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General discussion

Word Hyperlink

May 9, 2007 5:45AM PDT

I am writing an instructional Word 2000 document that will be converted to PDF format and then burned onto a CD for distribution. I am trying to create a Hyperlink in Word that reads the root directory of the CD (where other files of graphics and videos will be located). Since most computers have different drives I am stuck. Thank you.

Discussion is locked

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Use relative addresses.
May 9, 2007 6:48AM PDT

So don't use d:\pictures\pic0001.jpg, but just pictures\pic0001.jpg, assuming the pdf-file is in the root of the cd and the pictures are in a folder pictures directly under the root.

Kees

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Word Hyperlinkg
May 9, 2007 11:35AM PDT

This did not work at all. I tried it as you stated and no such luck. It tells me that link does not exist.

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The problem may be where your word.doc file is
May 9, 2007 7:43PM PDT

You have to plan this, and you may not be able to test it until the document is burned to a CD.

First of all, both the document, (whether a PDF or Word.doc), must be on the same drive. For example, if your document is currently stored on the hard drive, then you create a link to images on a CD, that link will not work when you burn the document onto the CD. This is because the link will look something like;

D:\Photos\Image1.jpg

So, when the document is on the C drive, it will look for a drive different to where it is. However, when it is burned onto a CD, it will still look for a drive different to where it is, but now the image is stored on the same drive.

However, if the link says "Photos\Image1.jpg" then if the document is on the same drive it should be able to find the image as long as the document is on the root drive, eg D:\ and not in any other folder on the D drive.

It would be easier if all the images and the document where either in the same folder, or on the root drive.

However, it is not easy to test. The images have to be on the CD already, but you cannot burn a document onto the same CD and then edit it from there because the document will be "Read only". You can only burn the finished document onto the CD.

The best way to do it is to keep the images and the document you are editing in the same folder on the C drive, create links in the document to all the images, then edit each hyperlink so they just show "Image1.jpg", "Image2.jpg" etc, save the document, then copy all of the files from within that folder directly to the root drive on the CD.

Like I say, very difficult, and I am not sure even that will work.

Mark

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Problem referencing drives....
May 11, 2007 8:13AM PDT

Have you tried HTML ? Create a "Web Page" on that CD, with links to the files, so that the "root" is the CD - it does not matter which "Drive" is used.

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Mark and I think ...
May 11, 2007 8:37AM PDT

that the same principles (relative addressing) for a hyperlink or src-attribute for an image used by standard html on a standard website might work in a Word document converted to pdf. But I'm afraid that none of us two ever tried it.
And it seems the OP doesn't (or maybe didn't) fully grasp the principle.

Your suggestion to convert his document to html (a website on a cd, so to speak) is interesting, of course, but could be a big change.


Kees

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It should work...
May 11, 2007 10:24AM PDT

An HTML document on a CD with hyperlinks to files on the same CD, where the location of these files need not be stated, since they are on the same folder as the HTML document; whereas if a Word document with hyperlinks to files is used, the locations of those files would have to be stated - a problem with computers with different CD Drive drive letters.

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It does
May 11, 2007 7:28PM PDT

I've used it myself in HTML linking from a web page saved on a CD to images and other web pages on the same CD. It also works on external USB drives, etc.

In fact it is much easier to create the links as long as the relative positions of the web page and all the "link to's" don't change when you move them all onto the CD or other media. This is because you don't have to enter the full path into the <a href> anchor or <img src> links in web pages, whereas Word always places the full path which you then have to try and manipulate.

But like Kees says, I'm not sure the poster has grasped the full problem.

Mark

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Same song different verse...
Apr 26, 2011 1:45AM PDT

I have a multifile word document(user manual) that I need to distribute, in a read only format,where three files(the text)contain hyperlinks to a fourth file(the glossary)the two remaining files are the index and TOC. I have access to a FTP server, and USB drives, and i could do a burn to a CD, but I'd prefer to use reuseable media.

Same problem as above, I'm kicking myself right now.

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Reusable media ...
Apr 26, 2011 7:43AM PDT

aren't readonly. And what's wrong with making it one document?

Kees

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The same problem,
Apr 29, 2011 6:04AM PDT

but what problem exactly?

Like Kees says, reusable CDs are not read-only, and in fact even if you were able to burn to a non-R CD I could still copy the document(s) off.

Why not do this manual as an HTML web page, or series of pages?

If a document is the only way for you, I agree with Kees, keep it simple and all in one document.

Mark

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Solution
Dec 3, 2014 12:24PM PST

I too had the same problem but found a solution. Make sure all to files are one directory with main document. Aftecreating the hyperlinks, right click on each and edit hyperlink. Delete all the path information that proceeds the file name, leaving only the file name. E.g. C:\documents\help.pdf, you would remove C:\documents\ and leave help.pdf. Convert you main document in the same folder and burn it with all the supporting files.

A good way to test it before burning is to install a virtual CD drive and burn an iso image and the mount it to the virtual CD drive