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Browser window with Adobe Reader disappears

Dobie1950
Registered: Mar 14 2008
Posts: 3

I am creating a “Microsoft Word” document (using word 2007) with hyperlinks to other Word documents. I will then save the word document as a PDF file using Word 2007. This PDF file and the other word documents will be uploaded to a website used for our curriculum. When I access the PDF file on our curriculum website it opens in a new browser window with Adobe Reader. When I click on the links in the PDF file the word documents open in Word but the browser window with Adobe Reader disappears. What I am trying to achieve is to have the second browser window stay open so the trainees using this web page will be able to click on the other hyperlinks on the PDF file to get to all of the links without having to re-open it each time. How can I accomplish this?

I have Researched in help and web forums, the only reference I can find is to uncheck the box next to “Open cross-documents in the same window” in preferences in Adobe. Which I have done and restarted my computer. I also noticed a preference “show each document in its own window” which is checked.

I keep reading on this forum about Javascript and app.launchURL. These two things really sound out of my expertise.

Does anyone have any suggestions of things I could try or know of any solutions? Please help. BTW I am using Internet Explorer.

My Product Information:
Reader 8.1.2, Windows
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
If you want your end-users to have a consistent experience you'll want to try using the Javascript method. Otherwise the windows behavior will be dependent on whatever Preferences your end users have set in Acrobat. It really is quite simple:

Create a button field or link and in the Action tab, select Run a JavaScript from the Select Action pull-down menu. Click the Add button to open the JavaScript Editor and type the following code in the Editor window:

app.launchURL(”http://www.mycompany.com/pdfDocument.pdf”, true);

In the above code, replace www.mycompany.com with your URL. Replace pdfDocument.pdf with the name of the PDF you want to open. The true statement triggers opening the PDF in a new browser window.

This tip was taken from Ted Padova's blog at: http://www.acrobatusers.com/blogs/tedpadova/2006/10/

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

Dobie1950
Registered: Mar 14 2008
Posts: 3
lkassuba wrote:
Create a button field or link and in the Action tab, select Run a JavaScript from the Select Action pull-down menu. Click the Add button to open the JavaScript Editor and type the following code in the Editor window:
Thank you for answering, But I'm still confused, Where is the Action tab you mention that has a pull-down menu, that will allow me to select Run a JavaScript?. Is it in "Microsoft Word" where I create the hyperlinks to other word documents? Or is it in Adobe reader where I view the pdf or is it on the webpage that has the link to open the pdf file?

Only the first word document I make (WD1) containing all of the links to other word documents is made into a pdf file. When this PDF file is open in a new browser window the links are to "word documents. That when it disappears and word opens.

Will this app.launchURL("http://www.mycompany.com/pdfdocument.pdf", true) Work for word documents as well Having them open in word but keep the original pfd open in its own browser window app.launchURL("http://www.mycompany.com/worddocument.doc", true)

Sorry to sound so pathetic but I'm confused
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
Yes, this technique will work if you are launching a Word document. The process you use to create the link using Javascript is in Acrobat. Select the Link tool in Acrobat and create a Custom Link. Then under the Action tab, select Run a JavaScript from the pull-down menu. Then enter the code in the Editor window.
I think the whole process should be easier but unforunately it isn't.

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