13. Creating an Interactive Document
What You’ll Do
Convert and Stylize Hyperlinks
Add Animation with Motion Presets
Use the Buttons and Forms Panel
Create Buttons and Forms
Introduction
In the past, desktop publishing was exclusively considered a print-based medium. However, with the introduction and popularity of the PDF (Portable Document Format) file format and the Adobe Reader as well as the SWF (ShockWave Flash) file format and the Adobe Flash Player, interactive documents are more popular than ever. Instead of creating a document just for printing, you can now create an interactive document with hyperlinks, bookmarks, and buttons for presentations. You can even add animation using motion presets, page transitions, such as a wipe or dissolve, when you turn a page and insert sounds and videos into an InDesign document in addition to graphics.
With the Hyperlinks panel, you can create hyperlinks that navigate to external URLs, link to files with supplemental information, launch an e-mail client, or jump to a page or section of a page within the same or even a different document. You can also verify your hyperlinks directly in InDesign with no need to export the document to a PDF or Flash (SWF) file for testing.
The Buttons and Forms panel is a centralized place to work with interactive buttons and forms in InDesign. The Buttons and Forms panel makes it easy to create interactive buttons that perform actions when the document is exported to Flash (SWF file) or Acrobat (PDF). You can create a custom button from a selected object in an InDesign document or select a button from the built-in Samples button library. When you create an interactive button, you can add events and actions to enable navigation within a document, launch a movie, play a sound, or open a web page.
When you’re finished with your interactive document, you can use the SWF Preview panel to view animation and interactivity for the current selection, current spread, or the entire document.
Defining Hyperlink Destinations
A hyperlink is a text or graphic object that is linked to other parts of the document, other documents, or web pages. A hyperlink consists of a source and a destination. The source is the text or graphic object that you click to jump to the hyperlink location while the destination is the place that InDesign sends you to. The destination can be in the same document, another document, an e-mail message, or a web page on the Internet. You need to define a destination before you can define the source.
Create a Hyperlink Destination
Select the Hyperlinks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Click the Options button, and then click New Hyperlink Destination.
Click the Type list arrow, and then select a hyperlink type:
♦ Page. Creates a link to a page in the same document.
♦ Text Anchor. Creates a link to a selected area of text.
♦ URL. Creates a link to a web page on the Internet.
Specify the options related to the hyperlink type; options vary depending on the type.
♦ For a Page. Specify a page name, page number, and zoom setting.
♦ For a Text Anchor. Specify a name for the anchor.
♦ For an URL. Specify a name and address for the URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
Click OK.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Click the Options button, and then click Hyperlink Destination Options.
Click the Destination list arrow, and then select a destination.
Click Edit or Delete.
If editing, make the changes you want for the destination.
Click OK.
Creating Hyperlinks
Before you can create a hyperlink, you need to define a hyperlink destination. After you create one or more hyperlink destinations, you can create a hyperlink source, which is a text or graphic object that you click to jump to a hyperlink destination. You can link a hyperlink to several different destination types, including URL, File, Email, Page, Text Anchor, and Shared Destination. If you need a quick hyperlink to an URL, you can create one with the New Hyperlink From URL command.
Create a Hyperlink
Select the text or graphic you want to use as the hyperlink.
Select the Hyperlinks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Click the Options button, and then click New Hyperlink.
Click the Link To list arrow, and then select an option:
♦ URL. Creates a link to a web page on the Internet.
♦ File. Creates a link to a document.
♦ Email. Creates an e-mail message link, which opens your default e-mail program.
♦ Page. Creates a link to a page in the same document.
♦ Text Anchor. Creates a link to a selected area of text.
♦ Shared Destination. Creates a link to the same destination from multiple sources.
Specify the options related to the hyperlink type; options vary depending on the type.
♦ For an URL. Specify a name and address for the URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
♦ For a File. Use the Browse button to select a file to link.
♦ For an Email. Specify an e-mail address and message subject line.
♦ For a Page. Specify a page name, page number, and zoom setting.
♦ For a Text Anchor. Specify a name for the anchor.
♦ For a Shared Destination. Specify a document name, and hyperlink destination.
Specify a character style for the text and appearance options for the hyperlink.
Click OK.
Create a Hyperlink From an URL
Select the text that you want to use to create a URL.
Select the Hyperlinks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Click the Options button, and then click New Hyperlink From URL.
Converting and Stylizing Hyperlinks
If you have one or more URLs in your document, you can use the Convert URLs to Hyperlink command to search the current selection, story, or document for URL strings and convert them to hyperlinks. The Convert URLs to Hyperlinks dialog box works like the Find/Change dialog box. You can find URLs and convert one URL at a time or convert them all at once. In addition to converting URLs to hyperlinks, you can also apply a character style to create a consistent look. However, if you don’t want them all the same, you can change the style and appearance of individual hyperlinks.
Convert and Stylize URLs to Hyperlinks
Select the Hyperlinks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Click the Options button, and then click Convert URLs to Hyperlinks.
Click the Search list arrow, and then select the scope option you want: Document, Story, or Selection.
To apply a character style to the converted hyperlinks, select the Apply to Hyperlink check box, click the Character Style list arrow, and then select a character style.
Use the following buttons to find or convert the URL strings:
♦ Find. Starts the search for the next URL string.
♦ Convert. Converts the selected URL string to a hyperlink.
♦ Convert All. Changes all find URL strings to hyperlinks.
If the Finished Finding URLs alert dialog box appears, click OK.
When you’re finished, click Done.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Select the hyperlink you want to edit.
Click the Options button, and then click Hyperlink Options.
♦ You can also double-click a hyperlink in the Hyperlinks panel.
Double-click the hyperlink in the Hyperlinks panel.
For text, select the Style check box, and then select a character style.
Make the changes you want for the hyperlink appearance.
♦ Type. Specify a visibility setting for the hyperlink.
♦ Highlight. Specify a highlight setting for the hotspot.
♦ Color. Specify a color for the hyperlink.
♦ Width. Specify a thickness for the visible rectangle type.
♦ Style. Specify a line style for the visible rectangle type.
Click OK.
Using the Hyperlinks Panel
The Hyperlinks panel is a centralized place to work with hyperlinks and cross references in InDesign. The redesigned Hyperlinks panel makes it easy to create hyperlinks that navigate to external URLs, link to files with supplemental information, launch an e-mail client, or jump to a page or section of a page within the same or even a different document. You can also verify your hyperlinks directly in InDesign with no need to export the document to a PDF or Flash (SWF file) for testing. You can use buttons on the bottom of the panel to go to the hyperlink source or destination, create a new hyperlink, or delete hyperlinks.
Use the Hyperlinks Panel
Select the Hyperlinks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Use any of the following buttons or commands to perform an operation:
♦ Go to the Hyperlink Source. Select the hyperlink, and then click the Go to Source button.
♦ Go to the Hyperlink Destination. Select the hyperlink, and then click the Go to Destination button.
♦ Create a New Hyperlink. Create a destination, and then click the Create New Hyperlink button.
♦ Delete a Hyperlink. Select the hyperlink, click the Delete Selected Hyperlinks button, and then click Yes.
♦ Reset a Hyperlink. Select the hyperlink, click the Options button, and then click Reset Hyperlink.
♦ Update a Hyperlink. Select the hyperlink, click the Options button, and then click Update Hyperlink.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Select the hyperlink you want to edit.
Click the Options button, and then click Hyperlink Options.
♦ You can also double-click a hyperlink in the Hyperlinks panel.
Click the Link To list arrow, and then select an option:
♦ URL. Creates a link to a web page on the Internet.
♦ File. Creates a link to a document.
♦ Email. Creates an e-mail message link, which opens your default e-mail program.
♦ Page. Creates a link to a page in the same document.
♦ Text Anchor. Creates a link to a selected area of text.
♦ Shared Destination. Creates a link to the same destination from multiple sources.
Specify the options related to the hyperlink type; options vary depending on the Link To type.
Click OK.
See Also
See “Creating Hyperlinks” on page 346 for more information on setting options for editing a hyperlink.
Creating Cross-References
A cross-reference refers a reader from one section of a document to another. For example, For more information, see “Using the Hyperlinks Panel” on page 350. The text being referred to is the destination text, while the text generated from the destination is the source cross-reference, which is editable. The Hyperlinks panel is a centralized place to create and work with hyperlinks and cross references in InDesign. You can use buttons on the bottom of the panel to go to the cross-reference source or destination, create a new cross-reference, or delete cross-references. When you create or edit a cross-reference, you can select format and appearance settings for the reference.
Create a Cross-Reference
Click to place the insertion point where you want the cross-reference.
Select the Hyperlinks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Type & Tables, and then click Cross-References.
Click the New Cross-Reference button on the panel.
Click the Link To list arrow, and then select a link type.
Click the Document list arrow, and then select a document location.
Select a paragraph in the document or a hyperlink destination for the text anchor.
Click the Format list arrow, and then select a cross-reference format.
Make the changes you want for the cross-reference appearance.
♦ Type. Specify a visibility setting.
♦ Highlight. Specify a highlight setting for the hotspot.
♦ Color. Specify a color.
♦ Width. Specify a thickness for the visible rectangle type.
♦ Style. Specify a line style for the visible rectangle type.
Click OK.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Hyperlinks.
Use any of the following buttons or commands to perform an operation:
♦ Go to the Cross-Reference Source. Select the reference, and then click the Go to Source button.
♦ Go to the Cross-Reference Destination. Select the reference, and then click the Go to Destination button.
♦ Create a New Cross-Reference. Select the cross-reference text, and then click the Create New Cross-Reference button.
♦ Edit a Cross-Reference. Double-click the cross-reference in the panel.
♦ Delete a New Cross-Reference. Select the reference, click the Delete Selected Cross-Reference button, and then click Yes.
♦ Reset a New Cross-Reference. Select the reference, click the Options button, and then click Reset Cross-Reference.
♦ Update a Cross-Reference. Select the reference, click the Options button, and then click Update Cross-Reference.
♦ Relink a Cross-Reference. Select the reference, click the Options button, click Relink Cross-Reference, select the reference, and then click OK.
Creating Bookmarks
Bookmarks provide another way to navigate through a document. You can create bookmarks that will point to a place in a text frame, any selected text, a frame, or a page. You can create and work with bookmarks in the Bookmarks panel. When you create a PDF of your document, readers can use the bookmarks to navigate from one location to another by using the Bookmarks panel.
Create and Rename a Bookmark
Do one of the following to select a bookmark location:
♦ Insertion Point. Click to place the insertion point where you want the bookmark.
♦ Text. Select any text to specify a location.
♦ Frame. Select a text or graphic frame to specify a location.
♦ Page. Double-click a page in the Pages panel to specify a page location.
Select the Bookmarks panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Bookmarks.
Click the New Bookmark button on the panel.
Click the bookmark to select it.
Click the bookmark again to make the name editable.
♦ You can also click the Options button, click Rename Bookmark, enter a name, and then click OK.
Type a name for the bookmark, and then press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac).
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Bookmarks.
Use any of the following buttons or commands to perform an operation:
♦ Create a New Bookmark. Select a location, and then click the Create New Bookmark button.
♦ Delete a Bookmark. Select the bookmark, click the Delete Selected Bookmarks button, and then click OK.
♦ Rename a Bookmark. Select the bookmark, click the Options button, click Rename Bookmark, type a name, and then click OK.
♦ Go to a Selected Bookmark. Select the bookmark, click the Options button, and then click Go to Selected Bookmark.
♦ Sort Bookmarks. Click the Options button, and then click Sort Bookmarks.
Adding Media
With the Place command or Media panel, you can import the sound or video clips that you want to play in your interactive document. You can import video files in Flash Video format (FLV and F4Vm), H.264-encoded files (such as MP4), and SWF (ShockWave Flash) files. You can import audio files in MP3 format. Legacy media files, such as QuickTime (MOV), AVI, WMV, and MPEG, are still supported. However, if you want to take advantage of the rich media support in Acrobat 9 or later, Adobe Reader 9 or later, and Adobe Flash Player 10 or later, you need to convert and relink your legacy media to FLV, F4V, SWF, MP4, or MP3 using Adobe Media Encoder CC or later. With the Preset Browser, you can select user conversion presets for systems, such as desktops and the web, and devices, such as Apple iOS and Android. After you import sound and video files, you can preview them in the SWF Preview panel in InDesign or export them to Adobe PDF or SWF, or XML. You can export legacy media files to PDF files, but not to SWF or FLA files. If you have video on a web server, you can place the video from a URL. If you’re not sure what to play, you can create an empty frame (with diagonal lines) and then import the clip later. When you import a media file, a poster image appears, which you can change or remove later.
Insert a Media File
Click the File menu, and then click Place, or select the Media panel, and then click the Place Video or Audio File button on the panel.
♦ Place a Video from a URL. Select the Media panel, click the Place Video From URL button on the panel, type the URL, and then click OK.
Navigate to the location with the file you want to import.
Select the sound or video file you want to place.
Click Open.
The imported sound or movie is placed in a loaded preview cursor.
Click or drag a rectangle frame with the loaded cursor to place the clip in a new sound or movie frame, or click in an empty sound or movie frame (designated by diagonal lines) to place it in an empty frame.
Convert and Relink Media Files Using Adobe Media Encoder
Start Adobe Media Encoder from the Start menu or screen (Win) or the Applications folder (Mac).
Click the Add Source button (+), select the media files you want to convert, and then click Open.
Select each media file, click the Format list arrow, and then select a conversion file format. Click the Preset list arrow and then select a predefined setting.
♦ Preset Browser. Select a file, select a preset, and then click Apply Preset.
♦ Presets. Use toolbar buttons to create, delete, group, view settings, import, and export presets.
Click the Start Queue button.
The media files are converted to the new media format and placed in the same folder as the original.
When you’re done, click the Close button to exit the program.
To relink the media files in InDesign, select the Links panel, Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) click the Relink button on the panel, select the replacement media file for each one (or click Skip if not available), and then click Open.
Did You Know?
You can preserve transformation when you update or reestablish a link. Click the Edit (Win) or InDesign (Mac) menu, point to Preferences, click File Handling, select the Preserve Image Dimensions When Relinking check box, and then click OK.
Setting Media Options
After you import media files into a document, you can use the Media panel to preview media, set playback and other properties. You can preview FLV, F4V, SWF, MP4, and MP3 files directly in InDesign; all other legacy media cannot be viewed in the Media panel. You can select the playback controls you want, and select the placeholder poster image for FLV, F4V, and MP4 files. A placeholder poster image is the still image that appears for the media in the frame, which you can change or remove later. In addition, you can create navigation points, which are time-code markers, that you can use with button actions to play a video starting from any of the navigation points. You can work with media frames like any other frame in InDesign.
Set Sound Options
Select the sound clip.
Select the Media panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Media.
Select any of the following check boxes to enable the option:
♦ Play on Page Load. Select to play the sound when the page is loaded. If other objects are set to play, the Timing panel determines the order.
♦ Stop on Page Turn. Select to stop playing an MP3 sound when turned to a different page.
♦ Loop. Select to play the MP3 sound repeatedly.
Click the Poster list arrow, and then select a poster option:
♦ None. Removes poster image.
♦ Standard. Uses the file: StandardSoundPoster.jpg.
♦ Choose Image. Use the Browse button to select a bitmap graphic (BMP).
To preview in the SWF Preview panel, click the Preview Spread button.
Select the Media panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Media.
Select any of the following check boxes to enable the option:
♦ Play on Page Load. Select to play the video when the page is loaded. If other objects are set to play, the Timing panel determines the order.
♦ Loop (Except PDF). Select to play the video repeatedly; not included for PDFs.
Click the Poster list arrow, and then select a poster option:
♦ None. Removes poster image.
♦ Standard. Uses the file: StandardMoviePoster.jpg.
♦ From Current Frame. Uses the current frame displayed in the Media panel. Use the slider to change it, and then click the Use Current Frame button.
♦ Choose Image. Use the Browse button to select a bitmap graphic (BMP).
Click the Controller list arrow, select a playback control skin.
♦ Show Controller on Rollover. Select to show the controller when you point to the media.
To create a navigation point, drag the slider to a frame, and then click the Add Nav Point button, type a name, and then press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac). To remove a navigation point, select the point name in the list, and then click the Delete Nav Point button.
Adding Animation with Motion Presets
In an InDesign document, you can add animation to objects for use in exported SWF files, not in an Interactive PDF. To add animation to a PDF, export a selection as a SWF and place it in an InDesign document, and then export it as a PDF. With the Animation panel, you can animate an object quickly using motion presets, which are pre-defined animations that come along with InDesign. The motion presets are the same ones used in Adobe Flash Professional CS6 or later. You can import any custom presets from XML created in Flash or save your own in InDesign. After you apply a motion preset, you can modify animation settings, such as speed, duration, and when the animation plays. If you no longer want to use an animation, you can remove it.
Apply an Animation Motion Preset and Set Options
Select the object you want to animate.
Select the Animation panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Animation.
Type a descriptive name for the animation. The name is also used when you set up an action to play the animation.
Click the Preset list arrow, and then select a motion preset.
Click the Event(s) list arrow, and then select an event to play the animated object in the SWF file.
♦ On Page Load. Plays when the page is loaded (selected by default).
♦ On Page Click. Plays when the page is clicked.
♦ On Click (Self). Plays when the object is clicked.
♦ On Roll Over (Self). Plays when the object is pointed to. To reverse the action when you point off the object, select the Reverse On Roll Off check box.
♦ On Button Event. Plays when a button action takes place.
To create a button trigger, click the Create Button Trigger button, click an object to convert it to a button, and then set options in the Buttons and Forms panel.
Specify a duration for the animation and the number of time the animation plays, or select the Loop check box to repeatedly play the animation.
Click the Speed list arrow, and then select an option: From Preset for the default, None for a steady rate, Ease In to start slow and speeds up, or Ease Out to start fast and slows down.
To use advanced options, click the Properties arrow, and then do any of the following:
♦ Animate. Select From Current Appearance or To Current Appearance to use the object’s current properties as the starting or ending point. Select To Current Location to use the object’s properties as the starting and ending point.
♦ Rotate. Specify a rotation angle the object completes.
♦ Origin. Uses the proxy to specify the origin point of the motion path.
♦ Scale. Specify a percentage to increase or decrease the size.
♦ Opacity. Select None (remains solid), Fade In (goes to visible), or Fade Out (goes to invisible).
♦ Visibility. Select the Hide Until Animated or Hide After Animating check boxes to make an object invisible before or after playback.
To remove an animation from an object, select the object, and then click the Delete button on the Animation panel.
Working with Animations
With the Animation panel, you can import any custom motion presets from XML created in Flash or InDesign, or save your own in InDesign. If you want to share your motion presets with other InDesign users, you can save them as an XML file, which they can in turn import. After you import, save, or duplicate motion presets, you can delete the ones you don’t want. After you apply a motion preset to an object, you can change the motion path with the Direct Selection tool or Pen tool just like any other path in InDesign.
Manage Animation Motion Presets
Select the Animation panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Animation.
Perform any of the following management options:
♦ Save Motion Presets. Specify the settings you want to save, click the Options button, click Save, type a name, and then click OK.
♦ Delete Motion Presets. Click the Options button, click Manage Presets, select a preset, and then click Delete.
♦ Duplicate Motion Presets. Click the Options button, click Manage Presets, select a preset, and then click Duplicate.
♦ Save Motion Presets as XML. Click the Options button, click Manage Presets, select a preset, click Save As, type a name, specify a location, and then click Save.
♦ Import Motion Presets as XML. Click the Options button, click Manage Presets, click Load, and then double-click the XML file you want.
Click a blank area to deselect all points.
To select and move multiple anchor points and segments, hold the Shift key, and then click the anchor points or segments you want, or drag a rectangle marquee around the ones you want.
Drag an anchor point or drag the middle of a segment.
♦ For a smaller move, click the anchor point or segment, and then press an arrow key.
♦ To constrain the movement of anchor points or segments to 45 degrees, hold down Shift while dragging.
To reshape a curve segment, click an anchor point or a curve segment, and then drag a direction point at the end of the direction handle.
Did You Know?
You can convert selected objects to a motion path. Select the object you want to animate and the path you want to use as the motion path (cannot select more than two objects), select the Animation panel, click the Convert To Motion Path button on the panel, and then change settings in the panel.
You can change the direction of the motion path. Select the motion path, click the Object menu, point to Paths, and then click Reverse Path.
Changing Animation Order
With the Timing panel, you can change the order of when objects play an animation. Animated objects on the current spread appear in the Timing panel based on the page event assigned to each object animation, either On Page Load, On Page Click, or Unassigned. You can change the animation order, delay time, event assignment, and play animations together, separately, or linked.
Use the Timing Panel
Select the Timing panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Timing, or click the Show Timing Panel button on the Animation panel.
Click the Event list arrow, and then select an event type: On Page Load, On Page Click, or Unassigned.
Perform any of the following:
♦ Animation Order. Drag elements up or down the list. Items at the top play first.
♦ Delay Animation. Select a element, and then specify the delay in seconds.
♦ Play Multiple Animations Together. Select the elements, click the Play Together button on the panel to link them. To unlink Play Together elements, select them, and then click the Play Separately button on the panel.
♦ Play Linked Animations. Select the linked elements, and then specify the number of play times or select the Loop check box.
♦ Remove Animation. Select a element, click the Options button, and then click Remove Item.
♦ Reassign Animation. Select a element, click the Options button, and then click Reassign to On Page Load or Reassign to On Page Click.
Adding Page Transitions
A page transition displays a visual effect, such as a wipe or dissolve, when you turn the page in an interactive document. You can apply page transitions directly in InDesign to individual pages or to all spreads at once with a single click. See previews of available transition types in the Page Transitions dialog box, and control the direction and speed of your transitions for export to Flash (SWF file) or PDF. When you export your document to a PDF, select the Interactive Elements option in the Export PDF dialog box to include page transitions. You can view the page transitions in Full Screen Mode in the PDF by pressing Ctrl+L (Win) or 
+L (Mac) in Adobe Acrobat or Reader; press Esc to exit from Full Screen Mode.
Apply a Page Transition
Select the Pages panel, and then select the spread to which you want to apply a page transition.
Select the Page Transitions panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Page Transitions.
Click the Transition list arrow, and then select a transition.
♦ To select a page transition from the Page Transitions dialog box, click the Options button, click Choose, select a transition, select the Apply to All Spreads check box as desired, and then click OK.
Click the Direction list arrow, and then select a transition direction.
Click the Speed list arrow, and then select a transition speed.
To apply the current transition to all spreads, click the Apply To All Spreads button on the panel.
To clear all page transitions, do either of the following:
♦ Click the Transition list arrow, and then click None.
♦ Click the Options button, and then click Clear All.
Using the Buttons and Forms Panel
The Buttons and Forms panel is a centralized place to work with interactive buttons and form controls in InDesign. The Buttons and Forms panel makes it easy to create interactive buttons that perform actions when the document is exported to Flash (SWF file) or PDF. You can use buttons on the bottom of the panel to convert an object to a button and to delete buttons. You can also use the Options menu to view and use sample buttons and forms, reset all buttons to the normal state, as well as set panel options. At the bottom of the panel, you can set PDF options based on the selected element, such as button, check box, combo box, list box, radio button, signature field, or text field. The PDF option vary depending on the selected element.
Use the Buttons and Forms Panel
Select the Selection tool on the tools panel, and then select a button to view or change.
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Options button, and then select one of the following options:
♦ Sample Buttons and Forms. Opens the Sample Buttons and Forms panel to use pre-built button and form control elements.
♦ Reset All Buttons to Normal State. Resets all buttons back to the normal state.
♦ Panel Options. Changes the thumbnail size in the panel.
Select the Hidden Until Triggered check box to hide the element until triggered.
Click the PDF Options arrow to expand the panel.
♦ Type a description to provide alternative text for visually impaired users.
♦ Common options include Printable, Required, and Read Only check boxes.
Change the Buttons and Forms Panel Display
Select the Selection tool on the tools panel, and then select a button to view or change.
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Options button, and then click Panel Options.
Select a thumbnail size.
Click OK.
Did You Know?
You can delete a button. Select the Buttons and Forms panel, select the button, click the Delete button on the panel, and then click OK.
Creating Buttons
You can build interactive buttons to perform an action using the Buttons and Forms panel. For example, you can create a button to navigate within a dynamic document, launch a movie, play a sound, or open a web page or add controls to create a PDF form. You can create a custom button from a selected object in an InDesign document or select a button from the built-in Sample Buttons and Forms panel. The sample buttons include effects, such as adding gradient feathers and drop shadows. There are also assigned actions. For example, the arrow buttons are assigned the Go To Next Page or Go To Previous Page action.
Create a Button from a Sample
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Options button, and then click Sample Buttons and Forms.
Drag a button from the Sample Buttons and Forms panel to the document.
Click the Close button on the Sample Buttons and Forms panel.
Select the button using the Selection tool on the Tools panel.
♦ You can drag a resize handle to change the size of the button, and then drag to move.
Enter a name and make changes to the button settings.
♦ The default type is set to Button and the Event is set to On Release or Tap.
Did You Know?
You can convert a button to an object. Select the button, select the Buttons and Forms panel, click the Convert To Object button, and then click OK.
Important
You can convert any object to a button except a sound, movie, or poster.
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Convert Object to Button button on the panel.
The default type is set to Button.
Type a name for the button.
Click the Event list arrow, and then select an event type.
♦ The options include On Release or Tap, On Click, On Roll Over, On Roll Off, On Focus (PDF), and On Blur (PDF).
Click the Add New Action button, and then select an action to perform for the button.
♦ The options include Close, Exit, Go To First Page, Go To URL, Movie, Sound, and Open File, among others.
Specify options for the selected action type (options vary).
Did You Know?
You can convert an object to a button. Select the object, click the Object menu, point to Interactive, and then click Convert to Button. Make changes in the Buttons and Forms panel.
Creating Forms
You can build interactive forms to perform an action using the Buttons and Forms panel. For example, you can add controls—such as a check box, combo box, list box, radio button, signature field, or text field—to create a PDF form. You can create a custom form control from a selected object in an InDesign document or select a form control—either a check box, combo box, or radio button—from the built-in Sample Buttons and Forms panel. The sample form controls include effects, such as adding gradient feathers and drop shadows. After you create a form control, you can enter a description to provide alternative text for visually impaired users, and specify control specific options, which include Printable, Required, and Read Only.
Create a Form from a Sample
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Options button, and then click Sample Buttons and Forms.
Drag a form control—either a check box, combo box, or radio button—from the Sample Buttons and Forms panel to the document.
Click the Close button on the Sample Buttons and Forms panel.
Select the form control using the Selection tool on the Tools panel.
♦ You can drag a resize handle to change the size of the control, and then drag to move it.
Enter a name and make changes to the form control settings in the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ The default Event is set to On Release or Tap.
Click the PDF Options arrow to expand the panel, if necessary, and set control specific options based on the type.
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Type list arrow on the panel, and then select a form type: Check Box, Combo Box, List Box, Radio Button, Signature Field, or Text Field.
Type a name for the form control.
Click the Event list arrow, and then select an event type.
Click the Add New Action button, and then select an action to perform for the form control.
Click the PDF Options arrow to expand the panel, if necessary.
♦ Type a description to provide alternative text for visually impaired users.
♦ Common options include Printable, Required, and Read Only check boxes.
♦ For a Combo Box or List Box, add or delete list items and specify a font size.
Did You Know?
You can convert an object to a form control. Select the object, click the Object menu, point to Interactive, and then select a convert to form command: Check Box, Combo Box, List Box, Radio Button, Signature Field, or Text Field. Make changes in the Buttons and Forms panel.
Working with Events and Actions
An event determines when to trigger an action that will execute a button or form control operation. For example, the On Release or Tap event triggers an action when the mouse button is released after a button click or when a tap is pressed from a gesture. An action is associated with an event. You can assign an action type to a button to perform an action. For example, the Go To URL action type opens a web page in your default browser from the PDF document with the interactive button. You can create actions to navigate to anchor text or bookmarks, document pages and views, to launch a movie, play a sound, or open a web page. You can work with events and actions for a selected button or form control in the Buttons and Forms panel.
Select Events for a Button or Form Control
Select the Selection tool on the tools panel, and then select a button or form control to change.
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Event list arrow, and then select an event type.
♦ On Release or Tap. Event occurs when the mouse button is released after a click or a pressed tap.
♦ On Click. Event occurs when the mouse button is clicked.
♦ On Roll Over. Event occurs when the mouse pointer enters the button or form control.
♦ On Roll Off. Event occurs when the mouse pointer moves off the button or form control.
♦ On Focus (PDF). Event occurs when the button or form control gets the focus using the Tab key.
♦ On Blur (PDF). Event occurs when the focus moves to another button or form control using the Tab key or mouse click.
Add or Edit Actions for a Button or Form Control
Select the Selection tool on the tools panel, and then select a button or form control to change.
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the Event list arrow, and then select an event type.
Click the Add New Action button, and then select an action to perform for the button or form control.
♦ General. Options include Go To First Page, Go To URL, Video, and Sound, among others.
♦ HTML5 and SWF. Options include Animation, Go To Page, Go To State, Go To Next State, and Go To Previous State.
♦ PDF. Options include Open File, Clear Form, Print Form, and Submit Form, among others.
Specify the various options for the selected action type (options vary).
To enable or disable an action, select or deselect the check box next to the action name.
To delete an action, select the action, click the Delete Selected Action button, and then click OK.
To change an action order, drag an action to a new position.
Working with Button States
A button consists of a group of individual objects. When you view a button, an object appears. When you point to or click on a button, another object appears. Each object represents a button state. Each button can have up to three states: Normal, Rollover, and Click. The button is in Normal state when you don’t point to or click on the button, Rollover occurs when you point to the button, and Click occurs when you click the button. When you’re working with form controls for a PDF, the Radio Button and Check Box controls include button states, which you can change the same way. You can work with button states for a selected button or form control in the Buttons and Forms panel. When you activate a state in the Buttons and Forms panel, the Normal state (default) is copied to it. After it’s copied, you can change the appearance of the element using InDesign color, text, and image tools.
Work with Button States
Use the Selection tool to select a button or use the Direct Selection tool to select a button as an individual object (state).
Select the Buttons and Forms panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Buttons and Forms.
Click the state to activate it.
Use any of the following to change the appearance in the layout view.
♦ Change Color. Use the Color and Swatches panel to select a color.
♦ Add Text. Select the Type tool, click a button, and then type.
♦ Insert Graphic. Click the File menu, click Place, and then double-click a graphic file.
To disable/enable a state, click the Eye icon next to the state. Disabled states (no Eye icon) are not exported to the SWF or PDF.
To delete a state, select it, click the Delete button on the panel (you can’t delete Normal), and then click OK.
Setting Tab Order
The tab order determines when a button receives focus as you press the Tab key in a SWF or PDF document. When a button or form control receives focus, you can press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac) to execute it. You can also use the On Focus event to trigger an action when a button or form control gets the focus. In the Tab Order dialog box, you can change the tab order for optimal use. The tab order includes buttons or form controls on hidden layers, but not ones on master pages.
Set the Tab Order
Select the Pages panel, and then double-click the page containing the buttons and form controls you want to set the tab order for.
Click the Object menu, point to Interactive, and then click Set Tab Order.
♦ The tab order includes buttons or form controls on hidden layers, but not ones on master pages.
Select the button or form control you want to move.
Click the Move Up or Move Down buttons to adjust the order.
Click OK.
Creating Multi-State Objects
With the Object States panel, you can create multiple versions of an object, known as a state, on a page. An object with multiple states is called a multi-state object. Each time you create a new state, you create a new version of the selected object to the page. Only one state is visible on the page at a time. For example, you can create a slide show for use in a PDF or SWF, where each image is stacked and aligned on top of each other as a multi-state object. When you print the document or export it as a PDF, only the active state appears. After you create a multi-state object, you can edit it in a variety of ways. You can edit an object in a state, add to or duplicate objects in a state, or delete a state and its contents. If you want to break apart a multi-state object, you can convert it to independent objects.
Create a Multi-State Object
Select the objects you want to convert into a multi-state object.
To stack the objects on top of each other, click the Align Horizontal Centers and Align Vertical Centers buttons on the Control or Align panel.
Select the Object States panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Object States.
Click the Convert Selection To Multi-State Object button on the panel.
The objects appears as states in the panel and a dashed frame border appears around them in the document.
Type a name for the multi-state object.
Click the default state name, type name, and then press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac).
To select the multi-state object, click the Multi-State button.
♦ To select a state, click the state in the list.
Select the Object States panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click Object States.
Perform any of the following:
♦ Edit a State. Select the state in the panel, and then edit it in the document.
♦ Add an Object to an Existing State. Select the object and multi-state object, and then click the Add Objects To Visible State button on the panel.
♦ Paste an Object to an Existing State. Cut or copy the object to the Clipboard, select the multi-state object, select the state in the panel, click the Options button, and then click Paste Into State.
♦ Duplicate a State. Select the state in the panel, click the Options button, and then click New State.
♦ Delete a State and Remove Contents. Select the state in the panel, click the Options button, and then click Delete State.
♦ Convert a Multi-State Object to Independent Objects. Select the state in the panel, click the Options button, and then click Release State To Objects.
♦ Hide a Multi-State Object in an Export Until Triggered. Click the Options button, and then click Hidden Until Triggered.
♦ Reset All Multi-State Objects to the First State. Click the Options button, and then click Reset All Multi-State Objects To First State.
Inserting HTML Content
If you’re familiar with HTML code snippets, you can place them in an HTML object on a page in InDesign. You can write your own code or paste in existing code, such as the ones found on web sites like YouTube or Google Maps, or interactivity and animation created in programs like Adobe Edge Animate. InDesign renders a poster image of the code on the page in Document view. If you want to preview the HTML code, you can use the SWF Preview panel, or preview the document in an HTML browser. When you export as HTML, the code is passed through, where a web browser can interpret and display it.
Insert HTML Content
Select the Selection tool on the Tools panel.
Click the Object menu, and then click Insert HTML.
Enter the HTML code.
♦ The best way to enter code is to copy the source code and paste it into the dialog box.
Click OK.
InDesign creates a text frame with the snippet content.
To preview the HTML code, select from the following:
♦ SWF Preview panel. Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click SWF Preview.
♦ Browser. Select the SWF Preview panel, click the Options button, and then click Test in Browser.
♦ Export. Click the File menu, click Export, select HTML as the file type, click Save, specify options, and then click OK.
To edit HTML in a text frame, right-click the text frame, click Edit HTML, make any changes, and then click OK.
Creating QR Codes
A QR code, short for Quick Response Code, is a type of matrix barcode, which can be read by an imaging device, such as a camera, and contains information related to a specific item. A QR code consists of black modules (square dots) arranged in a square grid on a transparent background. Data is interpreted from patterns present in both horizontal and vertical components for the QR code image. Within InDesign, you can create or edit high quality QR code image (New!) as a vector EPS image with your specified content and color. After you create it, you can transform and scale the object, fill it with colors, and apply effects, transparency, and printing attributes, such as over printing, spot inks, and trappings, just like any other object. In addition, you can copy and paste it into Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics program.
Create a QR Code
Click the Object menu, and then click Generate QR Code (New!).
♦ To edit an existing QR code image, select the object, click the Object menu, and then click Edit QR Code (New!).
Click the Content tab.
Click the Type list arrow, and then select an information type option: Web Hyperlink, Plain Text, Text Message, Email, or Business Card.
Enter the content associated with the selected type.
Click the Color tab.
Select the color swatch you want to apply to the QR code image.
Click OK.
The QR code image is placed in a loaded preview cursor.
Click (to create 30x30 cm) or drag a rectangle frame with the loaded cursor to place the graphic in a new frame, or click in an empty frame or Alt-click a frame to place or replace it in the frame.
To preview information associated with a QR code image, point to the object to display a ScreenTip.
Using the SWF Preview Panel
If you’re working on an interactive document, you can use the SWF Preview panel to view animation and interactivity for the current selection, current spread, or the entire document. If you want to test your interactive document in your browser, you can open it from the SWF Preview panel. If the preview display is not exactly what you want, you can set general and advanced options in the Preview Settings dialog box to change it. Some of the options include size, background, interactivity and media, page transitions, frame rate, and image handling resolution, compression and quality.
Use the SWF Preview Panel
Select the object or display the spread or document (interactive) you want to preview.
Select the SWF Preview panel.
♦ Click the Window menu, point to Interactive, and then click SWF Preview.
Timesaver
Press Shift+Ctrl+Enter (Win) or Shift++Return (Mac) to open the SWF Preview panel.
Click a preview mode button on the panel: Set Preview Selection Mode, Set Preview Spread Mode, or Set Preview Document Mode.
To play the preview, click the Play Preview button on the panel.
♦ To erase the preview, click the Clear Preview button on the panel.
To set preview settings, click the Options button, click Edit Preview Settings, select the options you want on the General and Advanced tabs, and then click Save Settings.
To test in your browser, click the Options button, and then click Test in Browser.
