Hyperlink to specific PDF page

[Anonymous]

Can AutoCAD hyperlink to a SPECIFIC page of a multi-page PDF file?

I asked AutoDesk support this simple question and received a "search the forums" response.

Warning...rant to follow:

So the support included with my (multiple) subscriptions to Autodesk products is worthless. Once again,we are paying more for less.

-James

[dbroad]

I wouldn't categorize this request as a legitimate call for Autodesk support.  That said, it is ridiculously easy to find the answer to this question.

Google "hyperlink to.. " and the rest of the search pdf page will probably be filled in.  The first link explains how to do it.

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/link-html-pdf-page-acrobat.html

[Anonymous]

dbroad,

Thanks for the response, but the Adobe solution "(add #page=[page number])" does not work with AutoCAD. I have googled and searched a bunch of forums and can't find a simple yes or no answer. Again, the question is: Can it be done in AutoCAD? Yes or no?

As far as being a legitimate question to Autodesk support,...well it used to be, but not any more.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> but the Adobe solution "(add #page=[page number])" does not work with AutoCAD

Just have tried that with MS-Excel, that does not work in Excel too. The suggestion/solution from Adobe seems to be only valid for html, but not working when attaching a hyperlink on an object (independent of AutoCAD geom-entity or Excel text/cell or ...).

I guess it can't be done, but I'm not 100% sure as I have not plaid to much with hyperlinks in AutoCAD.

On the other hand there are options available now to be able to add hyperlinks to different views within the drawing, which are then also working after plotting to PDF.

You might find some sources for solving this issue using VBA (for Excel or Word), it might help with that wish here too.

HTH, - alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hi Alfred,

I am using the option to have the hyperlinks work in a PDF. I find it a very nice feature. I know "Bluebeam" can do this and also open the hyperlink to a specific page as I hoped AutoCAD could do. I haven't been able to find a definitive answer as to whether AutoCAD can do it. If the Adobe method mentioned by dbroad should work, then I have broken software...thus the request for Autodesk support. Unfortunatley, Autodesk will not give me a simple yes or no answer as to the capabilities of their software. 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> If the Adobe method mentioned by dbroad should work, then I have broken software

I mentioned that this suggestions only works within HTML, not anywhere else. (not in AutoCAD, not in MS-Word, not in MS-Excel ...)

I would say it is not possible without development.

>> Unfortunatley, Autodesk will not give me a simple yes or no answer

Have you created a direct support request to Autodesk? What was the answer?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Yes, I created a direct support request. Their response follows:

As part of Subscription Support we address questions about Autodesk product installation and troubleshooting only. This Web Support does not include product training, code debugging, consultation, customization, or support for third-party hardware, operating systems, networks, or peripherals. Moving forward this category of how-to or workflow recommendation request will be best answered in the Autodesk forums http://forums.autodesk.com/. 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

wow, that is a hard response (and I guess an unusual one).

Just wait a bit, maybe we get something better working for the support ... well, others can answer here in the meantime, of course!

- alfred -

[dbroad]

This is probably related to several things on your system:  1)Choice of browser (as indicated in both the internet options and the registry keys for your root filetypes .htm and .html.), 2) The browser plugins and whether they are operating, and perhaps others.  For some browsers, the internal anchors are dropped.  For others, the files are downloaded, instead of displayed.  It may also depend on security settings preferences.  It may also be dependent on cross domain issues.

For my system, using a file hosted on a localhost (apache web browser), with chrome as the default browser and with a chrome pdf viewer plug-in enabled, and with the reg keys set to htmlfile, both the browser command and the hyperlink will display page 2 of this file:

http://localhost/dashboard/docs/deploy-git-app.pdf#page=2

I have internet explorer, edge browser, firefox, and chrome.  Only chrome will display page 2 and that only after clicking on a confirmation dialog.  Only after the registry HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT file extensions for html and htm have been set to htmlfile.  If you have an external link to test, I would be glad to try.

In addition, this technique is documented not to work with the file:// methodology.

It is very disappointing though that an Autodesk support request results in "Look in the newsgroups."

[Anonymous]

What really gives me a bad taste in my mouth is when they stated:

Moving forward this category of how-to or workflow recommendation request will be best answered in the Autodesk forums http://forums.autodesk.com/. 

It's the "Moving forward" part that gets me. They used to provide support for the type of question I asked. But "moving forward" they won't.

Like I said in my original post...paying more for less.

Hey, thanks to you guys who participate in this forum. It is appreciated greatly.

[Anonymous]

dbroad,

Thanks...you gave me a lot to chew on.

[Anonymous]

Just an update regarding this issue.

After rephrasing my initial request to Autodesk Support I was able to get a definitive answer (thanks Victor at Autodesk). It is currently (2017 versions) not possible to direct a hyperlink to a specific page of a pdf.

FYI...Since subscription support is now only for "Autodesk product installation and troubleshooting", I rephrased my question to "I'm troubleshooting a problem with hyperlinks..."

[dbroad]

There is no difference in behavior between AutoCAD 2016 and 2017 wrt hyperlinks.  It is possible to hyperlink to a page if the settings are right and if the pdf location is sourced from http:// but it is probably not wise to rely on the hyperlinking if you are sharing drawings or working from multiple locations.  Using the file:// protocol to link to locally saved pdf files will not work (documented limitation).

Asking Autodesk support to solve problems that go beyond the AutoCAD application may lead to answers that reflect inexperience with those applications.

[elshawadfy · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous, Hi everyone,

First, thank you everyone for your contributions..

Thank you very very much @dbroad, your post led me to a work arround that works without altering the system settings (pdf plugin in chrome should be enabled though), and without having to setup a server...

Here is my chain of thought:

 - I know that chrome: Supports command prompt // can open local pdfs but iss not usually the default application for that..

 - I dragged and dropped a pdf fie in chrome to see the ink in the address bar, it was like this: "file:///D:/My_File.pdf"

 - Itried adding the "#page=...." to the end of the link, it worked..

 - I tried to run chrome from the command prompt and make it open the file at that page, it worked (I needed to provide the full path to chrome and to the file)

 - I tried putting the same expression in the hyperlink, it didn't recognize the link to the pdf as an argument to be passed to chrome.exe, instead it considered the hole thing one location that it it didn't find..

 - I tried the "file:///D:/My_File.pdf" in hopes that it will automatically open in chrome which is my default browser, it didn't work either.. It opened in acrobat reader that doesn't recognize the #page=... suffix

So I tried the following:

 1 - I created a cmd file (basicly a text file containing plain doss commands and with the extention .cmd) I put inside it the the full path to chrome then the intended link including the page number

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" "file:///D:/My_Pdf.pdf#page=30"

 2 - In the hyperlink I pointed to the cmd file..

AND IT WORKED!! 

The cmd file is included, substitute Chrome path with your own, and the pdf path & page number (Keep the quotes to not have problems with spaces in paths), and try it 🙂

[elshawadfy]

Also If you have a pdf reader that supports opening a pdf at certain page using command prompt (dos), like Foxit reader, or IrfanView, you can use the same approach..

The contents of the cmd file:

1- In case of IrfanView (tested)

"C:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe" "D:/My_Pdf.pdf" /page=30

2- In case ot Foxit Reader: (Not Tested)

"<Foxit Reader Path>" "<Pdf Path>" /a page=<n>