topic Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs in AutoCAD Forum

Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

thb23t10 — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 09:46:03 GMT

Hi there!

I need to help about linking hyperlink that is between different PDFs.

I can make hyperlinks on objects to view an another object with "view" and "hyperlink" command. When I click on them I can see the target object. And I can export them to PDF.

But I've many pages in my project and I need to plot them page-by-page. I linked some objects in different pages. When I export to PDF, some of the hyperlinks removes (ones which target of those are not in same page). Because their target objects are not in that page. At least I think so. And than when I merged them these hyperlinks don't linked naturally. How can I solve that problem?

Actually I have one more problem also. I can export hyperlinked draws to PDF. But just a few later it doesn't work. I mean when I try to export another page or same page again, hyperlinks don't exist. If you answer these, I will be appreciated really.

Thank you for interest!

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

pendean — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 11:42:49 GMT

Why are you not using PUBLISH command in AutoCAD, which has the built in ability to merge many PDF outputs into one single PDF file?

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

thb23t10 — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 13:01:00 GMT

Cuz all of my pages are in one drawing. And I don't want to create layout for each page. I have a LISP to do that. It works plot the page series. I have many many pages.

Thanks for replying!

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

pendean — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 16:48:01 GMT

Your problem is with your merge tool is stripping the hyperlinks: so if you want a fix in AutoCAD you have to do it with PUBLISH and layouts, if not, you need to find a better pdf merging tool.

HTH

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

Ed__Jobe — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:50:59 GMT

It sounds as if you have all your "pages" are in model space. This is not how AutoCAD is intended to work and the tools for working with "pages" all rely on using a paper space layout for each page. A hyperlink in model space to another entity in model space is not recognized as another "page". If you want to have your title block and page in model space, you would be better off having a single page per file. This way, your hyperlink could link to a specific file.

Also, if you are trying to merge pdf's after they are generated, the links will not be updated. You will have to manually edit them in a pdf editor. You need to get the links generated correctly in the first place, which is why @pendean mentioned the PUBLISH command.

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

thb23t10 — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 06:35:54 GMT

Thanks for replying!

Yes, we use AutoCAD different, maybe. But I have project in my hand now. That's not necessary too much. What should i do?

I'm thinking to split my CAD to CADs. But I don't know how to hyperlink an object in a CAD into a view in another CAD.

Btw, there is my project pages.

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

Ed__Jobe — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:28:33 GMT

Just create a paper space layout for each rectangle view you have in model space. Use the MVIEW command to place a viewport of the area that defines a "page". Then use CHSPACE to move your title block from model space to paper space.

As for hyperlinks, click on the Target button in the hyperlink dialog. It will allow you to link to a view or layout in the dwg.

Then you can just use the PUBLISH command to create a multipage pdf. The thing about hyperlinks is that it takes custom programming to duplicate the AutoCAD hyperlink in a pdf document. PDF uses different objects for linking. So you you don't use the custom programming built into the PUBLISH command and the DWG TO PDF.PC3 file, you have to manually change the links yourself after the pdf is generated. That's a lot of work.

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

thb23t10 — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:15:27 GMT

Thank you so much! I made my PDF file with hyperlinks by use Publish command. Like you said. But this work takes so many times. I opened exactly 40 layout tab in one DWG. And I set up all of them page-by-page. And it works. Every hyperlink works in fact.

Isn't there another way to set one page to each layout? I mean, isn't there any way to separately view each object of an array in layouts?

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

Ed__Jobe — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:22:16 GMT

I'm afraid not. Model space is just not designed to be plotted from. That's what paper space is for.

You said you had a custom lisp to plot your "pages". Change it to use the rectangles to create paper space layouts.

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

thb23t10 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 06:19:08 GMT

Can I create a layout page without leaving from model space?

Re: Linking hyperlinks between different PDFs

thb23t10 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 13:59:32 GMT

Btw, I set all views in layouts. This causes that every layout includes all views of the whole model. I mean, I have total almost 150 layout views per layout tab. And I have total 40 layout tabs. Actually, there is no problem. Everything works well in DWG, in PDF either. But normally when I opened the PDF there are 40 bookmark trees, and every bookmark tree has same 150 bookmarks. I don't know what should I do.