Hyperlinks on PDF drawings and in documents

This article will explain how hyperlinks are set up and can be used to quickly open related drawings and documents that are referenced by a number.

How to use hyperlinks

Hyperlinks are used to quickly navigate between drawings and documents—for example, jumping from a floor plan to a specific section, or from a document to related floor plan.

Manually uploaded files display hyperlinks in green, while hyperlinks appear in blue if a plugin was used.

Use hyperlinks in Locations

If you are in Locations, you can click on the hyperlink to open the linked drawing or document.

You can always use the icon to go back to the previous drawing:

Use hyperlinks in Box

In Box, drawings or documents that are opened with a hyperlink are opened as a new tab of your current view. The link will always open the latest version of the file that you have access to, regardless of the file area.

How to set up hyperlinks

Detect file numbers on drawings and documents

The number refers to the Dalux metadata field “Number”. Fill this field with the exact string that is displayed on the drawings you want to create a link on. You can do this either during or after the upload. Dalux will then automatically create a link.

In the following example, the drawing was named "127(99) 3.32" on the floor plan, so the exact same string is entered in the number metadata field. Dalux detects the string on the floorplan and creates a hyperlink accordingly.

Basic requirements for hyperlinks

The basic requirements for the string to be recognized are:

1. Hyperlinks can only be created on PDF files or DWG drawings
2. The string needs to be longer than 1 character
3. The string needs to be shorter than 45 characters
4. The string needs at least one non-numeric character (letter, symbol)

Tips for creating hyperlinks

• Font: Avoid fonts with too narrow/wide spacing between characters. We recommend using fonts from default packages by Microsoft or similar.
• Spacing before/after hyperlink: Allow for specific spacing before and after hyperlink for it to be detected.

Example: Instead of

"Please refer to drawing A-40-EK-ST-U02 for more information"

isolate the drawing number to

"For more information, please refer to drawing:                   A-40-EK-ST-U02"

• Font style: Avoid using font styles like bold and italics.
• Modelling software: If the software supports a direct “Export to PDF” option it is likely using its PDF creator/engine. Using the print option and the “Microsoft Print to PDF” engine might lead to a better result.

Set up hyperlinks in CAD software

If you have implemented references in modelling software, such as Revit, and upload your drawings to Dalux via the plugin, they will automatically be created as blue hyperlinks.

Create manual hyperlinks

You can also create your own manual hyperlinks. This lets you make custom links to drawings and documents that you might want to reference directly.

Open the file you want to place the link onLink to fileSelect the file you want to link toPlace the link on the file

After you generate the link, drag it to the correct location. By default, the link displays the file's name. You can edit it to use a shorter or easier-to-read name.