How do I add an attachment to a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'Edit' > 'Link'. Select an option to add an attachment (often 'Add attachments'). Choose the file you want to attach from your computer. Save the PDF to include the new attachment.

Why is it important to sanitize attachments before sharing a PDF?

It's important to sanitize attachments because they become part of the PDF. If an attachment contains private details, anyone who gets the PDF can see that information. Sanitizing helps protect sensitive data by removing it before you share the document, ensuring your privacy and security.

What is the difference between adding a link and adding an attachment in a PDF?

Feature Description File Location. Link Connects to another part of the PDF, a website, or another file. The linked file is separate; only a path is stored. Attachment Embeds a file directly inside the PDF document. The attached file is stored within the PDF itself.

If I attach a large video file to my PDF, what happens to the PDF's file size?

If you attach a large video file, the PDF's file size will increase significantly. This is because the video file is embedded directly into the PDF document. A larger PDF might take longer to open, save, or share with others.

Why would I use the 'Edit > Link' menu to manage attachments?

You use 'Edit > Link' because this menu in Adobe Acrobat is where you manage interactive elements within your PDF. Both links and attachments are ways to connect your PDF to other information or files, so they are grouped together for easier editing and management.

Add links or attachments programmatically via API in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Show code to add a web link to a PDF...…+

Show code to add a clickable web link to a PDF file using the Adobe PDF Services API. The link should go to [destination URL] and be placed on page [page number] at coordinates [x, y].

when the reply comes backWant to see how to remove a link or attachment by API?

BImprove — “do it better”Suggest how to organize PDF attachments so users...…+

Suggest how to organize PDF attachments so users can find them easily when adding multiple files programmatically with the Adobe PDF Services API.

when the reply comes backNeed help with authentication for the Adobe PDF API?

CDecide — “help me choose”Should I use a link or an attachment in my PDF...…+

Should I use a link or an attachment in my PDF if I want users to access extra information? Explain the pros and cons for each using Adobe PDF Services API.

when the reply comes backCurious how to test your changes before sending to users?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select the Tools tab and choose Edit PDF.
3
Click on Link in the secondary toolbar, then select Add link.
4
Drag to draw a rectangle where you want the link to appear.
5
In the dialog that appears, select the link appearance and choose the link action, such as Open a web page or Go to a page view.
6
Click Next and enter the URL or destination as required, then click OK.
7
To attach a file, select the Tools tab and choose Edit PDF.
8
Click on Attach in the secondary toolbar and select Attach File.
9
Click on the location in the PDF where you want the attachment icon to appear.
10
In the dialog, browse to select the file you want to attach, then click Open.
11
Optionally, add a description for the attachment, then click OK.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly check all links and attachments in your PDF by opening the Attachments panel from the left navigation pane.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

APIA way for different software to talk to each other automatically.ExampleAn online store uses an API to automatically send shipping details to a delivery service.

AttachmentA file that is added inside a PDF, so it travels with the PDF.ExampleThe email included an attachment of the full contract, which opened as a PDF.

EndpointA web address your code sends requests to for a specific job.ExampleThe app sends your payment details to a secure endpoint on the server to process the transaction.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

I keep over-attaching or under-attaching when sending to escalation, which slows their decisions and wastes our time.

FAQ

about this task

To add a clickable link, you send a request to the API with the PDF file, the URL you want to link to, and the exact spot in the PDF where the link should appear. The API then returns a new PDF with the link added.

A link lets users click and go to a webpage or another place in the document, while an attachment is an extra file stored inside the PDF that users can open or download.

Yes, you can write a script that calls the Adobe PDF Services API in a loop, sending each PDF and the details for the links or attachments you want to add.

Using the API is much faster and more reliable if you have many PDFs or need to add links automatically as part of a bigger process, instead of doing it by hand for each file.

After you send your request, the API gives you back a new PDF. You can open this file to check if your link or attachment is there, or use the API’s response details to confirm success.

Add links or attachments programmatically via API

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help