How to return to PPT from a linked PDF?

[MrgregL]

Can some one advise me of the best way to return to my original PPT slide
when I click on a hyperlink to a PDF and then view it in Acrobat? I like
using "Custom Shows" because when I setup the hyperlink I have the option to
check the "Show and Return" box and then I am automatically returned to the
originating slide when through with the Custome Show. I want to accomplish
the same easy return when linking to a PDF. Thanks in advance.

 

[Luc]

MrgregL,
Use Insert - Hyperlink - select your PDF file by browsing to the folder -
hit OK.
In the show hit your hyperlink and Acrobat reader will be launched, when
you're done exit with the red x and you should be where you started from. If
you don't want the hyperlink to be visible select the textbox border and not
the text. Or draw a rectangle with no fill and no line and hyperlink to that
AutoShape.
Luc

 

[MrgregL]

Luc,

Thank you but it doesn't solve my problem. I am trying to avoid the reader
having to determin what action to take and taking the wrong one (unlike
viewing a linked PDF in a web browser, the Acrobat shell does not offer a
"back" button or arrow)

I like your ideas for the "hidden" link, thank you.

MrgregL

 

[MrgregL]

Steve,

Thank you for your comment, but how do I add a link to close Acrobat? I am
using Acrobat 5.0 but can download 6.0 if necessary.

MrgregL

 

[MrgregL]

Steve,

I really feel like I am making progress now. Thanks for your suggestion,
and I do have the full version of Acrobat 5 (and Distiller). I still have
questions though. Am I right that if I use File Close I will simply leave
the viewer staring at a blank Acrobat program shell without a way to
automatically (without having to hit the X) return to the PPT? If I use file
File Quit is the viewer returned to the PPT? My guess is yes, but here is my
concern - there will probably be many more PDFs that the viewer will select
and look at during the course of the presentation which will mean repeated
opening and closing of Acrobat. Naturally, the process would run smother and
faster is Acrobat remained open in the background. I should tell you my
application:

I am building a training CD for our new customers that will contain the base
presentation and link to MANY PDFs and "Custom Shows". I want it to
basically mimic browsing a web site on CD. I plan to package the
presentation for CD using the "pack & go" feature in PPT. I also plan to
pack Acrobat Reader on the CD in case the viewer doesn't have it on his
computer, but expect that in the vast majority of cases clicking on a PDF
link will bring up the viewer's own Acrobat Reader already resident on their
computer. Your thoughts on this will be appreciated!

HAPPY NEW YEAR
MrgregL

 

[MrgregL]

Thanks again Steve. No, I hadn't thought about converting the whole
presentation to PDF (only to html) but it does make some since, I will think
more about that.

I ran into another problem in that when I tried to add the link box you
suggested I found that the PDFs are "locked" and I can't get the original
code to unlock them (we are a US subsidary of a very large European company).
I tried to open then "save as" to a different file name but that didn't
work. Do you know of anyway around this?

Thanks

MrgregL

questions though. Am I right that if I use File Close I will simply leave
the viewer staring at a blank Acrobat program shell without a way to
automatically (without having to hit the X) return to the PPT? If I use file
File Quit is the viewer returned to the PPT?

Bingo to both. That's why I suggested you might prefer to use File Quit.

My guess is yes, but here is my
concern - there will probably be many more PDFs that the viewer will select
and look at during the course of the presentation which will mean repeated
opening and closing of Acrobat. Naturally, the process would run smother and
faster is Acrobat remained open in the background.

Try it out on your own system, but I think you'll find that once it's been invoked
(and quit) the first time, Acrobat or Reader will wake up faster on subsequent
tries.

I am building a training CD for our new customers that will contain the base
presentation and link to MANY PDFs and "Custom Shows". I want it to
basically mimic browsing a web site on CD. I plan to package the
presentation for CD using the "pack & go" feature in PPT. I also plan to
pack Acrobat Reader on the CD in case the viewer doesn't have it on his
computer, but expect that in the vast majority of cases clicking on a PDF
link will bring up the viewer's own Acrobat Reader already resident on their
computer. Your thoughts on this will be appreciated!

Have you considered using PPT to create the content but ditching it when it comes
to distribution? Use just PDF instead? You only have to ensure that Reader's
installed, not Reader and PPT/Viewer both, and converting the whole works to PDF
pretty much solves the problem of what's open when.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MORE OF THE SAME TO YA! ;-)

MrgregL