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how to convert an excel workbook into pdf in which internal links still work?
hi everyone!
i have written in excel a medical handbook for students. (windows 11, office 2019) i want to create internal links that enable students to jump between the linked prescriptions. (see screenshots below). this is no problem. but when i convert the excel workbook to pdf, the internal links do not work anymore. is there a solution? thanks for your help!
cheers!
andrea
You can use the "Save As" function in Excel to save the workbook as a PDF, and then select the option "Optimize for: Minimum size (publishing online)".
This will ensure that the internal links are preserved in the PDF.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Open your Excel workbook.
- Click on "File" in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select "Save As".
- Choose "PDF (*.pdf)" as the file type.
- Click on the "Options" button.
- In the "Publish Options" section, select "Minimum size (publishing online)".
- Click on "OK".
- Choose a location to save the PDF file.
- Click on "Save".
After following these steps, the PDF file will be saved with the internal links intact.
When you click on a link in the PDF, it will take you to the correct location in the document.
If this method not preserve all internal links in the PDF file.
I recommend trying one of these methods:
Using Adobe Acrobat DC
Install Adobe Acrobat DC and then open the Excel file with it and use the “Save as Adobe PDF” entry from the file menu. This opens another dialog where you can select the sheets to save.
or opening the Excel file in LibreOffice Calc.
Open Excel file in LibreOffice Calc and then use LibreOffice's “File/Export as PDF” option. This will give you an internally linked PDF. Note, however, that not all formatting and formula options are compatible with .xlsx in LibreOffice.
I hope this helps!
You can use the "Save As" function in Excel to save the workbook as a PDF, and then select the option "Optimize for: Minimum size (publishing online)".
This will ensure that the internal links are preserved in the PDF.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Open your Excel workbook.
- Click on "File" in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select "Save As".
- Choose "PDF (*.pdf)" as the file type.
- Click on the "Options" button.
- In the "Publish Options" section, select "Minimum size (publishing online)".
- Click on "OK".
- Choose a location to save the PDF file.
- Click on "Save".
After following these steps, the PDF file will be saved with the internal links intact.
When you click on a link in the PDF, it will take you to the correct location in the document.
If this method not preserve all internal links in the PDF file.
I recommend trying one of these methods:
Using Adobe Acrobat DC
Install Adobe Acrobat DC and then open the Excel file with it and use the “Save as Adobe PDF” entry from the file menu. This opens another dialog where you can select the sheets to save.
or opening the Excel file in LibreOffice Calc.
Open Excel file in LibreOffice Calc and then use LibreOffice's “File/Export as PDF” option. This will give you an internally linked PDF. Note, however, that not all formatting and formula options are compatible with .xlsx in LibreOffice.
I hope this helps!
NikolinoDE To convert an Excel workbook into a PDF format with functioning internal links, open your Excel file and navigate to "File" > "Save As." Choose the destination for the PDF File, select "PDF" from the "Save as type" dropdown, and click on "Options." In the options menu, ensure that "Document structure" and "Create bookmarks using" are both set to "Workbook." Confirm your selections, click "OK," then save the file. This process will preserve your internal links, allowing you to seamlessly navigate within the PDF just as you would in the original Excel workbook.
thank you so much for your swift reply, much appreciated! i have tried this already, but for some reason the links disappear after converting to PDF. also with acrobat dc. would it be an option that i send you an small example of the workbook and you convert it in order to show me that it works at your end? NikolinoDE
- You can send a file as a private message (click on Profile and then on Message), or share it with OneDrive, or upload the file to a third party on the Internet such as https://easyupload.io/ (as an example).
