How to split a PDF into chapters or sections?

Question

I'm searching for a way to split up a full PDF into single PDFs containing the single chapters of the document.

Usually I'm using pdfjam to split / merge / ... PDFs, is there a simple way to split up depending on the table of content?

Interesting question! Have a look at pdfsam, according to this comment https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/31334/how-to-create-individual-chapter-pdfs#comment61715_31334 it allows you split by hyperref bookmarks. — samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz, Dec 21 '18 at 10:51

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 22 '18 at 14:23

5

Thanks to samcarters answer I found a nice solution using sejda. The command to split up a PDF depending on the 1st level of the table of content, created with hyperref using LaTeX reads

sejda-console splitbybookmarks --bookmarkLevel 1 --files <input.pdf> --output <output_directory>

answered Dec 22 '18 at 14:23

madn

71

Thanks a lot for posting an answer! Please don't hesitate to change the accepted status to your answer! – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz Dec 22 '18 at 14:33

samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz · Answer 2 · 2018-12-21T11:14:20.757

2

Based on the comment How to create individual chapter PDFs

If you have a document that uses hyperref, e.g. this one

\documentclass{book}

\usepackage{hyperref}
\usepackage{lipsum}

\begin{document}

\chapter{chap1}
\lipsum

\chapter{chap2}
\lipsum

\end{document}

you can use pdfsam to split at a bookmark level of your choice using this option:

In the next step you can chose your file, the bookmark level and the output name and location

edited Dec 21 '18 at 11:14

answered Dec 21 '18 at 10:56

samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz

158,329

thanks a lot! the command line version of pdfsam works like a charm for my problem. cheers. – madn Dec 21 '18 at 12:14
@madn Good to hear that your problem is solved! Can you write an additional answer about your solution using sejda? This could be very helpful for future users with the same problem as you. – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz Dec 21 '18 at 12:19

How to split a PDF into chapters or sections?

2 Answers2