IndesignPerfect

Turn your layout into an interactive experience.

If you’re designing digital documents in Adobe InDesign—whether it’s an eBook, interactive PDF, or online brochure—adding hyperlinks, email links, and anchors can elevate usability and engagement.

InDesign makes it easy to embed clickable elements that send users to a website, launch an email, or jump to a specific page or section within the document.

Here’s how to set them up the right way.

🔗 Step 1: Open the Hyperlinks Panel

Go to:

Window > Interactive > Hyperlinks

This panel is your central hub for adding and managing all hyperlink types, including external URLs, internal page jumps (anchors), and email addresses.

🌐 Step 2: Add a Web URL Hyperlink

To create a hyperlink to a website:

1. Select the text or object you want to make clickable
2. In the Hyperlinks panel, click the New Hyperlink icon (chain link)
3. In the dialog:
   • Link To: URL
   • URL: Enter the full web address (e.g., https://example.com)
   • Appearance: Choose underline or visible styling if needed
4. Click OK

You’ll now see a clickable blue underline (default) in the layout.

Tip: You can also right-click selected text and choose Interactive > New Hyperlink.

📧 Step 3: Create an Email Link

Want users to click and send you an email?

1. Select text like “Email Us”
2. Open the Hyperlinks panel and create a New Hyperlink
3. Choose:
   • Link To: Email
   • Email Address: your@email.com
   • Subject (optional): “Inquiry from brochure”

This launches the user’s default email client with a pre-filled message subject line.

📍 Step 4: Create Internal Anchors (Jump Links)

To link to another page or section within the same document:

Create a Destination Anchor:

1. Place your cursor at the start of the section you want to jump to
2. Go to Hyperlinks panel menu (☰) > New Hyperlink Destination
3. Choose:
   • Type: Text Anchor or Page
   • Name it (e.g., “Section 2 Start”)

Link to the Anchor:

1. Select the source text or button
2. Create a New Hyperlink
3. Link To: Text Anchor
4. Choose the anchor you just created

Now clicking that text will jump the reader to that section—ideal for TOCs, footnotes, or navigation.

📤 Step 5: Export as an Interactive PDF

To preserve hyperlinks:

1. File > Export
2. Choose Adobe PDF (Interactive)
3. Ensure Hyperlinks is checked
4. Click Export

All clickable elements will work in PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat.

💡 Pro Tips

• Use Object Styles to style all hyperlinks consistently
• Test your links after export (some readers don’t support all interactive features)
• Hide default underline if it doesn’t suit your design—hyperlinks don’t need to be blue!
• Use character styles for clickable text to make updates easier
• Use Bookmarks panel if building a long navigation PDF

📘 Final Thought

Hyperlinks, email links, and internal anchors make your InDesign documents dynamic and navigable. Whether you’re building a digital catalog, sales sheet, or interactive report, these simple tools turn your layout into a powerful interactive experience.

Print is static. Digital moves. Make your design clickable.