FrameMaker (v7.2 to 11): Hypertext links not working when PDF ‘ed as single files of a book

Problem

Here are a few more details in case others encounter this. When you print or save as PDF from a .book file, FrameMaker encodes the links and destinations as if you are making a single PDF file from the book. This is normally what you want. In Dave’s case, he wanted a separate PDF for each component in the book. He used the built-in option for printing a separate file for each component in the book. However, because you are printing (or saving) from the .book file, FrameMaker still encodes the links as if you were making a single PDF file.

The only way to get the individual component-to-component links to work is to open and print (or save) each component individually, not from the .book file. Obviously, if you have a book with many components, this can be a tedious task. If you find yourself in this situation, I have a FrameScript script that will save each component as PDF one-at-a-time from the book.

Fortunately, Dave’s book only contains a handful of components.

Solution

The problem is that FrameMaker was resolving the hypertext links incorrectly because I had had all the files in a .book and was printing the .book. The “fix” was to close the .book file, keep the files in their respective places, encode the links as needed, and to save each file individually.

Problem solved.

Rick did mention the use of the MicroType TimeSavers plugin for FrameMaker, but I have not yet succeeded in convincing “the powers who are” to let me get it.