Placing a PDF file in an InDesign Doc and PDF again for a vendor- Good or Bad?

Current debate in the graphics department is
Is it good or bad to place a PDF (general Press Quality) into an InDesign document and then creating a new PDF file with print vendor settings from that document?
My thought is that you in some cases are double compressing, lower dpi images getting compressed, RGB color mode images okay on layout but now are converted to CMYK and shift in the PDF.
Are there other issues and if so what are they.
Also is there an easy way to check ppi, color mode and compression of an acrobat PDF? I mean other than doing a preflight and searching into each image folder twenty levels deep. FlightCheck and Enfocus are not options,
too many vendors and not enough time.
Thank you all in advance for your words of wisdom.

Dov, I just got off the phone with a trusted professional in the Prepress field at a quite reputable print house, and he said "Dov is the guru of PDFs, ask him this...Will the InDesign CS3 preflight see the characteristics of a PDF (color mode, dpi(ppi), compression) if the original placed PDF is created as a pdf .X4 (1.7)? Ask him also if you were to use one form of compression (say lossless) in the original PDF, and then another form(say lossy) in the vendor PDF would it hold both or convert the first PDF compression to the second form?"
Any other responses are also welcomed.

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Script for Place PDF file into a InDesign file

Hi everyone, i need to import a PDF file into a InDesign document and in order to do this i used scripts found over the net (e.g. Zanelli's script ecc.) but i tried this solution:
function(){
    app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll;
    var myDocument, myPage;
    if(app.documents.length != 0){
        myDocument = app.activeDocument;
    else{
        alert("No document opened");
        exit();
     if (app.selection[0] == undefined) {
        alert("Select box");
        exit();
     } else {
            var myPDFFile = File.openDialog("Select PDF:");
            if((myPDFFile != "")&&(myPDFFile != null)){
                myDocument.viewPreferences.rulerOrigin = RulerOrigin.PAGE_ORIGIN;
                myDocument.viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.MILLIMETERS;
                myDocument.viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.MILLIMETERS;
                var myData = new Array;
                myData[0] = app.selection[0].parentPage;
                myData[1] = app.selection[0].geometricBounds;
                myData[2] = app.selection[0];
                myPlacePDF(myDocument, myData, myPDFFile);
    //FUNCTIONS
    function myPlacePDF(myDocument, myData, myPDFFile){
        var myPDFPage;
        var myPage = myData[0];
        var myGeometricBounds = myData[1].toString().split(",");
        app.pdfPlacePreferences.pdfCrop = PDFCrop.cropMedia;
        var myCounter = 1;
        var myBreak = false;
        while(myBreak == false){
            if(myCounter > 1){
                myPage = myDocument.pages.add(LocationOptions.after, myPage);
             app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = myCounter;
             myRectangle = myPage.rectangles.add(undefined, undefined, undefined, {geometricBounds:[myGeometricBounds[0],myGeometricBounds[1],myGeometricBounds[2],myGeometricBounds[3]]});
             myRectangle.clearFrameFittingOptions();
             myRectangle.frameFittingOptions.fittingOnEmptyFrame = EmptyFrameFittingOptions.PROPORTIONALLY;
             myRectangle.frameFittingOptions.autoFit = true;
             myRectangle.frameFittingOptions.fittingAlignment = AnchorPoint.CENTER_ANCHOR;
             myPDFPage = myRectangle.place(File(myPDFFile), false)[0];
             if(myCounter == 1){
                var myFirstPage = myPDFPage.pdfAttributes.pageNumber;
            else{
                if(myPDFPage.pdfAttributes.pageNumber == myFirstPage){
                    myPage.remove();
                    myBreak = true;
            myCounter = myCounter + 1;
         myData[2].remove();
what i would is, before the script place every single page of PDF file in the document, determine if the same page of the Pdf file is vertical or horizontal, to make the right section for the page.
Is it possible?
Thank you

Moved to scripting forum...

How do I link to Anchor Text from browser to PDF file exported from InDesign?

I see that this question was asked previously but not answered:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3737541
I need a way to link to topics (from an HTML page) within a structured PDF file generated from InDesign, i.e. one that has an interactive bookmarks
panel, that doesn't break the links when the file is updated.
In particular, I don't want to refer to:
* page numbers because the document will repaginate when it is updated, breaking existing links
* named destinations that are numeric as addition/deletion of topics renumbers the named destinations, breaking the links.
Is there any option in InDesign that creates named destinations derived from bookmark titles as that would seem to solve my problem?
I have a similar need, but I have not been able to find an answer anywhere online, even after a several hours of research.
I am on contract with General Electric to develop a UI Style Guide for an international team of developers. My client wants to be able to distribute the Style Guide as a PDF document, but needs to provide links to specific topics when submitting a "Story" in an Agile development environment to the programmers.
Ideally, I would like to be able to create "named destinations" in InDesign such that I can provide the client with a list of URLs similar to this format:
file:\\StyleGuide\Test1-20131024a.pdf\#nameddest=AnchorText-01
However, I can not figure out how to create "named destinations" in the PDF file from the InDesign file in which I have created the Anchor Text in the Hyperlinks tab.
Alternately, the client would be satisfied with the ability to link to specific bookmarks in the exported PDF file that have been derived from the configuration of the Table of Contents styles, but my research has led me to believe that it is not possible to hyperlink from a browser window to a bookmark in a PDF file (only to specific page numbers, search word lists, named destinations, and comments) as described here: http://blogs.adobe.com/tcs/2011/01/tcs-specific/linking-to-a-page-within-a-pdf-and-more.ht ml
Having been using InDesign since 1988, when it was PageMaker, I would prefer to use it to provide GE with the most attractive deliverable, but they are now leaning heavily toward having me licensed with Madcap Flare, which has this capability built in:
http://webhelp.madcapsoftware.com/flare9/Default.htm#Nav_Links/Named_Destinations/Creating _Named_Destinations.htm
Please help me to find a solution that will allow me to continue using InDesign for this project.
Thank you!
Lynne O’Connor
Technical Writer (contractor)
GE Oil & Gas - Measurement & Control

Follow-up post (solution is not available):
I have just completed a phone call with Gaurev Sethi of Adobe escalated technical support in which I shared my screen to explain and demonstrate the desire to link from an external URL to a specific location within a PDF file that has been exported from InDesign. After 40 minutes, during which I was placed on hold a few times while he consulted with his team, it was determined that the desired functionality is not supported in InDesign and has been identified as a limitation of the software.
In researching alternate documentation software that supports PDF export, I discovered that Madcap Software supports this functionality in its Flare product:
http://webhelp.madcapsoftware.com/flare9/Default.htm#Nav_Links/Named_Destinations/Creating _Named_Destinations.htm
Note that linking via URL to a bookmarked location within a PDF is not supported:
http://blogs.adobe.com/tcs/2011/01/tcs-specific/linking-to-a-page-within-a-pdf-and-more.ht ml
More about parameters that can be specified to open PDF files are available here:
http://www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/devnet/acrobat/pdfs/pdf_open_parameters.pdf
Although the above link is for a previous version of Acrobat, I could find no evidence to the contrary in the current SDK documentation.
-Lynne

Hyperlinks to XLS, DOC, and PDF files that are included in a .chm file work intermittently.

SUMMARY
Hyperlinks to XLS, DOC, and PDF files that are included in a
.chm file (and the Baggage Files) only work intermittently. The
only solution appears to be deleting the Temporary Internet Files.
PROBLEM
1. I place the XLS, DOC, or PDF file in the Windows
sub-directory that corresponds to the RoboHelp project sub-folder
where the topic in which I’ll place the hyperlink exists.
2. I open the help project in RoboHelp HTML.
3. I right-click on the project’s Baggage Files
sub-folder that corresponds to the Windows sub-directory in which I
placed the XLS, DOC, or PDF file (in step 1).
4. I import the XLS, DOC, or PDF file.
5. I open the topic in which I’m going to place the
hyperlink in the WYSIWYG editor.
6. I “drag and drop” the Baggage File into the
topic (in the WYSIWYG editor) to create a link to it.
7. I save the changes and then generate HTML (.chm) help.
8. I open the .chm file and click the hyperlink. The XLS,
DOC, or PDF file may or may not open.
9. When the hyperlink works correctly, for DOC and XLS files,
a “File Download – Security Warning” dialog box
appears asking, “Do you want to open or save this
file?”. The buttons that are available are
“Open”, “Save”, and “Cancel”.
These buttons work then as one would expect. (When the hyperlink
works correctly for a PDF file, it simply opens the PDF file in a
new window; there’s no prompt to save, open, or cancel.)
10. When a hyperlink does NOT work, for DOC, XLS, and PDF
files, no dialog box or other visual message is displayed. Instead,
the sound that is associated with the “Exclamation”
program event is played (the “Windows XP
Exclamation.wav” file is the WinXP default).
Other Notes:
- The hyperlinks ALWAYS work when I view a topic using the
“View Selected Item” function (Ctrl+W) in the RoboHelp
HTML project.
- Once a hyperlink stops working, it will not start working
again until I delete all the Temporary Internet Files.
- A hyperlink will stop working even if Internet Explorer
(iexplore.exe) is closed the entire time.
WORKAROUND
Through trial and error, I have discovered that if a
hyperlink stops working, I can get it to work again using the
following steps:
1. Leave the .chm file open.
2. Open Internet Explorer.
3. Click Tools>Internet Options….
4. From the “Internet Options” dialog box, select
the “General” tab.
5. Under the “Temporary Internet Files” section,
click the “Delete Files…” button.
6. From the “Delete Files” dialog box, select
“Delete all offline content” and then click
“OK”. The files are deleted and the “Delete
Files” dialog box closes.
7. Click “OK” to close the “Internet
Options” dialog box.
8. Without closing Internet Explorer and without re-starting
the .chm file, all the hyperlinks that didn’t work before
will now work.
GENERAL SYSTEM INFORMATION
- Windows XP Pro, SP2
- Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180
- RoboHelp X5, 5.0.2 Build 801
- HTML (.chm) help project files exist on my local machine
- HTML (.chm) help file is run from my local machine
- Project is under RoboSource version control
TEMPORARY INTERNET SETTINGS
- “Check for newer versions of stored pages” is
set to “Automatically”
- “Current location” for the Temporary Internet
files folder is set to “C:\Documents and Settings\My
Username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\”
- “Amount of disk space to use” is set to
“594” MB
“View Files…”
- An XLS or DOC file will be listed here if I click its
hyperlink and then click either “Open” or
“Save” from the “File Download – Security
Warning” dialog box.
- A file will appear here even if I click “Save”
and then click “Cancel” from the subsequent “Save
As” dialog box.
- If I click “Cancel” from the “File
Download – Security Warning” dialog box, the file does
not appear in the Temporary Internet Files folder.
- When a file does appear in the Temporary Internet Files
folder, its Internet Address is displayed similar to the following:
“ms-its:C:\PrimaryProjectFolder\ProjectName.chm::/SubFolderName/FileName.xls”
“View Objects…”
Here’s a list of all the program files that appear:
- “Microsoft Office Template and Media Control”
(Last Accessed 12/13/06) (Version 12,0,6024,0)
- “Shockwave ActiveX Control” (Last Accessed
12/14/06) (Version 10,1,4,20)
- “Shockwave Flash Object” (Last Accessed
12/18/06) (Version 9,0,28,0)
- “Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool”
(Last Accessed 12/14/06) (Version 1,5,722,0)
- “WUWebControl Class” (Last Accessed 12/13/06)
(Version 5,8,0,2469)
Today is 12/18/06 so the only program file that is listed as
having been “Last Accessed” today is the
“Shockwave Flash Object”.
REQUEST FOR HELP
I really want to include certain PDF, DOC, and XLS files in
their native format in a .chm file. However, I need a better
solution to my problem than the one I discovered. What I really
want is to avoid the entire problem altogether.
Have anyone seen this before or have any suggestions?

You wont be able to do that. The embedded objects would appear as images only.

.PDF Files blurred in InDesign CC 2014. They will still work if I try to do the same in InDesign CC

.PDF Files blurred in InDesign CC 2014. They will still work if I try to do the same in InDesign CC. I prepare the original in microsoft word and save in a sub-directory as a .pdf. I then use the "Place" command to bring it into the document. Why does it work in CC by not in CC 2014?

Is it an InDesign only issue or does the problem exist when you export a PDF from InDesign?
Does it change when you change the display quality to high?
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When trying to convert a pdf file into a word doc, i only get the graphics but not the text. How do i remedy this?

When trying to convert a pdf file into a word doc I only get graphics but no text. What to do?

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You might need to run OCR first to make the text recognizable and then convert it to word.
Regards,
Anubha

How do I go about to convert a PDF file to a Word Doc?

How do I go about to convert a PDF file to a Word Doc?

Hi Anita,
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once i download a pdf file to a word doc how do i edit it

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How can I convert a .pdf file to an Indesign CC file which is editable?

How can I convert a .pdf file to an Indesign CC file which is editable?

Hi btacme,
I understand there are some third-party utilities that will allow you to convert a PDF to an InDesign file. But, as PDF is intended to be a final format, Adobe doesn't offer this capability. Are you unable to make the edits that you need by opening the PDF in Acrobat?
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Sara

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Uploading .doc and .pdf files from iPad

Is there any such free app in App Store to upload .doc and .pdf files from my iPad mini to Internet?
I usually upload my Resume on different job portals, but it is not possible from Safari or Chrome browsers on my iPad mini, I have to do it from my PC every time just to upload a single file. Looking for a solution to this reported issue.
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https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/icab-mobile-web-browser/id308111628?mt=8
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Convert a PDF File to an Indesign File

Can I convert a PDF File to an Indesign file.
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Another way is to use Acrobat's built in conversion to Word or rtf and import that back into InDesign.
Either way, remember that PDF is a final form file format in which the original layout program docment's contexts such as what is an article, frame, paragraph, sentence, etc. are not maintained. All PDF maintains is content at a particular position on a particular page. As such all attempts to return such content to an editable format achieves somewhat mixed results.
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Getting message while opening PDF file exported from InDesign

Hi,
We have created an interactive PDF in InDesign. In this PDF we have created 15-20 pages which are link together and next previous button is provided.
We are using InDesign CS3 and PDF reader 9. PDF is exported for version 8 onwards. Exported PDF is working properly on our machine but our client is receving the following message on their machine if they try to open this PDF (they have PDF reader 8):
"Please Note: You cannot save a completed copy of this form on your computer. If you would like a copy for your records, Please fill it in and print it"
We have not used any kind of form in my PDF only internal page hyperlinks are given.
Attached screen shot is given for your reference.
Is there as way for remove this message so it doen not appear? I would really appriciate if anybody can help me out.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Regards,
Deepika

Deepika,
The alert dialog your screen shot depicts will only display if there is some kind of form annotation present in a PDF that is not "Reader Enabled".
Look closer at your 'final' PDF.
A PDF, not "Reader Enabled", that contains any form annotations will, when opened by Adobe Reader,
result in the alert dialog that you mention. A "hard wired" default.
Note that the forms document message bar can be "off" by a selection in Adobe Reader / Acrobat Preferences.
Select the 'Forms' category. Select "Always hide forms document message bar".
Be well...

One workflow to join docs and pdfs to one big pdf

Hi! I've been trying to do something that, until now, just hasn't worked.
I have a bunch of word docs in a folder and I want to convert them to pdf and join them together. I have no problem with that. But, can I use the same workflow to join pdfs together that were not word docs to begin with? An action to "ignore the conversion" if the file is already a pdf.
Furthermore, can I grab a bunch of docs and pdfs and join them in one giant pdf so that the docs will be converted and then the multiple pdfs joined with just one workflow?
If so, how?
Thank you very much.

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Placing a PDF file in an InDesign Doc and PDF again for a vendor- Good or Bad?

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