How to preserve hyperlinks Solved

Question

Hello,
Transforming a Word document into a PDF file is easy.
Keeping certain features of the Word document in the PDF file is less so.
Indeed, I am trying to obtain a PDF file from a Word document while keeping the hyperlinks functional, and at the same time not allowing printing/modification.
I have Acrobat Reader and PDF Creator. One allows you to use hyperlinks but does not block printing. The other does the opposite.
Question: does anyone know the trick, the function, or another software that can meet these two constraints?
Thank you
nialpi

C-Claire · Answer

Hello nialpi,

I just checked.
If you use PDF Creator to create your PDF with printing and modification disabled, the hyperlinks still work with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Do you have recent versions of these two programs?

--
C-Claire

nialpi · Answer

Hello C-Claire,

Yes, I completely agree. PDF Creator allows preventing printing/modification but does not keep hyperlinks. Acrobat Reader, on the other hand, keeps the hyperlinks but does not block printing/modifications. However, I want my PDF files to combine both protections.
I’m at a loss because I've been creating PDF files for several years with Acrobat Reader and I naively thought that this type of file, and the security that comes with it, had no more secrets, I'm shocked.
Upon reflection, I realize that this combination (prevent printing AND keep hyperlinks) worked very well under XP with AC version 5). I am now on Win 10 and AC version 7, is that the reason? I don’t know.
My software is up to date, but nothing beats a check. I will (re)check.
Thank you
nialpi

nialpi · Answer

Hello,
My word, we are being tracked! Exploited
Just a few seconds after I sent my message above and left CCM, a message took over my screen "A newer version of PDF Creator has been released, would you like to download it?" What a wonderful coincidence. I suspect that CCM messages are being monitored...
I was certain that I had software updated automatically... I replied YES and within 15 minutes I installed and activated the new version... which ultimately is a different application: "PDF Architect 4". It installed without overwriting "PDF Creator".
New environment, much more complex but with no particular advantages, I spent 2 or 3 hours trying to understand how it works, it seems to be going in circles.
Why do something simple when you can make it complicated?
The only thing I understood well is that I will have to pay 20 euros/2 years to secure a PDF document according to my needs. There are a slew of other options... all paid. So, fewer services provided by moving from free to paid.
What do you call such a way of doing things?
While I was at it, I looked a little closer at Acrobat Reader. Bingo! Same situation, same thing. To secure my PDF documents, my way, like I have been doing for free for several years... I will have to pay even more!

I am very angry. We are milk cows, squeezed lemons!

I will try to recover Acrobat Reader version 5 that I must have on an old PC.
I want to continue creating PDF documents, with non-modifiable, non-printable hyperlinks. If you have a solution, a tip, I’m all ears, even if it means trying another application.
Thank you.
nialpi

contrariness · Answer

I think, like C-Claire (whom I greet in passing), that at one time you had a version of Acrobat "Pro" (that is to say, the complete version)

Before, when you installed this complete version after installing Office, Acrobat would install an Acrobat subprogram within Office: PDFMaker (there was even an icon in the taskbar of Word or another app).

PDFMaker was then capable of retaining the hyperlinks from Word (which Acrobat Distiller could not do, "Distiller" being Adobe's PDF conversion engine for TT).

Now this function still exists but is replaced by a command line in the "File" menu: Save as PDF. But this assumes you have the complete version of Acrobat.

nialpi · Answer

Hello,
Indeed, if you've been handling PDFs since well before 2002, you must be much older than I am... in terms of PDFs. However, my first PC dates back to 1986, and I haven't stopped since, so I think I'm gaining the upper hand. In terms of age!
Alright, let's get back to our sheep.
I'm starting from scratch because I fear I might have been confusing in my previous messages. According to the saying, "What is well conceived is clearly expressed, and the words to say it come easily".

- From a Word file, I want to obtain a secure PDF document, with the preservation of hyperlinks and the control of preventing printing.
Let's only discuss PDF Architect 4 Creator, which I installed three days ago and replaced PDF Creator after an update (?)
It has integrated into Word, a "PDF Architect 4 Creator" function appeared at the top of the screen, to the right of "View". Okay.
For now, I have three ways to create a PDF document from the Word file I'm working on:
- via the "save as", "PDF or XPS" function, hyperlinks are preserved but I can't control the non-printing.
- via the "print" function, printer name "PDF Architect 4", but I lose the links and can't control the non-printing.
- via the command "Architect 4 Creator" from the command line, then "convert",

At no point am I prompted for a password, and I get a PDF document.
When I open this document, through Architect 4,

Hyperlinks are not preserved, non-printing is not controlled, and if I click on "secure and sign", I end up on a Creator site that offers the option for 20 euros/2 years. There, perhaps, I will be asked for a password...

Have I been clear? I don't know.
If I don't purchase the "Secure and sign" option, I can't secure my Word file as I want, but I'm hesitant to buy something without knowing exactly what's inside...
If something has slipped through my fingers, I'm ready to revise my copy.
Agreed?
Best regards
nialpi

C-Claire · Answer

nialpi,

I’m making one last attempt by repeating that you don’t need Architect and that we were only talking about PDFCreator.

Let’s start from scratch: uninstall all of PDFCreator and reinstall only PDFCreator from the original site https://www.pdfforge.org/pdfcreator
Click on [Download], [PDFCreator 2.3], save it to your disk, then run this file. Choose “Français”, check “Paramètres avancés” and disable “PDF Architect 4”. Further along, confirm that you do not want Architect by clicking on [Non merci] (you can always reinstall it later). A little further down, refuse the “Web companion”.

Once PDFCreator is installed, open your Word document that contains the hyperlinks and print it by choosing the PDFCreator printer.
You should see the left screen below. Click on the [Paramètres] button at the bottom and then on [PDF]. The right screen will display. Check the options I circled. Enter a owner password.

Click on [Enregistrer] and then [Enregistrer] again. When it’s done, open your pdf with Acrobat Reader for example, your links work but you cannot print or edit.

PS: “Nevertheless, my first PC dates back to 1986, I have never stopped since, and now, I believe I’m regaining the advantage. Because of age!”
Battle ;-) Micro-computing has been my job since 1983 but in 1981, I was handling a beautiful Goupil. But my first training in the field dates back to 1978. So as a dinosaur, a dinosaur and a half ;-) But there are older ones than us among the CCM forum participants :-)

--
C-Claire

nialpi · Answer

My first PC was a Goupil with only one software: Multiplan.
With this Multiplan and DOS, in our company, we did a lot of things: DBase, text entries, calculations... then things evolved until we reached our current PDFs... nostalgia...
But I bow respectfully before someone older than me.
As for my PDFs, I will follow your advice to the letter. I will completely uninstall PDF Creator and PDF Architect 4.
Then I will reinstall PDF Creator as you said.
I will be away for a few days before continuing.
Thank you
nialpi

nialpi · Answer

Hello,
I'll keep it short.
I have uninstalled PDF Creator + PDF Architect + web companion.
I carefully followed the steps you described.
The result is a PDF document, non-printable, okay, but the hyperlinks have disappeared, so it's not what I want.
Two hours later, since nothing withstands verification, I start again by uninstalling PDF Creator and reinstalling it.
I carefully followed the steps you described.
The result is a PDF document, non-printable, okay, but the hyperlinks have disappeared, so it's not what I want.
I then made 4 or 5 attempts, with the same result (without uninstalling PDF Creator)

While searching on CCM, I found www.conv2pdf.com/
I immediately try to convert the docx file to PDF (3353 kb), and oh, miracle, I get exactly what I can no longer achieve: a PDF file, non-printable, non-modifiable, WITH functional hyperlinks.
Hooray! I tell myself. Immediately, I try a second docx file, unfortunately, that one exceeds the allowable 6 MB (8595 kb) and it doesn't go through. So I have 50% of my files solved.
I will continue searching for that one.
Sincerely,
nialpi

nialpi · Answer

Yes, indeed, the "hyperlinks," I should probably have explained what that meant to me.
It's simply the language used in Word. Hyperlinks attached to a bookmark.
Here is a docx file, I have reduced the number of pages, what I refer to as hyperlinks are on pages 3 and 4. There are others, but all are built on the same model. By clicking on them, the cursor immediately brings us to the appropriate bookmark. You certainly know.
The original document is 150 pages (8595 kb). This kind of links offers great convenience for navigation. With the advanced search of Acrobat Reader, these are two brilliant techniques.
Here is the link

http://www.cjoint.com/c/FIhs3GL3rHS
Thank you
nialpi

C-Claire · Answer

Hello nialpi,

What a waste of time!
In two replies from 04/09/2016 and one from 07/09, I emphasized the types of links recognized by PDFCreator (web links and email links). Your document doesn't contain any.
To generate a PDF that retains links leading to bookmarks AND prohibits printing and modification, I only know Adobe Acrobat full version. There may be free options, but I haven't looked for them.

P.S.: If I may suggest, since the content of your work is very professional and Word is clearly an important tool for you, you should learn to use tables of contents and tables of illustrations.
This would save you from creating all those bookmarks and would automate page number updates.
Moreover, navigation in the document could be done from the table of contents, but also from a very handy navigation pane in Word (tab [View] | "Document Explorer" in Word 2007 or "Navigation Pane" for later versions).
Finally, with Adobe Acrobat (full version), the table of contents would automatically be transferred to the same type of pane in the PDF. Navigation in the document becomes much easier as you wouldn't need to manually return to the table of contents to access another chapter.

--
C-Claire

nialpi · Answer

Hello C-Claire
Yes, what a waste of time, maybe, but the main thing is that we managed to understand each other.
Going back through your messages, I see that you insisted on the type of links, but you see, in my bubble of questioning, I always referred to "hyperlinks" because it's the term used in Word. I should have also linked "hyperlinks" to "bookmarks," you would have understood what I meant.
You mention the full version of Adobe Acrobat. I just checked online, and the cost I saw dampened my spirits.
It's a shame that www.conv2pdf.com/ only works for files < 6 MB. I need to find a solution for just one document.
What frustrates me, you see, is that for 4-5 years, I had "PDF Creator," in 3 modules, if I remember correctly (Win XP), and there, no problem with those famous links; it became second nature to create secure PDFs as I wished. Anyway...
As for your advice on using Word, that's fine. My 2 large documents are finished, and theoretically, I shouldn't have to touch them anymore. I just needed the 2016 versions, with the hyperlinks (Word). For the current documents, I will remember www.conv2pdf.com.
I just deleted the demo document that I uploaded to: https://www.cjoint.com/
Thank you, see you later on another topic!
nialpi
(ps) If you come up with a simple way to keep hyperlinks and bookmarks (Word) in PDF, without going to www.conv2pdf.com/, you never know, I would be interested.
Thanks again.

contrariness · Answer

PDF Creator (in 2 words) is a software different from PDFCreator..
I don't know if it still exists anyway...

If you only have one document, there's surely someone who will convert it for you, but be careful about the layout if you've modified your stylesheet..

nialpi · Answer

Hello

To wrap up this discussion, I finally managed to convert my large docx file (8595 KB) into a PDF file (4508 KB), while keeping the hyperlinks and Word bookmarks functional, and removing the printing rights.
To do this, I installed the trial version of PDF Pro 10 Creator, valid for 15 days, as suggested by contrariness on September 8th.
Thank you for your advice, C-Claire, and to you too, contrariness.
Best regards,
nialpi

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