Multiple links to an attached file

[Puffolino]

Hi, I'd need to attach a spreadsheet to a document but refer to it multiple times (need a symbol on multiple pages to open the same file).
When I the file attachment tool (adds a paperclip symbol) the file will be inserted each time, using the tool adding links I didn't find an option to open an attached file.

Does anyone know the trick?

[rakunavi]

Hello Puffolino,

The file attachment icon (in your case the paperclip symbol) can be copied and pasted by selecting it using the "Select Comments" tool in the Home tab.

EDIT: I made a wrong comment. With above method, the file size increases each time it is copied. Please ignore my comment. Sorry for the trouble.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello rakunavi, Puffolino,

Using links you can "Go to a page in Embedded Document":

image.png

So if you e.g. convert your Excel spreadsheet to PDF - you can then even reference separate sections of it from separate links inside the main document.

I did some testing with the attachment type annotation - and indeed it seems like each copy creates another copy of the attachment file - so having multiple paperclip icons leading to multiple copies of the same spreadsheet is not ideal!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[Puffolino]

Thanks for the quick replies, bad luck I need the excel file "as is" (for sorting etc.)

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Puffolino,

There are commands that can launch an external file, however there aren't really ones that can start an embedded non PDF file!

There is also an "exportDataObject()" JS method which you could assign to a link- however that exports a copy of the embedded file (and can then automatically launch it) - however that does require creating a copy of the spreadsheet externally from the PDF.

Kind regards,
Stefan

[rakunavi]

Hello Puffolino and Stefan,

Sorry for commenting again without remorse, even though I just made a comment that was unhelpful.

I am afraid this is a layman's idea, but how about the following method?

1. Create a dummy PDF file with an spreadsheet file attached. Imagine a file only with a large file attachment icon on the first page.
2. Embed that file into the original document using the file attachment function.
3. At the location in the original document where you want to specify the link, use the "Go to a Page in Embedded Document" link function to specify a specific page in the embedded dummy PDF file.

• figure.png

This is a rather tricky method, and it requires the user to open the dummy PDF file once when opening the spreadsheet file, which is a burden for the user. However, with this method, no matter how many links you add, the file size will not increase significantly. If the description of the dummy PDF file is carefully designed, users might be able to use it without realizing that they are using a tricky method.

Also, trying the first method of copying the file attachment icon in Acrobat does not increase the file size. It seems to me that there is some room for improvement in PDF-XChange Editor.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello rakunavi,

I do, and I am sure puffolino does as well appreciate your willingness to help! Not all suggestions will work (mine included) - however we are all working together towards finding the best solution given the circumstances!

@Puffoline - may I suggest e.g. links to say a google docs spreadsheet - that way the links would be to a web page that would 'always' be available, and if the file is made public - the recipient of the PDF with the links in it will be able to not only view but also contribute to the data in that spreadsheet?

Kind regards,
Stefan

[rakunavi]

Hello Puffolino and Stefan,

I just posted this a while ago and found a much better workaround.

In my post at the beginning of the topic, copying and pasting file attachment icons increased the file size, but I found that the Duplicate feature can be used instead to copy file attachment icons without increasing the file size.

• Product Manuals » PDF-XChange Editor V10 » Tabs Guide » Home Tab » Duplicate
  https://help.pdf-xchange.com/pdfxe ... _ed_2.html

Also, trying the first method of copying the file attachment icon in Acrobat does not increase the file size. It seems to me that there is some room for improvement in PDF-XChange Editor.

As I wrote in my previous post, it would be ideal to be able to copy and paste like Acrobat without increasing the file size, but I think this method can be used somehow with the current PDF-XChange Editor.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello rakunavi,

That is an elegant solution indeed!
I did test myself with the Duplicate Selection - however I noticed that the attachment was listed 3 times in the pane:

image.png

So I assumed that the file size would increase in my case with close to 15 MB - however I was wrong and the file size did indeed only increase with 4.7 MB in the test from the above screenshot! So that is indeed a very good solution!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[PHK]

I wonder if using Bookmarks with defined actions that link to the Excel file would be useful in this context.

The nice thing about this sort of use is that Bookmarks do not take up much memory, are easily duplicatable/repeatable, and do not pollute the visual page image that is in focus.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello PHK,

Thanks for joining this discussion and the idea!

I just had a look at it to see whether that can be made to work - however, the actions you can add to bookmarks are similar to what you can add to a link.

image.png

And it is not really possible to point to an existing attachment (that is not a PDF file) from those actions. The "Page in an attachment" only works if the attachment is a PDF file.

I admit I didn't think of bookmarks myself! Bookmarks are neat indeed, however as you said - they are on the side of the document, and Puffolino's initial idea was to have references to said spreadsheet in line in the document directly - likely that is needed for the particular file in question.

I am happy to hear any other ideas anyone might have!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[PHK]

Just a thought...

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello PHK,

And that is appreciated! I didn't think of bookmarks as you did, and when you did mention them - did investigate deeper.

Kind regards,
Stefan

[Puffolino]

Thanks for all your helpful efforts and ideas.

There aren't many forums (fora?) offering such an intensive and positive participation

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Puffolino,

Happy to help!
Please do let us know whether e.g. the Duplicate selection is a viable solution for you or whether you've found some other approach!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[Puffolino]

Hi, I've played around with different approaches and "duplicating" seems to be the best workaround for my problem.

But it must be done very careful, because when one "copy" needs to be moved to a different page, cut and paste can't be used because it increases the file size.

Therefore some improvements would be fine:

Attachments Panel
* an additional column (e.g. ID, copy) to see which attachments do need extra space in the PDF file
* an optimized status text (now: "4 items * 1 items selected" independently of the type of the attachment, better would be something like "4 items in 2 groups * 3 items in 1 group selected")

attachments.png

Save as optimized
* maybe an optimization option "Discard duplicate of Attachments" in the Cleanup section would be possible

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Puffolino,

Many thanks for your suggestions! Passing those on to our devs for consideration!

p.s. I have created a ticket for our devs so that copy-pasting attachments can be improved and not result in file size increases:
#6656: Editor 381: FR Do not duplicate the attachment-stream when corresponding attach-comment is copy-pasted into the same file.

Kind regards,
Stefan