The solution is nowhere final, done in the most basic way possible, merely a bug fixed, like if no-one in the team did try to make it useful at the level of today's standards.
— A partial text selection can't be made into a hyperlink.
— No widgets are given on the canvas to see if an object has a hyperlink assigned or not, and to open the link directly from the canvas (with or without a modifier).
— Attributes gives no way to jump to a previous/next hyperlink in the document.
— The 'browser' button uses the IE browser, not the assigned one at the OS level.
— If I cover an object which has a hyperlink assigned, with another object that has another hyperlink, the area they shared together is overtaken by the one which is below, and not according to their z-order (see the GIF — the intersection area should display 'orange', not 'green'!)
— 'Polygon' image map option does not work, the object gets a rectangle area still. The sacred knowledge about creating polygonal image maps in Ai is long lost, and the only mention the official manual has about it is here (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/slices-image-maps.html) — but it never actually tells how to create these. Surely not via rectangular-only slices. It should just happen automatically, and it does not.
— What about automation? To have the links to be auto-tagged, like this solution for InD does (https://www.id-extras.com/products/hyperlinkpro/)?
— What about auto styling, like InD provides?
— Will we be able to fine tune the look of the Character’s 'Underline' option? Nobody places lines this close to text anymore on web.

So yes, this should be made BETTER.

I need a 508 compliant hyperlink style such as an underline with capabilities like you can in InDesign

I would like to be able to set a consistent point size line under selected text.

The underline tool in the Character panel does not allow a precise point size or offsetting the line further away from the text. If I use light text I get a light underline. If I use bold text I get a chunky thick line.

Ick!

Deon, unfortunately, no. That’s why this request now exists — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/47303807 — please upvote it!

Hi Admin. Is there a way to hyperlink just a portion of the text inside a textblock?

The method Dan described below is the only way currently to create text hyperlinks directly in Ai.
And this method is a torture, let’s admit it. I can hardly call this request 'Completed' — the team just merely fixed a bug with the ancient tech.
There is another request here — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/47303807 — for an ability to make NORMAL hyperlinked text, in the modern way, the way almost any editor can do. Please come and upvote it.

Figured I would explain this a slightly different way for others:

• Window > Attributes
• On this window, click the hamburger menu > Show All
• Draw a rectangle (it can be transparent)
• Under Attributes > Image Map, select Rectangle
• Enter the URL
• Save As PDF
• Under General > Options check boxes > Make sure 'Preserve Hyperlinks' is checked

This is what worked for me.

@ Stefane Guilbaud

Sorry, just retraced my steps and realised what I was doing wrong. You're absolutely right.
So it's still in the attributes panel but you have to select Rectangle from the "Image Map dropdown" and the Illustrator gives you a URL box to type the hyperlink inside.

A bit hidden, but it's there I suppose.

@Raphael

@ Stefane Guilbaud

Thanks but your solution seems to be just a workaround. Why do I have to create an object to define the "hyperlink" area when the software should automatically do that?

I just want to select an object, right-click or go in a panel and type the hyperlink. Like you would do in any other software for the last 20 years!!

Just tried this, exported as .PDF, doesn't work. How are we supposed to add these hyperlinks? Can you please explain?

@Raphael :
- make a square
- open the "Object option" window
- choose "rectangle" reactive image
- fill in the url
- export as a PDF by checking the "Keep hyperlinks" box in the PDF saving options

Finally !!!! Thanks to the devs! It's a shame that the latest version isn't compatible with Catalina, but that's another problem! Adobe thinks that in a company you can change Os version as you like without disturbing other company software !!!

Great to see that this functionality has been added to the new release 27.6.1, however...

It would be useful if you actually showed us how to do it. The attributes panel doesn't have any sort of options when a text/image is selected. How do you actually add a hyperlink to an image/text?

Written a whole documentation about how to use the search function for layers but didn't bother explaining this one in your documentation ffs.

Urdu Language Please............

Need to add Fillable Form interactive in illustrator and Table ability like how we use in indesign: also Urdu Language is missing since decades

Totally agree this should be added. I'm shocked at this point it isn't. I add them in the PDF after I save - but then if there are any changes made to the AI file after the fact - I have to do it all over again.

This is a VERY needed feature! It can be done after making the design a pdf and then opening it in Acrobat but that is a weird workaround for professional-level software.

Yes pleeeeease! It's 2023! I have been needing this feature for 20 years!

Very important and makes user experience much better when designing brochures, etc. Having to redo things in PDF with every adjustment in Illustrator is such waste of time.