sumatrapdfreader
Feature request: allow adding, editing, and deleting bookmarks (stored externally)
It would be very useful if SumatraPDF allowed users to manage bookmarks — add, rename, reorder, and delete — without modifying the PDF file itself.
Currently, bookmarks (outlines) can only be viewed if they already exist in the PDF. For large documents, technical papers, or ebooks, being able to create and organize bookmarks would greatly improve navigation and usability.
Proposed approach (consistent with SumatraPDF’s read-only philosophy):
- Store bookmarks in an external file (e.g.,
.bmkor.json) located next to the PDF. - The file could map page numbers and bookmark names for that document.
- When the PDF is reopened, SumatraPDF could automatically load these bookmarks.
This would let users maintain personal bookmarks and structure, while keeping SumatraPDF lightweight and read-only.
It’s similar to how annotations or highlights are already stored in external .smx files.
Why this matters: Many users prefer SumatraPDF for its simplicity and speed, but lack a way to organize long documents without modifying the PDF. External bookmark management would fill this gap and still respect the program’s design philosophy.
document bookmarks are in pdf a highly complex set of instructions that need a full pdf editor to alter the core structures via annotations. so not easy to change you will find usually command line utilities need to export allow manual edit and delete existing before adding one new one.
SumatraPDF has always had "Favorites" to allow save secondary external page numbers. Also, at one time had a reasonable system of extracting bookmarks (.bkm) then meld into groups (vbkm) , however it was a very high maintenance task when nesting and editing, especially files that did not have them.
Smx files worked and can do up to version 3.2 but are no longer supported due to core changes.
The simplest way is to use any app that allows for calling page numbers and let user edit their own list thus over the years I have used a variety of means to list files and call SumatraPDF even a version that follows it around like a puppy by cling to the edges, but is not exclusive to SumatraPDF itself.
@r9nunes I have "tidied" my sidebar companion navigator it is perhaps not what you wanted but may help fill a gap.
It is very much a proof of concept for many uses but you can adjust to go to -page # of pdf by look at the sample config.
So if you wish to try it download my navigator command console from top right choices at https://github.com/GitHubRulesOK/SumatraPDF-Plus/blob/master/Plus/Navigator.cmd
Place it in a SUB folder below a copy of portable sumatrapdf.exe (i suggest call that sub folder PLUS it will on first run download the config then adapt itself from cmd to exe and it is the exe will clamp on to a running SumatraPDF.
To allow to start the navigator from SumatraPDF rather than the opposite needs you add an external viewer command with a hotkey in SumatraPDF advanced settings.