Merge Google Docs into One PDF with a Table of Contents
A table of contents makes long merged PDFs navigable. When you combine several Google Docs into one file, readers need a way to jump to specific sections. Adding a table of contents document at the start solves this.
Creating a table of contents document
Before merging, create a new Google Doc that will serve as your table of contents. List each source document title as a line item. You can add page numbers manually after doing a test merge to check page counts. Place this document first in the merge order so it becomes the opening pages of the combined PDF.
Using heading-based bookmarks
When the extension creates the merged PDF, documents that use Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles can generate bookmarks in the PDF. These bookmarks appear in the PDF viewer's outline panel and let readers jump to any section. This is a faster way to create navigation than a manual table of contents.
Keeping page numbers accurate
If your source documents have their own page numbers in headers or footers, those will appear in the merged PDF. To have consistent numbering across the whole document, remove per-document page numbers before merging and let the merged PDF's overall pagination handle it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the extension generate an automatic table of contents for the merged PDF?
The extension creates PDF bookmarks from document headings. A full clickable table of contents page requires creating that page manually as a Google Doc and placing it first in the merge order.
Do hyperlinks in the table of contents work in the merged PDF?
Hyperlinks that point to web URLs are preserved in the merged PDF. Internal document links that pointed to specific sections within a Google Doc may not resolve correctly across merged documents.
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