linking pdfs

September 6, 2008 7:39 AM

I am compiling a dvd with 40 volumes of a journal (in PDF format) on it for distribution to members of my state archaeological association. I have a master introduction with table of contents and hyperlinks to the individual PDF files. I am having trouble making the links work. What's the best way to do this?

I tried using an html file for the intro. This works OK with firefox but other browsers don't open the pdfs.

I saved the intro as a pdf, and that worked fine on my computer (though it appended the linked pdf to the open one and forces me to open numerous files at once, or quit and reopen the TOC), but when a friend tried it all that happened was that the pdf was downloaded to the desktop.

Not trying to do anything fancy, but it would be nice to be able to link from the TOC to the individual files without going to the directory and opening individual files...

Thanks for your help.

posted by Diachronic to computers & internet (6 comments total)

You doing this in Acrobat? That's how I do it. I put all the files in a folder along with the TOC, then build the TOC links with the link tool, then burn the folder to disc. They do open in new windows, though I think there's an option to have them open in the same window, replacing the TOC. You could easily make and duplicate a Back to TOC button on every page. You could also aggregate all your files into one big pdf, which would keep new windows from opening.
posted by dpcoffin at 8:17 AM on September 6, 2008

I didn't exactly do it that way (far more convoluted). I created the page (with hyperlinks) in open office writer, saved as a doc, formatted it in adobe indesign, and exported as a pdf. The links work, but opened files seem to pile up with no way to get back to the TOC. I'll try starting from acrobat and see if that works better. thanks
posted by Diachronic at 9:12 AM on September 6, 2008

Gosh I hope you're the publisher of that journal, because that's a bit of a copyright problem right there.
posted by Hildegarde at 9:55 AM on September 6, 2008

I am guest editor for this effort
posted by Diachronic at 10:55 AM on September 6, 2008

When you used HTML for the intro, what happens with non-Firefox browsers when you click a PDF link? You said they don't open the PDFs; do they do anything? Save them to a download folder? Nothing? Other browsers should be able to open the PDFs just fine if they have the proper plugin installed.
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:21 AM on September 6, 2008

IE downloads the files, but doesn't open them. Re: plug ins, Many of our members are even less computer literate than me, and I didn't want them to get frustrated (by having to get plug ins or open a separate program) and give up... thanks
posted by Diachronic at 9:00 AM on September 7, 2008