A bookmark in a PDF document provides users with navigation that makes it easy to move to specific locations both within a PDF and to other documents. Using the PDFMaker facility in applications such as Microsoft Office (for Windows) allows the creation of bookmarks to be automated. However, should you create a PDF without navigation it is a simple 3 step process to create each one and therefore provide a more user friendly document.
This tutorial shows how to use Adobe Acrobat Pro to create Bookmarks as well as how to ensure that they are visible when the document is opened.
A Bookmarked PDF
The Bookmarks panel opens and bookmarks displayed.
Opening the Bookmarks Panel
To open the panel the Bookmarks icon needs to be clicked.
Adding a bookmark manually is a simple 3 step process.
Step 1 – Set the document View
Step 1 – This involves setting the appropriate page and view (e.g magnification) that will display when the bookmark is clicked.
Step 2 – Select text
Step 2: If text is visible on the page then it can be selected using the Select tool. This ensures that the created bookmark automatically uses the selected text.
Step 3 – Create the Bookmark
Step 3: Clicking the New Bookmark icon automatically creates the link from the text content selected on the page
Nesting Bookmarks
Bookmarks can be nested to create a hierarchy which makes it easier to group together bookmarks for common content and also makes it more intuitive for navigating through a document.
Setting Properties
By placing the mouse cursor over a bookmark and clicking the right mouse button a menu will display a set of options including – Properties.
Selecting Properties displays a number of options which allow Style and Color settings to be set.
Setting Bookmark Visibility
Bookmarks provide an easy to use navigation system.
It is good practice to ensure that the Bookmarks panel is visible when a PDF is opened. To ensure that the panel is opened:
1. From the File menu select Properties and then the Initial View tab.
2. From the Navigation tab select Bookmarks Panel and Page.
Save the document.
When the PDF is opened the panel will open automatically.
The Final Document
Multi-coloured and nested bookmarks provided for a user-friendly method of moving through a PDF.
Software used: Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 UK: Scotland License.
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