Creating a PDF Link With a Mac

by Zanti
26 replies
HI,

I've been scratching my head for a few hours, doing all kinds of searches and no luck.

I have an E-book with links, and when I save as a PDF doc. I don't have active links.

Is there an easy way to create active links with a mac PDf.

Thanks.

Z
#creating #link #mac #pdf
  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    What did you create the eBook in?

    Most applications I use seem to keep the links active when you export to a PDF.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Hi Dan,

    I created the book in word. Saved the doc. as a PDF to the desktop. From there when I email the PDF to someone the links don't work. When I open the PDF from the desktop the links also don't work.

    I set the links in the doc., by going to insert, then hyperlink, then to link. to. Add the link as http://mysite.com

    Thanks for your help.

    Z
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    On my Macbook when I go to print stuff there is a PDF button in the lower left of the print menu thingie. That has always worked fine for me, don't you have that option?
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Yes, I do have that option. That's what I'm talking about in how I create PDF's. The problem is that the links I create in the document are not active. They can't be clicked on when I or someone else opens the PDF.

    Any suggestions.

    If I'm doing something wrong, it won't be the first time.

    Thanks,

    Z
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    In word the links are active. They become inactive when saving as a PDF.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
      Originally Posted by Zanti View Post

      In word the links are active. They become inactive when saving as a PDF.
      I don't know, there are a few different pdf options you can choose, just make sure that you are using "Save as PDF" and not Fax PDF or Mail PDF... I've never had the same problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Thanks for the help. Yes, that's what I'm doing, "saving as PDF"

    So are you saying that when you save as PDF you links are active in the PDF?
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    • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
      Originally Posted by Zanti View Post

      Thanks for the help. Yes, that's what I'm doing, "saving as PDF"

      So are you saying that when you save as PDF you links are active in the PDF?
      Yes, that is correct.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    I'm wondering what applications Dan is using.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by Zanti View Post

      I'm wondering what applications Dan is using.
      I use Pages and Adobe InDesign.
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      • Profile picture of the author RoddyM
        Its not a mac problem so much as a Word problem.
        I use Pages for this purpose as well, but also Open Office sometimes, which is free to download. Its as good if not better than Word for most purposes, I believe, and works fine on a mac. Exports docs as a pdf with live links.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Thanks, Rich, I don't have pages, have been thinking about getting it though. Maybe that will help.

    Z
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Thanks for the info Dan. I guess I have to look into getting pages. I'm assuming it works with the basic adobe that I have.

    Dan, since you're a mac user, what does indesign do that is different than the basic.

    Also, what do you use to create your E-book cover?

    Thanks.

    Z
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by Zanti View Post

      Thanks for the info Dan. I guess I have to look into getting pages. I'm assuming it works with the basic adobe that I have.

      Dan, since you're a mac user, what does indesign do that is different than the basic.

      Also, what do you use to create your E-book cover?
      I mainly use Pages as a word processor. I might use it for a short report or something but I do most of the layout work in Adobe InDesign. InDesign gives me full control over everything. Of course, InDesign is not for everyone, and there'd be quite a learning curve coming from Word or Pages. Adobe InDesign is an "industrial strength" publishing system. Pages or Word is probably sufficient for most people.

      I do eBook covers with Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator or both.
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      • Profile picture of the author Marty S
        Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

        I mainly use Pages as a word processor. I might use it for a short report or something but I do most of the layout work in Adobe InDesign. InDesign gives me full control over everything. Of course, InDesign is not for everyone, and there'd be quite a learning curve coming from Word or Pages. Adobe InDesign is an "industrial strength" publishing system. Pages or Word is probably sufficient for most people.

        I do eBook covers with Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator or both.
        Dan do you create your own templates using InDesign? Also, if the end product is just for electronic download (not industrial printing) is In design over-kill? How do you manage the links (external and internal) - I mean do you export to Acrobat for that?

        I am interested to know how you use this program.
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  • Profile picture of the author The Copy Nazi
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    I'm on an iMac with the Open Source Open Office. Just create your PDF and all links are automatically live hypertext. I use it all day long. You can also make a .doc if you want but Open Office was set up to use the new .odt format.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    I have a PC friend who uses open office and I've hesitated because I've used word for so many years, (same problem with moving to pages). Maybe it's time to rethink what to use. Word 04 for mac has been a kind of hassle at times.

    Thanks for the info.

    Z
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Thanks Marty, I guess I'm going to have to open my wallet and let the dust out and spring for iworks. What's the cost for AA Pro.

    I have 4 books finished now and a couple more that I will have done in the next couple of months.

    Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author codepoint786
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      Originally Posted by codepoint786 View Post

      To activate a hyperlink in Pages:
      1. Highlight the entire link in pages
      2. Open the inspector, click the second to last icon, Link Inspector.
      3. Click Enable as a Hyperlink.
      4. Chose Link to: Webpage
      5. Fill in the URL line as needed.

      You're active hyperlink is now created. Both Preview and Adobe Reader will see it as active.
      Yes this will work for external links. The problem is, with eBooks that get a little long you will want to give the reader the convenience of navigating to different sections or pages deeper in the document. Internal linking in a pages document will not convert in PDF, hence another reason for Acrobat Pro 9.

      I simply don't bother linking anything inside Pages, I manage all links when the eBook is nearly complete - inside Acrobat Pro.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Thanks Codepoint,

    I first have to get pages. I might spring for it this weekend. If I do or when I do, I will post the results.

    Thanks,

    Z
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Marty, what's the cost for pro.
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  • Profile picture of the author indexphp
    Yea... just use OpenOffice.org for now. Pages absolutely rules though, so if you buy it, you won't be disappointed.

    Does anybody elses' Microsoft software run like crap on your Mac? It sure does on mine.
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  • Profile picture of the author kmg
    Hi Zanti

    The problem lies with Word.

    You can open your existing Word document in Pages (it's part of iWork) then save as a pdf file or print to pdf and you should find all your links are clickable.

    Pages should automatically recognise hyperlinks (provided you follow the url with a space) unless you turn them off in the Inspector panel.

    Hope that helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zanti
    Thanks for the great info. I was just looking at iworks on amazon. I think I will purchase tomorrow, at $59. Can't afford AA pro just yet. But it sounds like with pages I will be able to do what I want with my book with the basic adobe.

    If you have any tips for creating ebook and print books in pages, I would be very interested in hearing about that also.

    Thanks,

    Z
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