How to automate adding In-document navigation to pdf documents.

[Ankita36205859zhgv]

The documents contain a table and some charts on page#2. This table contains a list of titles (similar to Chapters). I want a script to make these titles clickable. On clicking a title user should navigate to the respective page number assigned to it. Note: all the titles are standard and we can hardcode the mapping between Title and Page Number. I am open to insert some rectangles or other annotations to make this functionality work, provided they stay hidden.

[Thom Parker]

There's no built-in functionality overlaying entries in a TOC with links. And there is no easy way to do it with a script. It can be done, but its non-trivial. I've actually done this before, so I know.  For this one you'll need to hire a developer. 

[Ankita36205859zhgv]

Thanks for yor reply. Since adobe acrobat pro provides the option to insert navigation links to text within the document, is it possible to automate this process somehow?

[Thom Parker]

There are two issues with automating this process.

1. The location of each line in the TOC has to be identified. This means doing a text analysis of the TOC pages to determine what is a TOC line and what is not a TOC line. It helps if some location info is known up front. For example, if the user draws a rectangle around the TOC lines, the task is greatly simplified.  This same analysis would also identify the page numbers. 

2. A script cannot set a true link destination. It can only set a script on a link or button.  This is unfortunate since a true destination can be used by nearly any PDF viewer, even the really bad mobile and browser viewers. Whereas JavaScript is only useful to a small set of premium desktop viewers. 

There is only one way to fix this issue, and that is with a plug-in that converts JS link actions in to true destinations. 

[try67]

I've created a (paid-for) tool that allows you to convert the bookmarks of a PDF file into a TOC, with clickable links that take you to the location each bookmark points to. You can find it here: https://www.try67.com/tool/acrobat-create-a-table-of-contents-toc-in-a-pdf-file-from-bookmarks