pdf hyperlinks

[hamishmacd]

I'm unable to get any hyperlinks in this Xara file to embed in an exported pdf. I've done it before and have tried in 3.2 and 4. I've followed all the guidance on this topic in this forum. Can anyone help?

[steve.ledger]

Try using a bitmap object for your hyperlink object (see attached xar).

Vector objects don't work for hyperlinks, this may be a limitation as vectors are mathmatical data rather than bitmap pixels & therefore cannot have image maps applied to them.

Using text only seems to work if the text actually spells the link: http://www.google.com.au (which is an Adobe Reader setting, not a Xara one)

[hamishmacd]

Thanks Sledger.

Bitmaps are the only thing Xara can attach a hyperlink to within a pdf. I thought maybe it could work for grouped or named text. That's a shame, but I can see why that would be the case.

[Josie]

Bitmaps are the only thing Xara can attach a hyperlink to within a pdf

Not true. You can place e. g. a rectangle (with defined web address) with no fill and line color in front of the text you want hyperlinked. In the resulting PDF file, the invisible rectangle will act as a hyperlink.

[steve.ledger]

Clever - but it's still a bitmap, so it still holds true.

[gwpriester]

Great tip Josie.

Steve, c'mon, it was a great work around.

[Josie]

"but it's still a bitmap"

Is rectangle not a vector object? You can actually make hamismacd's vector objects in his link test file work, if you:

1) set Target frame for URL to Default (none specified), and
2) set clickable area to Shape of object.

The same is true for text converted to editable shapes - which is certainly not a bitmap.
Test for yourself.