Batch insertion of multiple links in PDF files with Bluebeam Revu

Bluebeam's Revu software provides numerous ways to edit PDF files which are not included in Adobe Acrobat. It was developed for use by professionals working in engineering and architecture, but it includes many functions which litigation support professionals will find useful.

Recently, I was asked to add hundreds of links to exhibit citations in a Rule 56.1 statement filed for a summary judgment motion for submission to the court. Adding the links in one by one would have taken up many hours. Revu made it possible for me to add in the links automatically after creating a .csv file with the textual references to the citations in one column, and the paths to the PDFs in the second column.

Revu's Batch menu has many functions. You can select Batch . . . Link . . . New

. . . and a dialog will open that will allow you to select one or more PDF files to process:

Note the .csv file should list absolute paths to the PDFs from their original loading location, but there is an option [click the button for 'Link Options' on the lower right] to add them as relative paths, so that when the PDF and the linked files are transferred to a new location, the links will still work.

You can choose to overwrite existing links in the PDF, and control whether or not the box around the designated citation has a border or is set to be invisible.

Revu gives you the option to jump to specific page numbers in a linked to PDF file.

As always, Litigation Support Tip of the Night has run tests, and can confirm that Revu will add in hundreds of links in a PDF more than 50 pages long in just a minute or two. I spot-checked the results and did not find any errors - the page specific links were added correctly.

There is a 14-day trial version of the software which includes the functions described in tonight's tip.