PDF exported hyperlinks from sub-documents

English
#1

I switched from OpenOffice to LibreOffice last week with impressive results. However, I am encountering a problem and need help resolving it.
Using Writer, I have a master document with over 800 sub-documents. Many of the sub-documents contain hyperlinks, urls to various pages on the web. If I export a pdf from a sub-document, the hyperlink in the pdf file works as intended; click and the link is executed. However, if a pdf is created from the master document, the hyperlinks from the sub-documents work only if the Text field contains the actual URL:

Screenshot 2025-08-13 142314
Screenshot 2025-08-13 142314873Ă—516 26.6 KB

If the hyperlink in the sub-document contains any other text in the Text field, such as “Click here”,
the text “Click here” shows in the pdf file from the master document but is simply underlined and in blue; it does not function.
Again, if I create a pdf from the sub-document alone, all hyperlinks in the subsequent pdf file work as expected, the problem is in a pdf created from a master document IF a sub-document contains a hyperlink having other information than the actual url in the hyperlink “Text:” field.
I am using 25.2.5.2 of LibreOffice and have used several different pdf readers while testing for a solution.
This was not and is not a problem with OpenOffice Writer.

#2

Have you try to export the master document (.odm) to text document (.odt) and then expor to pdf?

#3

I just tried your suggestion. The results were no different.
I tried OpenOffice Writer again and it worked exactly as intended.

#4

Did you file a bug report with an attached small file? From your answer to @bantoniof it seems, that you don’t even need a master document, just a section? And of course, a sample document may be reduced to a single page and single hyperlink, if that keeps the problem happening.

#5

No, I did not file a bug report. I posted here in order to better determine whether I may have encountered a bug or if I was simply ignorant of something as a new LibreOffice user.
I am uncertain how to respond to your comment, “you don’t even need a master document, just a section?” When I create a pdf from an odt, no master document involved, the results are as expected. But when the origination is a from master document, whether from odm to pdf, or odm to odt to pdf, the behavior is not as expected but as described above.

#6

If you create a pdf from an ODT and you do not have problems …
When you export the master document to ODT and then create the pdf from those ODT,

  • You sould not have problems

The problem can reside in the link or the export settings

#7

Hi,
You might try the odm2pdf4CLI extension

Note that’s a command-line script which isn’t designed for your specific need but might help.

#8

Regarding the “link or export settings”, everything I have tried to this point has produced the same, undesired results. Do you have specific suggestions?
I realize I “should not have problems”, my problem is that I do. And the problem seems to stem from the processing of master documents only, any master document. Any ideas on what I could look for in a master document?

#9

I installed the extension you suggested and created a pdf using the command you suggested. There was no change in the behavior.
In testing I did discover another oddity: on one line in a particular document I have two hyperlinks both of which are referred to without text:

Screenshot 2025-08-16 184224
Screenshot 2025-08-16 184224892Ă—103 31 KB

The oddity is that the second link works as intended and the first link does not work. Up until now, each time I was using a link which showed the full URL, the link would work. Curious.

#10

But so far, you haven’t attached a sample ODT created as “odm to odt”, which would then demonstrate the “not as expected but as described above”, and which would be the “you don’t even need a master document” that I mentioned.

#11

Test.pdf (39.2 KB)
Test.odm (31.4 KB)
Test3.odt (33.9 KB)
Test2.odt (22.8 KB)
Test.odt (17.9 KB)
Lyrics.ott (17.2 KB)

I have attached some files I have used for testing. Test.odm is the master which was created with LibreOffice. Test.odt is a new sub-document I created for testing. Test2.odt and Test3.odt are two of my actual sub-documents that I stripped out for testing. The template I have been using, Lyrics.ott, is also included. Test.pdf is the resultant file which, on my system, illustrates the problems I have been encountering.

Thank you for your time and interest.

#12

I have tested the pdf and all links works (even the text links)

EXCEPT the Text links who are in Text frames. those links are at the end of Test2 and test3 odt files

  • I do not Know if that is a trouble with the export filter or some limitations of pdf’s

Here, a pdf export of the odm without frames in the sub-documents
Test Without Frames.pdf (51,0 KB)

So If you put links in text frames, remember use the web address complete, not just text.

1 Like
#13

A regression in 24.2 and 7.6.4. Last working version was 7.6.3.

tdf#167993

2 Likes
#14

Thank you. You accurately describe the issue. I did not see it as clearly. Now that you have confirmed it and better defined it I ask if you believe this is a bug in OpenOffice or a bug in LibreOffice? As stated at the beginning, OpenOffice Writer produced pdf files with working links, frame or not.

Thank you for any additional assistance you may offer.

I see you just posted another comment indicating this is a regression in 24.2 and, if I follow correctly, you have already reported it as a bug. Is it possible to obtain an older version or would you recommend waiting for an update?

Again, thank you.

#15

https://downloadarchive.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/old/

#16

I am greatly appreciative of the informative and useful help. Thanks!

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