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Link from a PDF file to a specific page in another PDF file

jhwitt
Registered: Oct 26 2009
Posts: 7
Answered

In Acrobat 9 Pro, you can easily add a link to a PDF document that will open another PDF document in a new window. Is there a way to have the new document open to a specific page?

I've found several topics on how to use open parameters (for example, filename.pdf#page=2) to create a hyperlink to a specific page in a PDF document, but these all seem to deal with hyperlinking from an HTML file. When I add a link to a PDF document in Acrobat, it does not give me the option to add this parameter to the end of the file name.

I had some success entering a custom link using the file location as a URL. This causes Acrobat to open the second PDF in a web browser and prompt for security risks, however, which is not the behavior I want.

It seems like there should be a way to do this without scripting, or at least a way to manually edit the hyperlink so that the parameter can be added to the local PDF file location without causing Acrobat to think it is opening an outside web site.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.2, Windows
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
Where exactly is this other document?

If it's in the same directory structure as the original document you can use an ordinary "Go To Page View" action. Open both files, add the "Go To Page View" action to your link, When the set link box pops up, navigate to the destination page in the other document and click ok.

If the document is on the web you'll have to use the Open Parameters.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
[url=http://www.pdfScripting.com]pdfscripting.com[/url]

The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php]http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php[/url]

Then most important JavaScript Development tool in Acrobat
[url=http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/34.cfm#JSIntro][b]The Console Window (Video tutorial)[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2006/javascript_console][b]The Console Window(article)[/b][/url]

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfscripting.com
Very Important - How to Debug Your Script

jhwitt
Registered: Oct 26 2009
Posts: 7
Thanks! That does work.

It took some more poking around to get the link to open in a new window, but I was able to edit the link after it was set up to change its behavior. The process is a bit unwieldy, but it did work in the end.

I appreciate the help very much.
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
So what where the changes you made to make it open in a new window?

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfscripting.com
Very Important - How to Debug Your Script

jhwitt
Registered: Oct 26 2009
Posts: 7
With the link tool selected, right-click on the link and choose "Properties...." Under the Actions tab, select the action and click Edit. This brings up a dialouge with options to change the target document, whether the target document opens in a new window, what zoom to apply, and what page to open.
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
Excellent!! It's all in the details.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfscripting.com
Very Important - How to Debug Your Script