Knowledgebase

Question

What is the Link Creation Tool and how does it operate?

Answer

The Link Creation Tool is used to create customized links in documents. Actions can be added to links that carry out a range of operations

• Run a JavaScript
• Go to a Page in the Document
• Go to a Page in Another Document
• Go to a Page in Embedded Document
• Open a Web Link
• Open a File
• Execute a Command
• Reset a Form
• Submit a Form
• Play a Sound
• Show/Hide a Field
• Read an Article (this option is still in development).

Follow the steps below to use the Link Creation Tool:

1. On the Home tab, click Create link.

2. Click and drag the pointer to determine the size and location of the link:

• Click and drag the yellow control points to resize links.
• Click and drag link boxes to reposition them. Alternatively, the arrow keys can be used for this purpose.
• Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of links.
• Right-click links for further options. See here for an explanation of those options.
• When the Link Creation Tool is selected, the following options are available on the Format tab:
• Stroke Color determines the color of the link border.
• Border Style determine the style of the link border.
• Border Width determines the width of the link border.
• Highlight Mode determines the visual effect when the link is clicked.
• Click Properties to view/edit the Link Creation Tool Properties pane. See here for information on tool properties.

The options in the Browse for Link Target dialog box are as follows:

• If the Ignore Zoom Level box is selected then PDF-XChange Editor will ignore the current zoom percentage and mode when links are created. If this box is cleared then the link will use the zoom level (percentage) was that in place at the time of link creation when link is subsequently used (unless "Use Zoom Mode" is enabled).
• If the Use Zoom Mode box is selected then PDF-XChange Editor will use the active zoom mode (such as "fit width") when links are created. If this box is cleared then the zoom mode will not be used, and unless "Ignore Zoom Level" is enabled, the percentage zoom level will be used instead.
• Move to the desired link location and zoom level, then click Set Link to create a link to that location.
• Click Advanced for additional options. The Edit Action List dialog box will open and the Add dropdown menu will be expanded:

• Use the actions detailed below to add actions to the Action List, then click OK to create the link.
• Please note that multiple actions can be added as desired.
• Click Edit to edit selected actions.
• Use the arrow icons to adjust the order of actions.
• Click Remove to remove selected actions.

Run a JavaScript

This option creates Javascript links that activate when the link is clicked. When it is selected the "Run a JavaScript" dialog box will open. Enter the desired JavaScript and click OK to save settings.

Go to a Page in the Document

This action moves the main window to a different document page when links are clicked. When it is selected the following dialog box will open:

• Use the plus and minus icons to zoom in/out.
• Click Use Current View to use the view currently displayed in the preview pane as the location to which the link moves. Please note that this option can be used to zoom to locations on the same page as the link itself.
• Alternatively, use the Destination Properties options to select a destination. Enter a page number or use a Named Destination to determine the page.
• Select the Use Page Number option button to determine the link using the relevant page number. The figures entered in the X and Y boxes determine the location on the horizontal and vertical planes respectively. When this option is used it is also possible to determine the zoom level or use a rectangle to designate the destination
• Select the Use Zoom Level option button to determine the level of zoom used in the link. Use Inherit Zoom to save the zoom level when creating the link.
• Use the Use Rectangle option button to designate the destination using a rectangle. Enter values for the Width and Height.
• Alternatively, select the Use Named Destination option button to select a destination that has already been determined within the document, or click Add Current View to create a new named destination from the current view.

Click OK to save settings.

Go to a Page in another Document

This action moves the main window to a page in a different document when links are clicked. When it is selected the Open Files dialog box will be displayed. Select the file and click Open. The Add Action: "Go to a Page in Another Document" dialog box will open. The settings are the same as those detailed in the Go To a Page in the Document action detailed above.

Go to a Page in an embedded Document

This action moves the main window to a different page in an embedded document when links are clicked. When it is selected the Choose Root Document dialog box will be displayed. Select either This document or Choose external document. (When an external document is used, enter the name of the document in the text box or click the folder icon to select a document from the local computer). The Add Action: "Go to a Page in Embedded Document" dialog box will open. The settings are the same as those detailed in the Go To a Page in the Document action detailed above.

Open a Web Link

This action launches a web link in the default browser of the local computer when links are clicked. When it is selected the Add Action: "Open a Web Link" dialog box will open. Enter the desired URL in the text box and click OK to save settings. Please note that PDF-XChange Editor retains links when the Export to Microsoft Word Document option of the Export feature is used to convert documents to *.docx format.

Open a File

This action opens a file when links are clicked. When it is selected the following dialog box will open:

• Enter the name of the file to be opened in the File Name text box, or click Browse to select a file from the local computer.
• Use the Open In menu to select where the file opens.
• Use the Operation menu to determine the operation that takes place. Select Open for the file to open or Print for the file to print.
• Use the Directory text box to determine the directory of the desired file, or click Browse to select a folder from the local computer.
• Use the Parameters text box to include further parameters of the default program used to open the file. Available parameters depend on the command line options available to the program.

Click OK to save settings.

Execute a Command

This action executes a command when links are clicked. When it is selected the Add Action: "Execute a Command" dialog box will open:

Click the dropdown arrow for a list of available commands. Select commands and click OK to add them to the link. Multiple commands can be added as desired. When all desired commands have been added, click OK to save settings.

Reset a Form

This action resets form data when links are clicked. It is useful for documents that contain fillable forms, such as those that the Form Toolbar creates. When it is selected the following dialog box is displayed:

All forms in the active document are displayed in the dialog box.

• Use the check boxes to determine the forms that are reset when the link is clicked.
• Click Select All to select all forms.
• Click Deselect All to deselect all forms.
• Click Invert Selection to select all forms currently deselected or vice versa.
• Click OK to save settings.

Play a Sound

This action plays a sound when links are clicked. When it is selected the following dialog box is displayed:

• Click the Browse button to select a sound file from the local computer. The Open Files dialog box will open. Select the desired file and click Open. The selected sound file will play when the link is clicked.
• Alternatively, click the red button to record a sound. Click again to finish the recording. Click the play and stop buttons to review the sound. Use the volume silder to adjust the volume of the sound.
• Click OK to save settings.

Submit a Form

This action sends the specified form data to a URL when links are clicked. When it is selected the following dialog box is displayed:

• Enter the desired URL for the link.
• All document forms are detailed in the Form-Field Selection pane. Use the check boxes to select forms.
• Click Select All to select all forms.
• Click Deselect All to deselect all forms.
• Click Invert Selection to invert the current form selection.
• Select the Exclude Selected and Include Empty Fields boxes as desired.
• Use the Export Format menu to determine the format of submitted content.
• Select the Convert dates to standard format box as desired.
• Select the format-specific check boxes as desired. Selected formats will be included in submitted content.
• Click OK to save settings.

Please note that the Form Toolbar can be used to create/edit forms to use in conjuction with this feature.

Show/Hide a Field

This action is used to show/hide form fields when links are clicked. When it is selected the following dialog box is displayed:

• All document forms are displayed in the dialog box.
• Click either Show or Hide for the field selected.
• Click Select All to select all forms.
• Click Deselect All to deselect all forms.
• Click Invert Selection to invert the current form selection.
• Click OK to save settings.

Please note that the Form Toolbar can be used to create/edit forms to use in conjuction with this feature.

Read an Article

This action is currently not available. It will be available in future builds.