TIP 96: Linking Content in a Document
Which is better? A link or a button? The truth is that you often use them in much the same way. The fundamental difference is related to appearance and the extent of the actions you can apply (Figure 96a).
Figure 96a. Are these links or buttons? For simple navigation processes, you can choose either method.
Revisiting a Link's Properties
Once you add a link (or a bookmark or button) you can change the settings easily. Double-click the object with either the appropriate tool or the Select Object tool to open the Link Properties dialog. In the case of the Link Properties dialog, when you reopen it, the Actions tab is automatically shown as well as the Appearance tab, and the radio button options for common link actions, shown in the Create Link dialog when you start a new link, aren't shown on the Appearance tab. |
Whether you use links or buttons depends on how you have constructed your source document and what types of navigation you need. For example, if you are building a large report, you can easily link accessory material to any part of the document using a link from some of the text in the document, in which case you don't need to do any advanced preparation. Follow these steps to add a link to your document:
1. | Choose Tools > Advanced Editing > Show Advanced Editing Toolbar to display the tools. You can certainly just click the tool on the menu, but it's simpler to open the toolbar if you are working with several editing functions. | 2. | Click the Link tool to select it and then drag a marquee around the text you want to associate with the link. The Create Link dialog opens (Figure 96b).
Figure 96b. Choose settings for the link's appearance and common actions from the Create Link dialog
| 3. | Choose whether you want the link to be visible or invisible, and specify characteristics for the link's frame. You can draw a dashed or solid box around the text, as in Figure 96a, or underline the text.
The Perfect Link
You can apply Acrobat's Link tool function to a feature that serves as a button in another program to produce a custom appearance. For example, you may have converted a PowerPoint presentation to a PDF and want to use the controls in the presentation as links in Acrobat. Draw the link boxes over the button images. In the Create Link dialog, click the Link Type pull-down arrow and choose Invisible Rectangle. You then get the link action without any lines or frames distracting from the beauty of your button. |
| 4. | Choose an action by clicking one of the radio buttons at the bottom of the dialog and click Next. The next dialog that appears depends on the option you choose: - Go to a page view opens the Create Go to View dialog in place of the Create Link dialog, instructing you to set the target view, which is the magnification, page, and location you want using the scroll bars and Zoom tools. Once you have the view set, click Set Link to close the dialog and finish the link.
- Open a file replaces the Create Link dialog with a browse dialog for you to select the file you want to display. If you choose a PDF document, the dialog closes and another one opens for you to choose a window open preference (see the sidebar). Click OK to close the dialog and finish the link. If you choose a file that is not a PDF document, when you click Select the dialog closes and the link is finished.
- Open a web page replaces the Create Link dialog with the Edit URL dialog. Type the Web address you want to open from the link and click OK to close the dialog and finish the link.
- Tip 99.
Figure 96c. You can choose from a wide range of actions to apply to a link.
Keep an Eye on Your Properties
Don't waste time opening menus and choosing items or switching tools when you are in the midst of a big project. Open the toolbars you need and arrange them in the toolbar well at the top of the program window. One toolbar I rely heavily on is the Properties toolbar. Its content changes according to the selected object on the page, and you can use the same toolbar to modify links, buttons, drawings, and many other objects. Right-click in the toolbar well and choose Properties Bar to display the toolbar; drag it to dock it with your other toolbars and you are ready to go. You can also open the toolbar by pressing Ctrl+E/Command+E, or by choosing View > Toolbars > Properties Bar. |
| 5. | Click the Hand tool on the Basic toolbar to deselect the Link toolyou can't see your link in action as long as the tool is selected. Test the link. |
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