Hyperlink to a local file from within Pages document, converted to PDF

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Hyperlink to a local file from within Pages document, converted to PDF

I created a Pages document with a table (overview of electronics components in my case). In that table, I want to insert hyperlinks to a PDF document, e.g. datasheets. I used this workaround to create a correct looking hyperlink:

in Finder, right-click on the PDF (the datasheet in this case) and select "Open with Safari".
In Safari's address bar, the full path to the file appears, which I copied and pasted into the "Insert Hyperlink" dialog box of Pages. Pages displays the hyperlink's text correctly: underlined.

That does not seem to work. Double-clicking the link only shows a dialog box with the file's path and name and a button "open link", which doesn't do anything.

However, when converting the Pages document to PDF, the link works, but only with a warning that I do not have the right permissions. Following the instructions, in Finder I clicked "show info" of the datasheet file. I could change permissions for myself, staff, everyone from read-only to read-write, but that didn't helps. I realize that the permissions issue can be the reason why the dialog box in Pages does not allow to open the linked file.

How do I edit the permissions in order to make my links work (be it in Pages or in the PDF I converted it to)?

Thanks!

Jan

iMac 21.5" 4K, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 25, 2020 9:36 AM

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Answer 1

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VikingOSX

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123,254 points

Jan 26, 2020 2:59 PM in response to jantieghem

When you are not using Safari, the PDF should be open in Preview, and I suspect for some odd reason, Catalina and Preview are getting tangled with respect to disk access.

In System Preferences : Security & Privacy panel, Click the Privacy tab, scroll down the list, and choose Full Disk Access. Add [+] Preview to give it full disk access, and see if that allows you to link to local PDF from the PDF opened in Preview — and avoid this error dialog. Note: I do not have this configured on Catalina 10.15.2 as it just works without it.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,254 points

Jan 25, 2020 11:25 AM in response to jantieghem

Let me check this on my Catalina machine, and see if I too, encounter permissions issues. Wait one.

Okay. I cannot duplicate your permission issue on Catalina 10.15.2.

I assigned a URI to a local PDF document as a text link in a Pages table cell as I did before on Mojave. This was exported to PDF, and when opened in Preview, that clicked table cell link opened the designated, local PDF in Preview without any issue.

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,254 points

Jan 25, 2020 9:58 AM in response to jantieghem

Your URI assigned to each table cell's text string should be the following for a local file — provided that you save the Pages content to a local PDF; refererence it on your Mac, and the linked files don't change location. The following is an example path.

file:///Users/yourname/Desktop/test.pdf

If the links are to PDF documents on a remote webserver, you need to provide the percent encoding syntax in the link that will resolve to the correct remote PDF destination, or if a content management server (CMS) like Drupal is in use, the path that represents the Drupal name (alias) to the actual PDF document.

In either case, you cannot click a link, and open a browser window from within Pages, without that nuisance link editor dialog appearing.

None of what I have described above triggered any permissions issues, and no extra measures were needed for the PDF to honor the links in its table.

Tested: Pages v8.2.1 on Mojave.

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Answer 4

jantieghem Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2020 10:18 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for your reply, VikingOSX, but this does not really help me.

My URI is in the correct format. I can accept that Pages won't open it. Converting the Pages document to PDF and opening in in Preview lets me click that link, but OS tells me I do not have permission. To me this means my link is correct, I only want to know how I can work around the problem of the permissions.

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Answer 5

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,254 points

Jan 26, 2020 1:00 PM in response to jantieghem

That's unfortunate, as is not being able to reproduce it here either.

What is the specific permissions error, and when does it occur? Are the linked files on your Mac, an external drive, or another cloud service?

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Answer 6

jantieghem Author

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8 points

Jan 26, 2020 1:11 PM in response to jantieghem

All documents involved are on my Mac: the PDF (converted from Pages), the PDF I want to open from within the first.

Screenshot from the message herewith.

Translated: the file (xyz) can not be opened because you don't have permission to open it. To consult or change your permissions, select the item in Finder, and select "show info" in the Archive menu. Or such.

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Answer 7

jantieghem Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2020 12:07 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for all the effort, VikingOSX. Your procedure is exactly the same as mine, and I run the same version of Catalina. Weird...

In case I find a way out, I'll keep you informed.

Regards, Jan

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Answer 8

jantieghem Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2020 12:55 PM in response to VikingOSX

Sadly, that didn't help. Not in safe boot mode and not after a normal reboot :(

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Answer 9

jantieghem Author

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Jan 26, 2020 1:05 PM in response to jantieghem

BUT.

Opening the PDF in Safari and clicking the link from there, opens the linked document (also PDF) in a new tab.

Helpful, but still not perfect.

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Answer 10

jantieghem Author

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8 points

Jan 27, 2020 11:07 AM in response to VikingOSX

Unfortunately, no, doesn't work either.

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Answer 11

VikingOSX

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Jan 27, 2020 11:20 AM in response to jantieghem

I am out of ideas then, and that is frustrating.

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Answer 12

jantieghem Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 27, 2020 12:56 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for your time and effort, anyway, VikingOSX!

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Answer 13

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,254 points

Jan 25, 2020 3:34 PM in response to jantieghem

The issue may be a transient annoyance, in which case a reboot may solve it.

Otherwise, you might consider booting into Safe Boot mode, which is done by pressing and holding the shift key on a restart, for a longer boot process, See if the link works in the same PDF during this boot mode. Reboot normally, and then try the PDF link again. Is the permissions message persistent after these boot cycles?

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Hyperlink to a local file from within Pages document, converted to PDF

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