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Inspiring
October 17, 2025
Answered

PDF bookmark levels don't match InDesign TOC levels

  • October 17, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 111 views
Windows 11, InDesign 20.5 x64
I have a TOC for my book file:
When I generate the PDF for the book, the Bookmarks panel has all the bookmarks after section 1.1 one level down from where they should be, so if I collapse the section 1.1 bookmark, sections 1.2 and 1.3 collapse; or if I collapse the Chapter 1 bookmark, the whole doc collapses:
The TOC styles are set as shown:
I'm not sure what other information would be helpful.
Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi @jeanne_c:

 

Your TOC shows two levels but your bookmarks don't match, and you are listing four paragraph styles in Style Settings.

 

In Layout > Table of Contents, click the More Options button to display all of the TOC controls. Then map each style listed under Include Paragraph Styles to the appropriate level.

 

The paragraphs styles collecting the top level heads 1., 2., 3. and 4. should be level 1, and the paragraph styles collecting the subheads 1.1., 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 etc should be level 2. This won't change the TOC, but it will update the bookmarks.

 

~Barb

 

1 reply

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 18, 2025

Hi @jeanne_c:

 

Your TOC shows two levels but your bookmarks don't match, and you are listing four paragraph styles in Style Settings.

 

In Layout > Table of Contents, click the More Options button to display all of the TOC controls. Then map each style listed under Include Paragraph Styles to the appropriate level.

 

The paragraphs styles collecting the top level heads 1., 2., 3. and 4. should be level 1, and the paragraph styles collecting the subheads 1.1., 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 etc should be level 2. This won't change the TOC, but it will update the bookmarks.

 

~Barb

 

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
jeanne_cAuthor
Inspiring
October 20, 2025

Thank you Barb! Issue reolved.