assigning a function to a graphic in PM6.5

[kobi28]

Is there a way in PageMaker 6.5 to assign a function to a graphic element? I am creating a large document to be converted to a PDF. I would like to have working 'print' and 'exit' buttons in the PDF.

Thanks. I appreciate your help.

 

[viol8ion]

Easy! Select the graphic with yourpointer tool, then CTRL 9. Click onthe little square next to the trash can in the pop up window to create a new anchor. Give it a name. Click the arrow to the right of where it says Hyperlinks, select New URL, type in address. Bingo!

Now to create the PDF so that the hyperlinks work, you have to use File>Export>PDF. If you print to file and then distill, the hyperlinks will be broken. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[Eggles]

So there is a use for the direct export to PDF. I didn't know that.

 

[viol8ion]

Yep,

Even though I often recommend people to avoid Export to PDF.. I use it regularly with a "watched directory". You export, then when you have done a tone of files, open Distiller and it automatically converts all the files to PDF. It is a time saver.

Good workflow through the entire process is crucial to Export working well. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[Eggles]

You know, I always assumed that using the two step process of printing to file then using distiller (rather than using the direct 'export to PDF' function) was to ensure that the distiller job settings were correct for the project. If I am reading your response correctly, particularly Good workflow through the entire process ..., you mean that once distiller has its options set (e.g. to the default 'Print' setting), then this is retained until you go in and deliberately change the settings again. So if you know that you will be creating a whole set of PDFs all with the same settings, it's OK to use the Export function?

I have used that watched folders option once when I was making a lot of PDFs (for a folio display) so I know it's a pretty nifty timesaver. But back then (well over 12 months ago), I had no idea about the preferred sequence for making PDFs by the 2 step method. Since I so rarely make a lot of PDFDs in one batch, I tend to use the 2 step method so that I know exactly what the distiller options are set to.

 

[viol8ion]

The EXPORT to PDF follows the exact same steps as the Print to .ps and then Distill method, as long as your settings are correct. Export has always been tempramental. I use it all of the time with no problem, but every now and then one comes up that haunts me, and the only method that will work is the 2-step manual process.

I suppose what happens is that so many functions are being calledto do a series of complex operations and PM just chokes on it. And I suspect that the problem is more with PM than with Acrobat on this issue. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[Eggles]

Can you answer another question for me on a related topic? 12 months ago, when I made PDFs from PM, I used to select a 'virtual' postscript printer from the Print menu since I did not have access to a real PS printer. I had downloaded the PPD from the internet for an HP colour Laser Jet PS printer. In my current job, the postscript printer they choose for making PDFs is Acrobat Distiller itself, with the Distiller PPD. What do you use/recommend as your postscript printer? (Does this question even make sense?)

 

[viol8ion]

You are confusing 2 things here, I think. You have a printer driver, which is what you mentioned first. You can either use a 'virtual driver' which is any driver for any postscript printer that you care to use, whether you actually have aprinter or not. In most cases, I recommend using the Windows Generic Printer Driver.

Then you have the PPD, and I find the Acrobat Distiller PPD to work well in most cases. Don't mess with that unless you have good reason to.

A god reason to mess with the printer driver (and hence also use a different PPD) would be if your service bureau recommends that you design the page with their printer driver installed. What can happen if you design the page with one driver, and the service bureau uses another, is you will get text reflow which can affect layout. I hope this makes sense? When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[Eggles]

I think I have got this straight.... if I choose to use a virtual postscript printer, with which to 'print to file' when making a PDF, it only really matters which printer I use, if the output is being done outside (to prevent reflow problems - something I have only recently understood and come to grips with). No matter which postscript printer I choose, I should always select the Distiller PPD (I was a bit confused in the previous post between the printer driver and the PPD) UNLESS the commercial printer prefers a different postscript printer driver and its PPD. Just writing that last bit I am still confused. What's the difference between a postscript printer driver and a PPD - isn't that what 'PPD' stands for? Or should that previous sentence have read the commercial printer prefers a different postscript printer and its PPD?

 

[viol8ion]

PPD stands for Psotscript Printer Definition. It is basically a text file that describes the parameters of the printing device. That is a simplified definition, I am sure that if you searched Google you could find nore info on it. But what you wrote is basically correct. Bob Levine, if you could get a sentence of more than 3 syllables from him, could tell you more accurately than I, as that is his field of expertise. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[Eggles]

And here was me thinking PPD stood for postscript printer driver.