DocForensic

Split PDF by Bookmark

Split a PDF into separate documents along its bookmarks - one file per chapter, section or exhibit, each named from its bookmark title.

The PDF's own bookmark outline decides where each document starts. Split at every top-level bookmark, at a deeper level, or only at the bookmarks you tick. Each document runs to the page before the next split, the pages before the first bookmark can become their own front-matter document, and each file is named from its bookmark title.

Before splitting, the bookmark tree shows the page and page count of every entry, and flags problems: bookmarks that point to the same page as the one before, broken destinations, and bookmarks out of page order. The page view shows where each document starts and ends. You can insert or remove splits and edit filenames, then download each document or a ZIP with a split log. Each document keeps its own sub-bookmarks, links, metadata and page labels.

Simple workflow

How it works

  1. 1

    Add a PDF with bookmarks

    Add one or more PDFs and read their bookmark outlines.

  2. 2

    Choose the split points

    Pick a bookmark level or tick bookmarks in the tree, and check the page ranges.

  3. 3

    Split

    Download each document named from its bookmark, or a ZIP with a split log.

Frequently asked questions

Which bookmark level should I split at?

Top level gives one file per chapter, with its sections kept inside. Level 2 also splits each chapter into its sections. If only some bookmarks should become files, for example the exhibits in a court bundle, tick them in the bookmark tree instead.

What happens to pages before the first bookmark?

By default they become their own "Front matter" document. You can attach them to the first document instead, or leave them out.

Why is a bookmark flagged?

Amber means it points to the same page as the bookmark before it, so it would make an empty document - by default the two are merged. Red means its destination is broken (it points nowhere, or into another file), so it can't be a split point. Gray means it is out of page order or its title matches your ignore pattern.

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