Which format to use to export a document that contains hyperlinks towards local files

[Laetitia974]

Hi,

I use the first version of Affinity publisher on Mac.

I'd like to make hyperlinks that drives to local files (images, pdf, word...).

I select a word, right click, add a hyperlink. Type to link : file. Select a file.

I have checked the options that allows hyperlinks on the exportation.

My problem : I've tried sereval format on exportation. Each type i've tried leads to an error on the export or just doesn't report the link.

Sorry if my english is not perfect (it is not my first language and have practiced for a while).

Many thanks for your help !

Laetitia.

Edited February 25, 2023 by Laetitia974

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums @Laetitia974

The first thing to do is to check to see if the layers you have added the hyperlinks to, or any of the parent layers of those layers, have Layer Effects or Adjustments applied to them. Layer Effects and Adjustments cause the contents of the layers they are applied to, and their child layers, to be rasterised and therefore the hyperlinks within those layers will not be exported.

Next, make sure that you are exporting to a file type which can handle hyperlinks, such as PDF.

Then make sure that, in the export options, you do not have the “Rasterise” option set to Everything.

Then make sure that the “Don’t export layers hidden by the Export persona” is not checked.

If none of these things work then we will probably need to see your export settings and, if possible, the document itself and the exported file.

Note: Hyperlinks to local files will probably not work on other peoples’ machines unless they have the same drive/folder structure as you. In other words, if you link to a local file such as C:\Work\MyFile.jpg and the other person’s machine does not have a MyFile.jpg file inside a Work folder which is on the C drive then the hyperlink will not work.

Note: If you tell us which version of Publisher you are using (full version number) and which version of OSX/macOS you are using (full version number) then that might help with the problem diagnosis.

[Laetitia974]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I understood my mistake : the name of my file included a space which is abviously not allowed.

I exported it on a pdf file.

But when i try to open the link on the pdf, it it tryes to connect to internet instead of the right application...

 

 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Laetitia974

[laurent32]

It says "file://…" so I guess you can say "Autoriser" ; it's just a system alert…

[Laetitia974]

Yes i did but it keeps on opening the internet instead of the right application used for the file...

 

[laurent32]

Did you select :

  ?

 

[Laetitia974]

Yes I did...

 

[h_d]

I see exactly the same if I open an exported pdf in Adobe Acrobat for macOS and then click a hyperlink to a local file.

This is down to Acrobat, not Publisher. My link is to a .jpg and the linked file is opened in my default web browser rather in Affinity Photo.

You could check through Acrobat's settings/preferences to see if there is an option to change the default application it uses for opening your .smmx files

 

It might be in there somewhere!

I also tried clicking the link in macOS Preview but it was blocked. This is probably down to System Settings/Privacy and Security. I'm not sure how this could be changed.

 

[laurent32]

I also tried with a png file and then a csv file, just to see…

I get  and if I say open I get  

and if I hit the "?" I get  … a blank screen, no help !

[h_d]

8 minutes ago, laurent32 said:

I also tried with a png file and then a csv file, just to see…

I get  and if I say open I get  

Me too

[laurent32]

I don't understand why Preview says it will open (for example) the png in another app ?

I tried to change the png file's privileges (accessible to anyone)… not better…

I guess we're going to wait for @walt.farrell to come into this topic…

[thomaso]

The hyperlinks in the two attached PDF work to me without the security dialog in Acrobat. Both PDF include the 5 different Affinity types of links/anchors. Download them in the same directory to work correctly for the "file" hyperlinks.

v183 hyperlinks A.pdf  <–>  v183 hyperlinks B.pdf

The ZIP contains the two PDF + the two according .afpub documents (v.183, 2020).

hyperlinks A > B.zip

[laurent32]

@thomaso

I tried…

All seem OK except for the file :  even if I changed the privileges   …

[laurent32]

Looking at "Créateur du contenu: Serif Affinity Publisher (Mar 31 2020)" ; are you Publisher v2 @thomaso ?

[Laetitia974]

Thanks for all your replies !!

@thomaso, i tried as well... everythink is working.

I've replaced the pdf hyperlink for an other one and exported it : it worked.

But as soon as i try with an other application (such as my smmx file), it keeps on trying to open it with internet instead of the right application..

[laurent32]

@thomaso

I opened your .afpub files in my v2 and I see yours are v1…

I'm not able to find your links in your .afpub files ??? is that ok ?

[laurent32]

@Laetitia974

Are you on Publisher v1 also ?

[Laetitia974]

@laurent32yes i am on Publisher V1

[thomaso]

10 minutes ago, laurent32 said:

I opened your .afpub files in my v2 and I see yours are v1…

I'm not able to find your links in your .afpub files ??? is that ok ?

Yes, I am in V1 (V2 doesn't run in my macOS).

Access right: How about the parent folder(s) "hyperlink A > B" or "Telechargements" on your drive? Interestingly it seems to work for the OP.

If I open this v.1.8.3 apfup in my current v1.10.5 it looks like this:

[v_kyr]

25 minutes ago, Laetitia974 said:

But as soon as i try with an other application (such as my smmx file), it keeps on trying to open it with internet instead of the right application..

Depends on how a certain third party app interprets the included links, meaning here if commonly as a file URI (protocol = file://), or if it's (as mostly) forbidden due to security restrictions (as it is as default in most webbrowsers). - Also many PDF viewer and tools don't allow to do so due to security restrictions (malware execution protection).

Other than that see related also ...

• Hyperlinks (APub help)
• Hyperlinks panel (APub help)
• Restrictions on File Urls
• ... etc.

[thomaso]

22 minutes ago, Laetitia974 said:

But as soon as i try with an other application (such as my smmx file), it keeps on trying to open it with internet instead of the right application..

I guess this is not a matter of Affinity at all … but rather of Acrobat or the operating system, for instance on purpose to avoid any malware app or installer being opened with 1 click / without confirmation.

[v_kyr]

To the OP, see also;

• Tips for adding interactivity to your digital publications  (Affinityspotlight article)

[henryanthony]

According to Acrobat Help (link below) it is possible to include links to documents with instructions to open those documents in the appropriate application. It is all better explained in this link:

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/links-attachments-pdfs.html

 

[Laetitia974]

Thanks @henryanthony . I think you need the pro version of acrobat reader for that which I unfortunately don't have...

[laurent32]

1 hour ago, thomaso said:

Yes, I am in V1 (V2 doesn't run in my macOS)

OK !

1 hour ago, thomaso said:

Access right: How about the parent folder(s) "hyperlink A > B" or "Telechargements" on your drive? Interestingly it seems to work for the OP

I tried it all, doesn't work for me (file part).

1 hour ago, thomaso said:

If I open this v.1.8.3 apfup in my current v1.10.5 it looks like this

OK I did find the links.

-----

I still can't open the file…