How to add URL links to text box text?

[PetrKrysl]

I add a hyperlink to a text box comment. The link is not clickable. What am I missing?

[rakunavi]

Hello PetrKrysl,

Hyperlinks within text comments will only function if both of the following conditions are met. Please note that their usage differs slightly from regular links.

• The text cursor must be present within the text comment.
• The link must be clicked while holding down the Ctrl key.

• Video.webm

Best regards,
rakunavi

[PetrKrysl]

OK, that is not very intuitive. Thanks.

However, how do I click this link in some other program? For instance PDFAnnotator shows me the comment, but
the link does not work.

[rakunavi]

Hello PetrKrysl, thank you for your feedback.

As a fellow user, I completely agree that the operation method is not very intuitive.

In the context of text annotations in PDF files, ISO 32000-1:2008 does not define the syntax of rich text (Rich Text) in detail within the PDF specification itself. Instead, it delegates that responsibility to XHTML 1.0, requiring that rich text content be written in a format compliant with XHTML. In other words, the PDF specification relies on the XHTML standard to describe how rich text should be structured and rendered.

The hyperlink feature within comments is a relatively minor function among the many capabilities of PDF software. Therefore, it might be somewhat inevitable that there are differences in the level of compliance with ISO 32000-1:2008 and XHTML 1.0, as well as variations in interpretation, among different PDF software applications.

The current behavior in PDF-XChange Editor is identical to that in Adobe Acrobat, but differences in implementation methods among PDF software are likely due to these underlying factors.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[PetrKrysl]

So, if I may interpret your reply: there is no way for links in annotations to work in other PDF readers?

[rakunavi]

Hello PetrKrysl,

As you pointed out, it seems best not to expect this feature to function properly in other PDF applications at this time. Even Adobe Acrobat, which exhibits similar behavior to PDF-XChange Editor, does not provide full compatibility—for example, hyperlinks within pop-up notes do not work. Since PDF-XChange Editor's rich text support significantly outperforms competing software, it is perhaps natural that other applications may fall short in comparison.

For PDF documents intended for general distribution, it is generally advisable not to use hyperlinks within annotations.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Rectelon1992]

So, if I may interpret your reply: there is no way for links in annotations to work in other PDF readers?

Yeah, I ran into the same issue. Some PDF readers ignore annotation links entirely, which is frustrating.

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello,

I'm afraid this behavior is unlikely to change in the near future.

Even if we modify our product to add such links, they would not be recognized by other PDF viewers — which limits their practical use and compatibility.

Best regards,