Types of Interactive Elements


There are three different types of interactive elements you can add to InDesign documents: Hyperlinks, Bookmarks, and Buttons. Each has its own particular uses, but some of the features may overlap. Before you start work, decide which type of interactive element is right for you.

Feature

Description

Advantages

Limitations

Hyperlink

Adds a hotspot area to text or objects that is linked to other parts of the document, other documents, or Web pages.

Can be applied directly to the text inside a story.

Can be created automatically using the Table of Contents or Indexing feature.

Provides only very primitive visual indications of the linked area.

Bookmark

Adds a navigational element that is visible in the Adobe Reader Bookmark pane.

The Bookmark pane is visible at all times in the document.

Can be created automatically using the Table of Contents feature.

Requires some education to teach the reader how to use the Bookmark pane in the Reader.

Is not directly on the document page.

No special visual indication in the document.

Button

Adds a hotspot area that can contain text or graphics. This hotspot can be set to invoke a wide variety of behaviors including navigation as well as movie or audio playback.

Offers the most navigational and design choices.

Buttons can't be created automatically from text.


Which Comes First, Source or Destination?

Maybe it's years of working in HTML or JavaScript, but the first time I tried to create hyperlinks in InDesign, I got all fouled up. I started by trying to define a source for the hyperlink the item that you click and then setting its destination the place where the link sends you.

InDesign doesn't work this way. You must set the destination first, and then set the source. I know it seems backward, but that's the way it must be done.




InDesign CS2 for Macintosh and Windows(c) Visual QuickStart Guide
InDesign CS4 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide
ISBN: 0321573579
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 309
Authors: Sandee Cohen

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