Finding the best way to add an attachment link to a non-object area of a page

Jensen Head · Post by **Jensen Head** » Fri Oct 10, 2025 1:26 pm

I have a scanned textbook and the files that came with it on a CD. The textbook contains icons that I'd prefer to use as links to specific attachments. Since each page of the document is a raster image and an invisible text layer, I can't explicitly specify the object that would serve as a link.

In this situation, what would be the best way to implement opening an attachment file by clicking on an icon present on the scan?

Fri Oct 10, 2025 3:59 pm

Hello, Jensen Head

The best method would likely be to place "link" objects overtop of those items, and use the "advanced" link configuration, to specify that they should "go to page in embedded file"

image.png

Then select the file which is attached to the document, and the page you wish this link to point to.

Kind regards,

PHK · Post by **PHK** » Fri Oct 10, 2025 5:54 pm

Whilst agreeing with Daniel and at the risk of pointing out the obvious, you would probably want the Link to have no text, and the style properties set to 'zero' or 'none' values if you want nothing to show. Or perhaps a discreet colored bounding box might be helpful in alerting you to the presence of a link.

Fri Oct 10, 2025 9:41 pm

Hello, PHK

An excellent point, those are thankfully the default settings of the add/edit links tool, but yes, if anyone has changed the defaults, making links fully invisible, or semi-transparent would likely be ideal for this task.

Kind regards,

PHK · Post by **PHK** » Sat Oct 11, 2025 1:40 pm

Ah yes, Daniel, but I am afraid the silts of time and use have long buried my (and maybe others) default settings for any tools used regularly.

Jensen Head · Post by **Jensen Head** » Sat Oct 11, 2025 4:49 pm

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Fri Oct 10, 2025 3:59 pmThe best method would likely be to place "link" objects overtop of those items, and use the "advanced" link configuration, to specify that they should "go to page in embedded file"

Thank you for your help! I'm trying to replicate the method you recommended, but it's not working:

1. Click the "Add/Edit Links Tool" (cmd.tool.annot.editLink).
2. Draw a rectangle that should become the active area for the link.
3. In the "Browse for Link Target" dialog, click "Advanced…".
4. Select "Go to a Page in Embedded Document" from the drop-down list.
5. The "Select Root Document (Choose the root document that contains embedded files that you wish to navigate to:)" dialog opens. I select "This Document".
6. The "Add Action: "Go to a Page in Embedded Document" dialog opens. In the "Click the '+' button to browse through the embedded files and select the target document:" field, I click "+".
7. The "Choose Embedded File" dialog opens with two radio buttons. The first, "Go To Parent," is disabled. The second, "Select Attached File:", is selected. There is an empty field below it.
͏

PDFXEdit (2025-10-11 19-46-54).webp

PHK · Post by **PHK** » Sat Oct 11, 2025 5:34 pm

Hi, Jensen Head. Judging from your attachment, you are trying to open an MP3 file (or more than one).

I think Daniel's advice possibly was based on the assumption that you would like to be able to go to a page of a PDF file. Whereas if you are trying to trigger an MP3 file, the Open a file option from the dropdown menu might be more appropriate.

I think the "embedded files" thing comes into play when you assemble a portfolio of files and the individual files are "embedded."

Jensen Head · Post by **Jensen Head** » Sun Oct 12, 2025 5:26 pm

PHK wrote: ↑Sat Oct 11, 2025 5:34 pmWhereas if you are trying to trigger an MP3 file, the Open a file option from the dropdown menu might be more appropriate.

PHK, thanks for the tip! As far as I can see, the «Add Action: "Open a File"» dialog doesn't allow you to select a file from those already attached to the document. You can only select a file saved separately on your device. Does this dialog look different for you?

PHK · Post by **PHK** » Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:30 pm

I am not entirely surprised by your observation and I think you are correct. Any chance you can copy those MP3 files out of wherever they are now so that they are separate files? This is stuff I haven't tried to do heretofore and maybe we have to wait for business hours to get a proper analysis.

Jensen Head · Post by **Jensen Head** » Mon Oct 13, 2025 9:46 am

PHK wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:30 pmAny chance you can copy those MP3 files out of wherever they are now so that they are separate files?

Yes, of course, this is a working workaround.

Tue Oct 14, 2025 4:53 pm

Hello, Jensen Head

If they are Audio or Video files, you may want to try using these tools instead. They have been updated recently and offer a few extra levels of customization, including for the appearance:

image.png

Beyond that, I have also put in a request for the Dev team to add a better way for links to reference non-PDF attachments for a regular "open" action. I cannot promise any changes at the moment, as allowing any file type to be opened in such a way might be a notable security risk (I am also unsure what the spec says about this scenario), but I will keep you posted if they think it would be possible and reasonable.

Kind regards,

Finding the best way to add an attachment link to a non-object area of a page

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