How to Prepare a Digital Manuscript: Adding Bookmarks and Table of Contents to PDFs

Your manuscript is done. You've got a PDF that looks good. But when you open it, there's no way to jump to "Chapter 3" or "Appendix A" except by scrolling. Readers and distributors expect a clickable table of contents. You don't want to buy expensive software just to add bookmarks and edit PDF navigation.

You're not alone. Indie authors, course creators, and anyone preparing a long PDF run into this. The good news: you can add bookmarks to PDF free and create a PDF table of contents in the browser. No subscription. No sending your manuscript to a server.

Here's how to prepare a digital manuscript with proper bookmarks and navigation so your PDF feels professional and stays under your control.

Why Bookmarks and a Table of Contents Matter for Your Manuscript

A PDF without navigation works like a long scroll. Readers and reviewers have to thumb through pages to find chapters or sections. On e-readers and in app stores, that feels unfinished. Distributors and reviewers often expect a clickable table of contents. It signals that the file was prepared with care.

When you add bookmarks to a PDF and create a PDF table of contents:

• Readers can jump to any chapter or section from the sidebar or a clickable list.
• The PDF behaves like a real e-book or report. Edit PDF navigation once and it works everywhere.
• Submission guidelines that ask for "navigation" or "bookmarks" are satisfied.
• You look professional without spending on Acrobat or other paid tools.

That's why learning to add bookmarks to PDF free (and build a table of contents) is one of the best upgrades you can make to a digital manuscript.

What "Bookmarks" and "Table of Contents" Mean in a PDF

Bookmarks are the entries you see in the PDF viewer's sidebar (often called "Bookmarks" or "Outline"). Each bookmark points to a specific page or location. Clicking it jumps the reader there. When you add bookmarks to a PDF, you're creating that outline. You can have one level (e.g. chapter titles) or nested levels (Part 1 > Chapter 1 > Section 1.1).

Table of contents (ToC) in this context is the same idea: a list of headings that link to the right pages. You can have a visible "Table of Contents" page at the start of the PDF with clickable links, plus the bookmark panel in the sidebar. Both improve navigation. The goal is to edit PDF navigation so the document is easy to move around in. With Add Bookmarks to PDF, you can create both by checking the "Add Table of Contents page" option.

You don't need expensive software to do this. You can add bookmarks to PDF free using a browser-based tool that runs locally. Your manuscript never has to leave your device.

The Problem With Doing It the Old Way

Option 1: Adobe Acrobat. It can add bookmarks and edit PDF navigation. But it's a paid subscription. Many indie authors and small creators don't want another monthly bill just to prepare one manuscript.

Option 2: Manual copy-paste into Word, then export. You might try to build a ToC in Word and export to PDF. That often produces a flat PDF with no real bookmark outline, or the outline doesn't match what readers see. You end up fixing things by hand or buying a tool anyway.

Option 3: Ignore it. You ship the PDF without bookmarks. Readers and distributors get a long document with no way to jump to sections. It works, but it doesn't feel polished and can work against you in places that expect proper navigation.

A better path: Use a tool that lets you add bookmarks to PDF free. You choose the PDF, define the bookmark names and target pages, and get a new PDF with a proper outline. No subscription. No sending the file to a server. You create a PDF table of contents (in the form of bookmarks) in minutes.

Who This Is For

Indie authors – Preparing e-books, sample chapters, or full manuscripts for readers or distributors. You need to add bookmarks to PDF free and edit PDF navigation so the file meets expectations.

Course creators – Turning lessons or workbooks into PDFs. A clickable table of contents makes the material easier to use.

Report and whitepaper writers – Long documents need structure. Bookmarks and a clear ToC help readers and clients navigate.

Anyone with a long PDF – If you've ever wanted to "make it clickable" without buying software, this workflow is for you.

How to Add Bookmarks and Create a PDF Table of Contents (Step by Step)

Step 1: Get Your Manuscript Into One PDF

If your manuscript is in several files (e.g. one PDF per chapter), combine them first. Use Merge PDF to create a single PDF in the order you want. Select or drop the files. Processing happens in your browser. No uploads. Your manuscript stays on your device.

Once you have one PDF, you're ready to add bookmarks and create a PDF table of contents.

Step 2: Add Bookmarks and Table of Contents to Your PDF

1. Open Add Bookmarks to PDF.
2. Select or drop your merged manuscript PDF.
3. Add bookmark entries. Typically you'll add one per chapter (e.g. "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2") and set the page number or destination for each. You can also add nested bookmarks (e.g. "Part I" with "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2" under it) if the tool supports it.
4. Check the "Add Table of Contents page" option if you want a visible ToC page at the start of your PDF. When enabled, the tool will automatically create a clickable table of contents page using your bookmarks and insert it at the beginning of the document. This gives you both the bookmark sidebar navigation and a visible ToC page that readers see when they open the file.
5. Generate the new PDF. The output will have bookmarks (and a ToC page if you enabled that option) that readers can use to jump to any section.

You've just added bookmarks to PDF free and created a PDF table of contents in one step. No subscription. No server. You've started to edit PDF navigation in a way that readers and distributors will recognize.

Step 3: (Optional) Prepare a Print-Ready Booklet

If you're also doing print (e.g. a short run or a zine), you may need booklet ordering. Use PDF to Booklet to reorder pages for folding and stapling. That's separate from navigation. Do it after you've added bookmarks and created your PDF table of contents so the digital version stays reader-friendly.

The PDFJar Way: Add Bookmarks, Merge, and Booklet (All Local)

Add Bookmarks to PDF – Add Bookmarks to PDF
Add and edit bookmarks so your PDF has a clickable outline. You can add bookmarks to PDF free. Select your file. Set bookmark names and page targets. Enable the "Add Table of Contents page" option to automatically create a visible ToC page at the start of your PDF using your bookmarks. This gives you both sidebar bookmarks and a clickable table of contents page in one step. Processing happens in your browser. No uploads. Your manuscript never leaves your device. This is how you edit PDF navigation without paid software.

Merge PDF – Merge PDF
Combine chapter PDFs into one file before adding bookmarks. Select or drop files, merge, download. Processing is local. No uploads.

PDF to Booklet – PDF to Booklet
Reorder pages for printing as a booklet. Use this when you need a print version. Keep your bookmarked PDF as the digital version.

Typical order for a digital manuscript:

1. Merge all chapters with Merge PDF if your manuscript is in multiple files.
2. Add bookmarks with Add Bookmarks to PDF. Enable the "Add Table of Contents page" option to automatically create a visible ToC page. You've now created a PDF table of contents with both sidebar bookmarks and a clickable ToC page, improving how readers edit PDF navigation (i.e. jump around) in your file.
3. If you need a print booklet, use PDF to Booklet on a copy of the file.

No account. No server. Full control over your manuscript.

Manual or Paid vs. Add Bookmarks to PDF Free

Takeaway: You can add bookmarks to PDF free and create a PDF table of contents without paying for software or sending your manuscript to a server. That’s a solid way to edit PDF navigation for indie authors and small teams.

Real Scenario: Indie Author Prepping a Novel for Distribution

Setup: Jordan has finished a novel. The manuscript is in one PDF (about 300 pages, 25 chapters). Jordan wants to offer it as a PDF download and possibly submit to a distributor that expects "proper navigation."

Before: Jordan didn't know how to add bookmarks. The PDF had no outline. Readers had to scroll. Jordan looked at Acrobat but didn’t want to subscribe.

After: Jordan uses Add Bookmarks to PDF. In about 20 minutes, Jordan adds 25 bookmarks (one per chapter), each pointing to the right page. Jordan also checks the "Add Table of Contents page" option, so the tool automatically creates a clickable ToC page at the start. The new PDF is saved. When readers open it, they see a table of contents page they can click, plus "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2", etc. in the sidebar. Jordan has managed to add bookmarks to PDF free and create a PDF table of contents that works everywhere. For a print run later, Jordan uses PDF to Booklet on a copy to get booklet ordering. The digital version stays bookmarked and clickable.

Result: The manuscript looks professional. No subscription. No sending the file to a third party. Jordan edited PDF navigation once and was done.

Why "No Uploads" Matters for Your Manuscript

Your manuscript is valuable. Sending it to a random "add bookmarks to PDF" site can mean the file is stored on their servers. You don’t control their retention or who has access.

With PDFJar, bookmarking and merging run in your browser. Your PDF never leaves your device. There are no uploads to our servers. You get to add bookmarks to PDF free and create a PDF table of contents without putting your work in the cloud. That matters for authors who care about keeping their unpublished or exclusive content private.

Tips for a Clean Navigation Experience

Match bookmark names to your actual headings. If the chapter starts with "Chapter 1: The Beginning", use that (or a short form like "Ch 1 – The Beginning") so the outline is clear.

One bookmark per major section. You don’t need a bookmark for every paragraph. Chapters and main parts are usually enough. You can add subsections if the tool supports nesting and your document is long.

Check the result. Open the new PDF and click through each bookmark. Make sure each one jumps to the right page. That’s the core of how you edit PDF navigation correctly.

Keep a "master" copy. After you add bookmarks and create your PDF table of contents, keep that file as your main digital version. Use copies for booklet layout or other formats so you don’t lose the navigation.

FAQ: Adding Bookmarks and Table of Contents to PDFs

Can I add bookmarks to PDF free?
Yes. Add Bookmarks to PDF is free and runs in your browser. You select your PDF, add bookmark names and page targets, and download the new file. Check the "Add Table of Contents page" option to automatically create a visible ToC page at the start. No account. No uploads. You can add bookmarks to PDF free and edit PDF navigation without paying for software.

What’s the difference between bookmarks and a table of contents?
Bookmarks are the outline in the PDF viewer’s sidebar. Clicking an entry jumps to that page. A "table of contents" can mean that same outline, or a visible ToC page at the start of the PDF. When you add bookmarks, you’re creating the outline. If you check the "Add Table of Contents page" option, the tool automatically generates a visible ToC page at the beginning using your bookmarks. Both help readers navigate. Together they let you create a PDF table of contents that’s clickable and visible.

How do I edit PDF navigation without Acrobat?
Use a browser-based tool like Add Bookmarks to PDF. You define the bookmark names and which page each one goes to. The tool produces a new PDF with that outline. No Acrobat needed. You edit PDF navigation by building the bookmark list once.

Will my file be sent to a server?
No. With PDFJar, processing runs in your browser. Your PDF is not sent to our servers. You can confirm by opening DevTools (F12), Network tab, and converting a file. You should see no file uploads. That way you can add bookmarks to PDF free and keep your manuscript local.

I have multiple chapter PDFs. How do I get one manuscript with bookmarks and a table of contents?
First combine the chapters with Merge PDF. Then open Add Bookmarks to PDF and select the merged PDF. Add one bookmark per chapter (and set the correct page for each). Check the "Add Table of Contents page" option if you want a visible ToC page. Download. You’ve created a single manuscript with bookmarks and a PDF table of contents. No uploads.

Do I need a separate tool for print booklet?
For print, use PDF to Booklet to reorder pages for folding and stapling. Do that on a copy of your file. Keep your bookmarked PDF as the digital version so readers still get clickable navigation.

Prepare Your Digital Manuscript With Clickable Navigation

You don’t need expensive software to make your PDF feel like a real e-book. Add bookmarks to PDF free and create a PDF table of contents so readers and distributors get proper navigation.

Add bookmarks – Add Bookmarks to PDF
Edit PDF navigation with a clickable outline. Enable the "Add Table of Contents page" option to automatically create a visible ToC page. No account. No uploads. Your manuscript stays on your device.

Merge chapters – Merge PDF
Combine your chapter PDFs into one file before adding bookmarks. Processing in browser. No uploads.

Print booklet – PDF to Booklet
When you need a print version, reorder pages for booklet layout. Keep the bookmarked PDF for digital.

Once you’re in the habit, adding bookmarks and a table of contents to a digital manuscript takes minutes. Your PDF will feel professional, and you’ll have done it without subscriptions or sending your work to the cloud.

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Ready to make your manuscript clickable? Use Add Bookmarks to PDF to add bookmarks to PDF free and create a PDF table of contents. No uploads. No account. Your file stays on your device and you keep full control.