Split by Outline
Divide a PDF by chapters and table of contents bookmark trees.
Tailored Parameters
Fine-tune exact dimensions, qualities, ranges, or security tokens for this feature.
Instant Local Processing
Zero latency local computation directly in your browser session.
Same-Page Workflow
Re-run operations repeatedly without losing your active tool workspace.
A PDF with a table of contents already knows where its chapters begin. This tool reads the outline entries and cuts the document at each one, producing a separate file per chapter and naming it after the bookmark.
It only works on documents that carry a real outline. A visual heading is not a bookmark, and a file without an outline has nothing to split on.
How it works
- 1Load a document with bookmarks. The outline is read and its top-level entries listed.
- 2Choose the outline level. Split on top-level chapters, or go deeper to separate sub-sections.
- 3Download the chapter files. A ZIP arrives with one document per bookmark, named accordingly.
When you need it
- Breaking a technical manual into per-chapter references
- Separating a bound set of policies into individually distributable documents
- Turning a compiled annual report back into its constituent sections
Frequently asked questions
- My file has no bookmarks. What now?
- Add them with Create Bookmarks, or split on explicit page ranges instead.
- Are nested bookmarks handled?
- Yes. You choose which outline level defines a split, so sub-sections can either stay with their chapter or become files of their own.
- How are the output files named?
- From the bookmark text, with characters that are illegal in filenames replaced.
- Are my documents uploaded anywhere?
- No. Every tool in PDF41 runs inside your browser tab using WebAssembly and JavaScript. Your file is read from disk into memory, processed locally, and handed back as a download. It is never transmitted to a server, so there is nothing to intercept, retain, or delete afterwards.
- Does this work without an internet connection?
- Yes, once the page has loaded. The PDF engine, fonts and character maps are all served from this site rather than a third-party CDN, so an unstable connection or a locked-down corporate network does not stop the tool from working.
Similar tools to use
Complete your document workflow with these frequently paired tools.
Create Bookmarks
Add and organize table of contents chapter bookmarks.
Split PDF
Split specific page ranges or extract each page into a separate document.
Extract Pages
Get a new document containing only your explicitly selected pages.