Question on Adding PDFs via WebObject
Jul 02, 2014
I've seen some great examples of how folks have added PDF files through the use of Web Objects. The problem I run into is that when I attempt to add a PDF document using a Web Object I run into some problems.
When trying to add a PDF from a local drive, Storyline will not let me directly select the PDF file by name because there is no URL associated with a local drive. I have to create a folder with an index.html file, which identifies the PDF.
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<embed src="CT25-GSOPV3.pdf" width="100%" height="98%">
</body>
</html>
I have to create a folder/index.html file for each document I want to add.
When trying to add a PDF from an internal website the PDF always opens up in Adobe Acrobat outside of the course. The option to Display in Slide is selected.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I have even tried recreating the technique using sample files provided in the discussion threads and run into the same issues.
We use a number of PDFs in our materials and I'm looking for a way to make this work consistently.
9 Replies
Hey Shawn,
You can bring lots of files in with a single Web Object. Check out these steps and video:
http://community.articulate.com/forums/p/28295/155495.aspx
The only thing I'd change now is the step for discovering the Web Object unique ID. You can do that without publishing first. Bolded the updated steps below.
1. Create a folder to contain your "carry-on".
2. Add an index.html file to this folder. It doesn't need to contain anything. Add as many files to this folder as you want. They'll all be imported into the Story and consistently exported to a folder in your published structure.
3. In Storyline, import a WebObject and target your new carry-on folder.
4. Right-click the Web Object in the Storyline slide and select Open.
5. It'll open in a browser and reveal the unique ID. Copy the unique folder string for the folder that contains your new carry-on. You'll need this to complete the relative link chain.
7. Back in Storyline, employ the folder structure. For example: "story_content/WebObjects/5nM8Oqq62Th/yourfile.pdf" You can use this to launch with a jump to URL / file or with a hyperlink on text.
Thanks for the help Steve I can't wait to try this solution out.
Ok guys - trying to load a PDF into a web object, and I keep getting the "open or save as" dialog... Is there a way I can set this up so that the PDF just loads into the web object without this dialog box?
Hi Brian,
The technique we are using to accomplish this is to create a folder to hold the document that we want to include as a web object and then create a simple index.html file in the same folder. Within the index file in the embed src line place the name of the file you wish to include as an object. In your story file use the web object option to select the folder that contains both the index file and the pdf.
Shawn
Hey Brian,
Behavior for the reader depends on how your preferences are setup. Select Edit > Preferences in the program that's used to open PDF's, either Acrobat Reader or Pro probably. Under Internet and Web Browser Options, what's selected?
Something like PDFObject might do the trick. Not sure how it will behave if the reader preferences are set to open in Reader.
http://pdfobject.com/
Thanks guys for the response - Steve, I think we came to the same conclusion on settings, and we can't ensure unfortunately that everyone will have the same, so we ditched the idea and went in a different direction.
BUT, It would be awesome if we could set things up so that the PDF just loaded into the web object.
Shawn, if you're able to get the PDF document to auto-load into a web object, would you be able to post an example of this that I could hit on line? I'm not able to replicate it...
Hi Brian,
I don't have anywhere I can post a public link, so I created a demo of the structure to show the format. Hopefully this will help you.
Shawn
Shawn, that works perfectly, and I tested in both Chrome and IE. The secret is in using the embed code in the index file, which you stated in your first answer to my question, but I just wasn't able to wrap my head around it for some reason.
Thanks for sharing this, I know I'll be using it in the near future.
Much appreciated
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