If you have hyperlinks in your excel files and need to save your file as a PDF, you’ve probably run into the error in which your hyperlinks in the PDF output are inactive.
To be able to maintain hyperlinks you will need Adobe Acrobat. If you don’t have it, please skip down to the bottom of this post to the “Don’t have Adobe Acrobat?” section.
If you do have Adobe, it’s quite simple unless you’re using the HYPERLINK() formula (see below). Just use the Acrobat add-in to save as Adobe PDF.
File –> Save as Adobe PDF –> Convert to PDF. You can also use the Acrobat tab in the ribbon and click “Create PDF”.
Using HYPERLINK() formula
If you’re using the hyperlink formula, as seen below, we’ll need to do some manipulation to our sheet first. Printing to PDF will require that your hyperlinks are properly written before conversion (http… or https…).
To get just the hyperlinks from our formula, we can copy values from Excel and paste into Word, then copy from Word and paste back into Excel (keeping source formatting).
Now when you save as Adobe PDF, your links will remain active:
Don’t have Adobe Acrobat?
Save the Excel Sheet as a web page and links will work. This isn’t ideal but in a pinch will save you some stress.
Hi everyone,
I undestand that you meanr Adobe Acrobat Professional, distiller…?
Now I do Excel>Word>Excel and save as PDF in excel. In keeps hiperlinks created by hiperlinks formula.
Thanks.
Why does this work with the copy/paste from Excel>Word>Excel? Is there a way to use HYPERLINK and get it to work without that extra step?
Hi, Ernie,
I do the same as you, and after that I save as PDF. It works
I don’t know why.
Thanks so much Nate!
WOW, Excelent!! I’ve been trying to solve this for many days and with your help now finally I can. Thank you so much!!!