Convert .DOC to PDF and retain endnote links?

[WaltR]

I have Word 2007 with Microsoft Save as PDF Add-in. When I save as PDF it retains internal links linked to Bookmarks, but not endnote links. In Word the endnote links works; I can navigate back and forth, but it doesn't carry over into PDFs.



I'm pretty sure it's never going to happen if I save with Word, so I was wondering if anyone knows of a converter that can handle this? I found one, NovaPDF, but it requires .NET Framework. I have .NET 2, but NovaPDF requires a higher version and I don't want to install anything higher on this XP machine I'm using. Adobe Acrobat is out too. Way too much bloat for my taste.

So does anyone know of anything else? I could possibly upgrade to a newer version of Word if that would work.

[Stefan Blom]

As you know, you can double-click the endnote number in the main body of the text to move the insertion point to the endnote text. This works in the other direction as well: double-clicking the endnote number inside the endnote moves the insertion back to the endnote in the body of the document.

However, this is internal to Word, and it doesn't rely on hyperlinks, so there is nothing that can be converted when you save in another file format.

You may have to try the third-party software that you have found.

[Robert2]

7-pdf-maker will preserve your endnote links.

[Stefan Blom]

Originally Posted by Robert2

7-pdf-maker will preserve your endnote links.

Are you referring to creating a hyperlinked cross-reference to an endnote (or footnote)? These hyperlinks should be preserved even when converting to PDF via File | Save As in Word.

[WaltR]

Stefan, I didn't use any hyperlinks for the endnotes. I created them by clicking the "Insert Endnote" shortcut on my toolbar.

Robert, 7-PDF Maker works and it's unbelievably easy. Now I just need to decide if I need it bad enough to spend 24 bucks for it.

[Stefan Blom]

All kinds of cross-references are hyperlinked by default in Word, assuming that you are talking about cross-references (to endnotes in this case).

[WaltR]

Stefan I guess I'm not familiar with what you mean by "hyperlinked cross-reference to an endnote." Is that something that has to be done when you create an endnote?

[Stefan Blom]

No, creating a cross-reference is a separate step which must be done after you have created the endnote. Cross-references are never added automatically. To create a cross-reference, you can click References tab | Cross-reference.

But I guess you were just looking for a way to easily get to the endnote text from the endnote number, as I assumed in my initial reply? In that case, creating cross-references to endnotes isn't going to help. And, as you have probably noticed, although you can click an endnote reference (from within Word) to get to the endnote area, this doesn't work in PDFs.

Anyway, I'm glad you got this sorted by using a third-party converter.

[WaltR]

Ahh, thanks. I see what you mean now. You're right, I just wanted to be able to make the endnote numbers active in a PDF.

[Stefan Blom]

Well, I just wanted to make clear that we were talking about the same thing, which we were ... kind of. :-)

[Robert2]

Originally Posted by WaltR

Robert, 7-PDF Maker works and it's unbelievably easy. Now I just need to decide if I need it bad enough to spend 24 bucks for it.

As available from http://www.7-pdf.de/en/products/7-pdf-maker, 7-PDF Maker is freeware. Here is from that page:

7-PDF Maker
The software can be used on as many computers as you like, for as long as you like. You can even distribute or transfer the software for free under the freeware terms of licence! It’s also not important whether you use 7-PDF Maker for private or commercial purposes!
7-PDF Maker Portable (USB stick version)
The licence holder may install and use the software on as many portable hard drives as he/she likes. You can also distribute or transfer the shareware version, although the licensed version is not transferrable and may not be distributed to or used by third parties after registration.

[WaltR]

When I ran the program it asked for a registration key. It says I can use for 30 days in evaluation mode, and it leaves a watermark on the converted document. I'll look at the page more closely, but I think it needs updating.

I found this in the Help file that comes with the program: "This program is Shareware, i.e. you can test this fully functional demo version for one month. After this trail period you must register or delete the program from your storage media."

Their web page is confusing.

[Robert2]

You are right that their Web page is confusing. But the Desktop installer version of 7-PDF Maker is really freeware. The shareware version is the portable version. Here is the answer I got from their Live Support (“Online Chat”):

Because of the complex development to run a PDF Converter on a USB Stick it's shareware. But the windows version (installer version) is freeware!

The freeware installer is named “7p151.exe”.
The portable installer is named “7-PDF_Maker_Portable_1.5.1.paf.exe”

[WaltR]

Yes indeed. I installed it this time and it's free. I was using the portable version, go figure.

Thanks for going the extra mile. It's an awesome program!