Indexes and Bookmarks in PDF

[Palaskar]

How do I make indexes and bookmarks in a PDF file?

I'm working with Microsoft Word and using it to print out PDF files, but so far, the closest I can come to a real index is to manually check the page numbers of each section in my RPG, and then go back to the index and type in the proper page number.

That's right, I have to do it manually.

There has to be a better way. What is it?

[Grand_Commander13]

I know Indesign handles it quite well.  I haven't tried to make PDFs with Word, but I highly doubt it has that kind of functionality.

Perhaps some other people can hook you up with links to free PDF software that makes bookmarks, or tell you how to do it in Word if Word does indeed have that functionality.

[Avalloc]

Creating an Index

It is fairly complicated or at least a drawn out process.
To have Word create the index you have to
"insert a special XE (Index Entry) field"

Go to Word's help and search for "create index"

Or if you open the help's contents tab,  
-Scroll down to "Working with Long Documents"
-click the plus sign
-look in the sub-list for "Creating Indexes, Table of Contents, and Other Tables"
-"Indexes" is the last item, opening it reveals all the links to index info

Hopefully there isn't any difference between the version of Word I am use, and your version.


Bookmarks
The way I prefer is to add the bookmarks with Acrobat after.  

If you are using all the styles Header 1, Header 2  properly through out the document you can use the bookmark tab in the dialog that appears when you use the Create PDF from the Word's file menu.  If you have used the styles correctly, it should automate the bookmark making for you.  

Of course any minor bookmark errors, could be fixed in Acrobat.  

I suggest doing a small test document with a few index and bookmark entries. To get a feel for how it works or how well it works.  

Hope this helps.

[MikeSands]

OpenOffice 2.0 (available currently only in beta) does this. I don't think OpenOffice 1.1 can.

I used it for The Gentlemen's Entomology Club and it made bookmark links automatically from the table of contents and cross references without a hitch.

[TheLe]

I use MS word for all of my d20 PDF books, and indexes are a pain.

Unfortunately, I have found that the best solution is to put them in manually once your document is complete.

That works quickest for me.

~Le, aka The Le Games

[Palaskar]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've recently recieved an email that should allow me to insert indexes (not tables of conent, but real, pain in the ass indexes!) through MS Word. Thanks for being so helpful!

Palaskar

[Polaris]

OpenOffice 2.0 (available currently only in beta) does this. I don't think OpenOffice 1.1 can.

I used it for The Gentlemen's Entomology Club and it made bookmark links automatically from the table of contents and cross references without a hitch.

Very nice!  If I remember, this program is also free...<?>

William Andersen
ComStar
http://www.comstar-games.com