Using Bookmarks to Overlay a Table of Contents in an existing PDF

[tim_crouse]

I have a PDF that I created with numerous bookmarks. The intent was to use the bookmarks for quick navigation, along with creating clickable links that overlay the existing table of contents text. Meaning, somehow assign the bookmark to the text in the TOC, which would allow the user to navigate the document from the TOC page as well as the bookmark pane.

Is this possible?

If so, could someone explain the basic workflow?

Thanks in Advance
-Tim C.

[rakunavi]

Hello tim_crouse,

If you have already created bookmarks that exactly match the titles displayed in the table of contents, using the “Create Link from Bookmarks” feature is likely the best approach. If the document is one that has been scanned, you may need to run OCR beforehand to make it recognizable as text.

In the video below, it uses the PDF manual for PDF-XChange Editor, downloadable from this URL, as an example. Since links are set for the table of contents from page 3 to page 11, it first deletes all of them and then uses the “Create Link from Bookmarks” feature to generate links from the bookmarks to the table of contents.

• Animation.gif

Please forgive me if my comment is off the mark.

Best regards,
rakunavi

- PDF-XChange Editor PRO Version: 10.8.2 build 407
- OS Version: Windows 11 Pro / Home 25H2 Build 26200.7623
- PC Model: GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro with HUION Kamvas Pro 19 / Lenovo IdeaPad C340-15IWL

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, rakunavi

An excellent solution, I just wanted to add that if one does not already have a ToC - the "Build Table of Contents" tool would also serve a similar purpose.

image.png

This features uses your existing bookmarks to create a ToC. You can heavily customize the appearance of the ToC that is generated, and links to the bookmarked locations will be included in that output natively.

Kind regards,