Create clickable section cut links when printing to PDF

[RFreund]

How do you create clickable section cut links when printing to a pdf? 

My understanding is that Revit "automatically does this", but it must depend on which pdf software you use. It I use Bluebeams printer, it works. However, if I use PDF-XChange Printer, there are no links. 

I assume this has to do with the pdf printer you are using, is that correct?

Is there any "general setting" that I can look for in other PDF software to determine if the links will be made?

Thanks!

[syman2000]

Did you print individual sheet or combine as multiple page PDF? The links will work if you print it as combined PDF and not individual sheet. I use freebie PDF24 and they seems to print fine with links. Check and see if view links in blue is checked on.

[Alfredo_Medina]

I think that option only does what it says, show links in blue, but it does not make the reference symbols as hyperlinks, which I think is what the user is asking. 

[RFreund]

Thank you for the responses. 

@syman2000 Thanks for the response. I tried that, but @Alfredo_Medina you are correct, changing that parameter only makes the section cuts blue. It does not create a hyperlink. 

I'm wondering what actually makes them a hyperlink so that I can click on a section and it will take me to the page that the section is located. 

[Alfredo_Medina]

As far as I understand, that is not an option of Revit itself but the other software that opens  the PDF file. I have seen sets of PDFs with hyperlinks when the software reading the PDF is PlanGrid.

I think it works too when you upload and process a set of the PDF files to the "Plans" folder in BIM360. 

[RFreund]

Ah, so you think it might be the software that is "reading" the plans not necessarily the pdf software that is creating them?

Actually, I don't think that is correct. I have used the same software (PDF-Xchange) and it does allow me to use section cut hyperlinks. Meaning I can click on them. So I'm thinking it has to be the software that is printing it to a pdf. 

[Alfredo_Medina]

I remember that a set of PDF files that I made from Revit had hyperlinks in PlanGrid when the contractor was reading the drawings in his tablet. And that was without me doing anything special to produce those hyperlinks, since there is no option for that in the print dialog. I remember seeing that also in the PDF files posted and processed to BIM360´s Plans folder, but I have to verify that. 

[RDAOU]

@RFreund 

It is a Revit thing actually. When printing to PDF, if you select Combined Set and Revit automatically export the hyperlinks to the PDF set...This works for all PDF Print drivers capable of compiling Sets (BlueBeam included - just don't use the plug in...print from the File Menu >> Print >> Select Bluebeam)

Refer also to this Autodesk article

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2018/ENU/?guid=GUID-33DAC17F-8E51-4E46-B4C7-1F9DDC54068C

[RFreund · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the response and link to that article. It sounds like it is both a Revit thing and PDF Printer/Driver thing. Essentially this note from the help article seems to sum it up:

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Note: Hyperlinks in electronic PDF files work properly when you use a PDF print driver and a PDF viewer that support hyperlinks, such as the Adobe PDF® print driver and Adobe Reader®. If hyperlinks in your Revit-generated PDF files do not work as expected, check the specifications for the PDF print driver and the PDF viewer. If they do not support hyperlinks, use a different PDF print driver or PDF viewer.

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So the PDF XChange Printer must not support Hyperlinks. However their PDF viewer software does support hyperlinks. I'll have to inquire with them to confirm, but for now I just need to print with either Bluebeam, Adobe PDF print, or freebie PDF24 (thanks @syman2000 ). 

[jmhanbyV4TDM]

I just tested this and it works for me.  I use Cute PDF.