PDF Outline Bookmarks

Create PDF bookmarks/outline from chapter-style headings

Generate a readable PDF and attach bookmark outline entries.

Supports:

  • Heading detection from # and Chapter lines
  • Nested outline levels (up to 3)
  • Auto-open bookmarks in PDF viewers

Example Results

2 examples

Nested Chapter Bookmarks

A4 document with H1/H2/H3 structure converted to PDF outline bookmarks

outline-bookmarks-example1.pdf View File
View input parameters
{ "title": "Engineering Handbook", "documentText": "# Engineering Handbook\nOverview for team onboarding.\n\n## Chapter 1: Setup\nInstall dependencies and run checks.\n\n### Chapter 1.1: Local Run\nUse npm run dev.\n\n## Chapter 2: Deployment\nDeploy from CI pipeline.\n\n### Chapter 2.1: Rollback\nRollback if smoke tests fail.", "pageSize": "A4", "landscape": false, "fontSize": 12, "lineHeight": 1.5, "margin": 42 }

Landscape Outline Variant

Letter landscape variant with compact typography and section bookmarks

outline-bookmarks-example2.pdf View File
View input parameters
{ "title": "Product Notes", "documentText": "# Product Notes\nSummary section.\n\n## Architecture\nService boundaries and ownership.\n\n## Performance\nCaching and indexing details.", "pageSize": "Letter", "landscape": true, "fontSize": 11, "lineHeight": 1.35, "margin": 36 }

Key Facts

Category
Documents & PDF
Input Types
text, textarea, select, checkbox, number
Output Type
file
Sample Coverage
4
API Ready
Yes

Overview

PDF Outline Bookmarks is a specialized utility that converts structured text into professional PDF documents with fully functional, nested navigation bookmarks. By using standard heading syntax, you can automatically generate a clickable table of contents that allows readers to jump between sections instantly in any PDF viewer.

When to Use

  • •When you need to turn raw text or markdown notes into a structured, navigable PDF document.
  • •When creating long-form technical documentation that requires a clear, hierarchical outline for better readability.
  • •When you want to ensure your PDF readers can easily navigate through multi-chapter reports or handbooks.

How It Works

  • •Enter your content into the text area using '#' symbols to define heading levels (H1, H2, H3).
  • •Adjust document settings such as page size, orientation, font size, and margins to suit your layout requirements.
  • •Click the generate button to process the text and embed the bookmark outline directly into the PDF file.
  • •Download your finalized PDF, which will automatically open with the navigation pane visible in most PDF viewers.

Use Cases

Generating professional team onboarding handbooks from markdown notes.
Creating navigable product documentation or user manuals from plain text drafts.
Converting structured meeting minutes or project reports into easy-to-reference PDF files.

Examples

1. Engineering Handbook

Background
A team lead needs to distribute an onboarding guide that is easy to navigate for new hires.
Problem
The document is long, and without a table of contents, it is difficult for readers to find specific setup or deployment instructions.
How to Use
Paste the handbook text into the editor, using '#' for the main title and '##' or '###' for chapters, then generate the PDF.
Example Config
Title: Engineering Handbook, Page Size: A4, Font Size: 12, Line Height: 1.5
Outcome
A professional PDF with a clickable sidebar outline that allows users to jump directly to 'Setup', 'Local Run', or 'Deployment' sections.

2. Product Notes

Background
A product manager needs to share architecture and performance notes with stakeholders.
Problem
The notes are currently in a flat text file, making it hard to distinguish between high-level architecture and specific performance details.
How to Use
Organize the notes with headings, set the document to landscape mode for better readability of technical tables, and export.
Example Config
Title: Product Notes, Page Size: Letter, Landscape: true, Font Size: 11, Line Height: 1.35
Outcome
A clean, landscape-oriented PDF with clear bookmarks for 'Architecture' and 'Performance' sections.

Try with Samples

pdf, video, text
PDF Samples
Generated PDF samples from tools dated 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-10
title token pdf
pdf, text
Markdown Slide Deck Samples
Remark/Marp style Markdown slide decks for testing PDF export layouts
matched family pdf,text
pdf, text
WebRTC Real-Time Communication Samples
Comprehensive WebRTC samples for peer-to-peer audio/video communication, data channels, screen sharing, and signaling server implementation
matched family video,text
video, text
Duplicate Line Samples
Sample files with various types of duplicate lines for testing duplicate removal tools
matched family video,text
video, text

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FAQ

How do I create nested bookmarks?

Use '#' for top-level chapters, '##' for sub-sections, and '###' for tertiary sections within your text.

Can I customize the page layout?

Yes, you can select between A4 and Letter sizes, toggle landscape mode, and adjust font size, line height, and margins.

What happens if I don't use headings?

The tool will generate a standard PDF, but the bookmark navigation pane will be empty as there are no headings to anchor the outline.

Is there a limit to the number of bookmark levels?

The tool supports up to 3 levels of nested outline entries, corresponding to H1, H2, and H3 headings.

Will the bookmarks work in all PDF readers?

Yes, the bookmarks are embedded using standard PDF formatting, ensuring compatibility with all major PDF viewers and browsers.

API Documentation

Request Endpoint

POST /en/api/tools/pdf-outline-bookmarks

Request Parameters

Parameter Name Type Required Description
title text Yes -
documentText textarea Yes -
pageSize select No -
landscape checkbox No -
fontSize number No -
lineHeight number No -
margin number No -

Response Format

{
  "filePath": "/public/processing/randomid.ext",
  "fileName": "output.ext",
  "contentType": "application/octet-stream",
  "size": 1024,
  "metadata": {
    "key": "value"
  },
  "error": "Error message (optional)",
  "message": "Notification message (optional)"
}
File: File

AI MCP Documentation

Add this tool to your MCP server configuration: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elysiatools-pdf-outline-bookmarks": {
      "name": "pdf-outline-bookmarks",
      "description": "Create PDF bookmarks/outline from chapter-style headings",
      "baseUrl": "https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=pdf-outline-bookmarks",
      "command": "",
      "args": [],
      "env": {},
      "isActive": true,
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}

You can chain multiple tools, e.g.: `https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=png-to-webp,jpg-to-webp,gif-to-webp`, max 20 tools.

If you encounter any issues, please contact us at [email protected]