🚀 go-pugleaf

As to #1:

You can create a cross-reference to the "ContentsTitle" (or similar) paragraph, or you can add named destination to the ContentsTitle paragraph, and then add hypertext links pointing to that destination in the TOC file.
Adding direct links (cross-references or hypertext markers) to TOC entries is not recommended, as the supporting markers in the TOC will be deleted when you update/regenerate.

Have you considered including a bookmark to the Contents, so that it is available at the top of the list of bookmarks in the PDF?
[ a better yet approach is to provide direct access to related topics, as demonstrated in <http://www.microtype.com/showcase/NavigationAsst/PopUpMenus.pdf> , but this is not supported natively with FM->PDF conversion ]

As to #2:
[Yesterday, I responded to a similar question in the FrameUsers list]

In the Special > Hypertext dialog box, type
message openfile
followed by the file name (or path/filename).

For example:
message openfile name.doc
message openfile path/name.tif
message openfile ../name.pdf

Important: use a forward slash (and not a backslash) when specifying path.

Upon conversion to PDF, these markers will create "Launch File" links.
Unless pointing to PDF files, these links trigger the corresponding security alert message (which can be suppressed by clicking the "Do not show this message again" box, effective until Acrobat or Reader are restarted).

Note: target PDF will open at the default opening page (typically the first page).
(With the FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers add-on, you can define links/bookmarks that control the opening location and the new window property, see <http://www.microtype.com/ImprovePDF17.html> for examples)

Shlomo Perets

MicroType * <http://www.microtype.com>
FrameMaker training & consulting * FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers

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