Understanding Bookmarks

Bookmarks are the navigational backbone of any well-prepared PDF filing. Navi automates the creation and management of bookmarks so that every document you produce is easy to navigate and court-compliant.

What Are PDF Bookmarks?

PDF bookmarks (sometimes called an “outline” or “table of contents”) are clickable entries in a PDF viewer’s sidebar that jump to specific pages or sections within a document. Courts and opposing counsel rely on bookmarks to navigate large filings efficiently.

How Navi Detects Bookmarks

Navi uses structural analysis to identify headings and section breaks in your document. It considers:

  • Font size and weight — Larger or bold text is treated as a higher-level heading
  • Numbering patterns — Roman numerals, letters, and numbered paragraphs are recognized
  • Spacing and indentation — Visual layout cues help determine heading hierarchy
  • Table of Contents — If your document contains a TOC, Navi cross-references it with the detected structure

Editing Bookmarks

After processing, you can fine-tune the bookmark tree:

  • Rename — Click any bookmark label to edit its text
  • Reorder — Drag bookmarks to change their sequence
  • Nest / Unnest — Indent or outdent bookmarks to adjust the hierarchy
  • Add — Insert a new bookmark pointing to any page
  • Delete — Remove bookmarks that are unnecessary

All changes are reflected in the live preview panel so you can see exactly how the final PDF will look.

Bookmark Best Practices

For litigation filings, consider the following guidelines:

  • Every exhibit and attachment should have its own top-level bookmark
  • Sub-sections within an exhibit should be nested under the exhibit bookmark
  • Bookmark labels should match the document’s table of contents exactly
  • Avoid overly deep nesting — three levels is usually sufficient

In addition to bookmarks, Navi can insert internal hyperlinks. When a cross-reference like “See Exhibit A” appears in the text, Navi creates a clickable link that jumps to the corresponding bookmark. This makes your filing fully navigable without relying on the sidebar.

Exporting

When you click Apply Bookmarks, Navi generates a new PDF with all bookmarks and hyperlinks embedded. The original file is never modified — you always keep a clean copy of your source document.