Create the PDF has bookmarks (TOC) with Microsoft Word

The recent version of Microsoft Word has a PDF exporter, making it easy to create the PDF. The PDF is very useful. Even if the user doesn’t have the software which is used to make the documents can view or print them out.

Create a PDF that has bookmarks with a little more work. The bookmarks appear as the table of contents in the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The readers can jump to the needed location so it can be a more usable document than digitalized.

This article explains how to create a PDF with Microsoft Word bookmarks (TOC).

Create the document with set headings

When you create a document, make sure to create one with appropriate headings. The style of the headings, such as Heading 1 and Heading 2, will become the PDF bookmarks as they are.

Export PDF

Microsoft Word for Windows

STEP

Click the “File” menu and select “Export”.

STEP

Select the “Create PDF/XPS Document”.

The “Create Adobe PDF” item may be displayed if the Adobe Acrobat is installed. If you select that, Adobe Acrobat creates a high-quality PDF, and Word is not used. In this article, select “Create PDF/XPS Document”.

STEP

Click the “Create PDF/XPS” button.

STEP

The dialog to select the destination and specify the file name is displayed. Click the “Options…” button.

STEP

Turn on “Create bookmarks using:” and select “Headings”.

This option makes PDF bookmarks.

STEP

Click the “OK” button to close the dialog and the “Publish” button to export the PDF.

Microsoft Word for macOS

The Mac version of Microsoft Word can output PDFs without bookmarks, but not PDFs with bookmarks, using only the application’s features. You need to use Microsoft Online Service to create PDFs with bookmarks. With Microsoft Online Service, once the document is sent to Microsoft’s server, it is converted to PDF and returned to you.

Some companies may prohibit sending company materials to servers outside the company itself. Please consider whether there is a problem with your work documents. If there is a problem, use no bookmarks or the Windows version of Word.

STEP

Select the “Save a Copy…” from the “File” menu.

STEP

Select “PDF” from the “File Format” and select “Best for electronic distribution and accessibility (uses Microsoft online service)”

STEP

Click the “Export” button.

Conclusion

Since the PDF created in this tutorial has all the headings on one page, I can’t confirm that it jumps.

Try it out in the actual documentation process.