrobat will identify possibilities that might provide post PDF production link manipulation (Evermap, TimeSavers, Nuance, Nitro, etc.).
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Regardles, it may be that a 'super book' is the most direct success path.
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If much is present (in the FM files of the Books) that is incorporated by reference into anchored frames expect the local machine's graphic device to be place under "load". Intergrated devices generally bog. A dedicated graphics device with hearty on board RAM will do a brisk two-step and crank it out.
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Be well...