Analyzing a multipage interactive PDF document

If you haven't already, be sure to download the sample files provided on the first page of this article. Once you've uncompressed the ZIP file, open the pdf_export.png file in Fireworks CS4.

The sidebar navigation incorporates button symbols, which are configured so that an HTML prototype displays the rollover effects. This file is set up so you could create an HTML click-through, too (following the "Design once, deliver to many" convention). The rollover effect is not supported in PDF files. In order to get around this, I've faked the over state by adding the rollover leaf. This way, clients can still see the end result.

When you create a button symbol, Fireworks automatically creates a slice around the object, because it assumes there will be rollover states for the button.

The footer navigation will end up as proper HTML text in the final site, so I used hotspots instead of rollovers in the footer area. If desired, you could also mimic CSS pseudo class styles for the text links by adding styled text on specific pages, using the Styles panel. But we'll save that lesson for the topic of a future developer center article.

You can quickly add links by selecting each hotspot and slice one by one. As each is selected, use the link drop-down menu in the Property inspector. In order to target the pages in your Fireworks document, always be sure to choose one of the links listed below the bottom dashed divider line. Links above the divider are provided as a history of links that have been applied to the document in the past (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Choosing the destination link from the link drop-down menu in the Property inspector, after selecting a slice or hotspot

You're not limited to choosing page links either. You can also set absolute URLs in the link box and—assuming the user has an Internet connection—clicking the link in the PDF file will load the corresponding website. I have this set up for the accommodations button, if you are following along with the provided PDF in the sample files folder.

Once you have set links on each of your hotspots or slices, save the file. Then choose File > Export. In the Export dialog box, choose Adobe PDF from the Export drop-down menu (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Choosing Adobe PDF as the export file type in the Export dialog box

After you select the Adobe PDF option, you're presented with some other choices:

• Pages: You can choose to either export the current page or all pages of the document. You must choose All Pages to retain interactivity in the PDF file.
• View PDF after Export: This is not required, but it is a good idea. This option allows you to preview and test the PDF file before you send it to your client. If you have Acrobat Professional, you can also enable commenting features for Adobe Reader and change security settings.

• Options: Click this button to access the Adobe PDF Export Options dialog box (see Figure 3).

  

  Figure 3. Updating the settings in the Adobe PDF Export Options dialog box

• Compatibility: You can set the file to make it compatible with Acrobat Reader as far back as Acrobat 4. However, keep in mind that older versions of Acrobat may not have access to all of the same features, such as commenting.
• Compression: You can compress the file using ZIP, JPEG, or JPEG2000 compression to make the file size smaller for e-mails and downloads.
• Quality: Both JPEG and JPEG2000 allow you to specify the quality of the file, to further compress the file size. Bear in mind that standard JPG compression rules apply; the lower the quality, the poorer the image quality of the exported PDF file.
• Convert to grayscale: This is a pretty straightforward option. It is unchecked by default.
• Enable text selection: If you want to protect the text of the file from being repurposed, uncheck this box so that text cannot be selected or copied.
• Bleed value: To add padding around each page in the file, enter a numeric value.
• Use password to open document: You can add security to the file by password protecting the document.
• Use password to restrict tasks: You can restrict printing, copying, commenting or editing functionality by setting a password here. Features listed next to unselected checkboxes will not be available in Adobe Reader. The only way to change the restriction is to enter the password while the PDF file is opened in Acrobat Professional. For example, if I select the option to use a password to restrict tasks, and then select the check box for printing, all tasks listed other than printing will be unavailable to everyone using Adobe Reader to open the file. Even those who have Adobe Acrobat will need to enter the password in order to copy, add comments or edit the file.

Launch your installation of Acrobat Professional (or use the trial version) to try this out. In Fireworks, select File > Export, and choose Adobe PDF as the file format. Browse to a destination folder. The default file name is the same as the Fireworks document, but you can change this name to anything you prefer.

1. If you are working with an interactive document or the provided sample PDF file, make sure to choose the option to export all pages.
2. Click on the Options button. Enter a password that is required to open the document.
3. Enter a new password for restricting tasks. This password must be different from the password you provided to open the file.
4. Select the check box next to the Printing option, but leave the other options unselected.
5. Click OK to exit the Adobe PDF Export Options dialog box.
6. Save your Fireworks document.
7. Acrobat Professional will launch and prompt you for the password to open the file. Enter the password to open the file.

8. Select File > Properties and choose the Security tab. In the summary of tasks, you'll notice that printing is the only task allowed for the PDF document (see Figure 4).

   

   Figure 4. Document Restrictions Summary in Acrobat Professional displaying a list of the tasks the user can perform

If you decide after exporting the PDF that you wish to allow more tasks, click the Change Settings button. Acrobat will prompt you to enter the task password. Once you've successfully entered the password restricting tasks, you can make changes as desired to let users interact with the document in Adobe Reader (see Figure 5).

Figure 5. After exporting the PDF file, you can update security settings from within Acrobat Professional, or you can alternately re-export the PDF file from Fireworks

Finally, if you want to allow users to add comments to the PDF document while they are viewing it with Acrobat Reader, select Comments > Enable Commenting and Analysis in Adobe Reader. This enables the commenting feature to allow your clients and team members to add feedback directly into the document, which can be much more efficient than sorting through e-mail messages later.

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