Text with anchor duplicated, which one is the hyperlink linked to?

[Mr. K]

Out of curiously I created a test document with one anchor text, and duplicated it on two other pages. Then I created a "TEST" line of text and inserted a hyperlink on the "TEST" text. Although there are three instances of the anchor in the document, only the one appears in the Hyperlink Properties/Hyperlink Type/Anchor dialog box drop down menu. I then exported the document to test the hyperlink, and honestly I cannot tell where it is linked.

[walt.farrell]

7 minutes ago, Mr. K said:

honestly I cannot tell where it is linked.

If you exported to PDF then when you follow the link your PDF viewer should show you the page number in its navigation bar.

Edit: For me, it links to the last-created anchor. I think it's a bug that only one shows up in the anchor list when creating the hyperlink.

[Mr. K]

I agree that it must be a bug, but it's one that I cannot see a solution to. If the dropdown used 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 to identify the duplicated anchors, and then say there was an instance of another text anchor that was really set on text of 1.1, then that would also create a problem. I guess we just need to be very careful not to place duplicate anchors, or we have to know that the hyperlink will always be placed on the last anchor.

It would be good if Affinity we chime in here and see if they can explain this. Thanks.

[fde101]

6 hours ago, Mr. K said:

I agree that it must be a bug

Likewise.

[Old Bruce]

7 hours ago, Mr. K said:

Out of curiously I created a test document with one anchor text, and duplicated it on two other pages. Then I created a "TEST" line of text and inserted a hyperlink on the "TEST" text. Although there are three instances of the anchor in the document, only the one appears in the Hyperlink Properties/Hyperlink Type/Anchor dialog box drop down menu. I then exported the document to test the hyperlink, and honestly I cannot tell where it is linked.

Use the Hyperlinks Studio, there are two buttons on the bottom left corner. But I fail to see the sense or utility of copying an anchor, other than your stated curiosity (and we know what happened to that cat).

[fde101]

2 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

But I fail to see the sense or utility of copying an anchor, other than your stated curiosity

People do strange things sometimes on purpose, and eventually someone will do this by accident.  This is a beta, with the purpose of testing to make sure things work, so it seems reasonable to check and ensure that the behavior of anything in the beta is at least rational.

This does not seem to be.

[Mr. K]

3 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

But I fail to see the sense or utility of copying an anchor,

Here's the reason, it's more than just curiosity. I made these photo numbers with anchors attached to each and then I added them all to my Assets. So my curiosity was what happens if I accidentally put more than one instance of the asset in my project. That will be a problem.

[Old Bruce]

"Oh, I see" said the blind man as he picked up a hammer and saw.

Figured there would be some method to the madness. All quite sensible and logical once I understand.

[Mr. K]

I think it's a valid concern. I suspect the only solution is to have a message appear that would say; "You cannot have two anchors with the same name" when "anchored" text is duplicated. That got me thinking so I did this test: I created a text block "Test." I duplicated that, then I inserted an anchor on the first one and AFPub named the anchor Test. I inserted an anchor on the second one, and AFPub named it Test 2. I tried it again and this time I tried to remove the 2 from after Test on the anchor name, and AFPub would not let me do that. OK became grayed out, so I guess this (duplicating anchored text) is a bug.