Add PDF Bookmarks

This article provides information on how to insert PDF bookmarks when converting a spreadsheet to PDF.

Aspose.Cells allows you to add bookmarks on the fly. PDF bookmarks can drastically improve the navigability of long documents. When adding bookmark links to PDF document, you can have precise control over the exact view you want, you’re not limited to linking to a page. You can set up the precise view by positioning the target page, and then create the bookmark.

Please see the following sample code to find out how to add PDF bookmarks. The code generates a simple workbook, specifies PDF bookmarks with destination locations and generates the PDF file.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-cells/Aspose.Cells-for-.NET
// The path to the documents directory.
string dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir(System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);

// Create directory if it is not already present.
bool IsExists = System.IO.Directory.Exists(dataDir);
if (!IsExists)
    System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(dataDir);

// Instantiate a new workbook
Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
// Get the cells in the first(default) worksheet
Cells cells = workbook.Worksheets[0].Cells;
// Get the A1 cell
Aspose.Cells.Cell p = cells["A1"];
// Enter a value
p.PutValue("Preface");
// Get the A10 cell
Aspose.Cells.Cell A = cells["A10"];
// Enter a value.
A.PutValue("page1");
// Get the H15 cell
Aspose.Cells.Cell D = cells["H15"];
// Enter a value
D.PutValue("page1(H15)");
// Add a new worksheet to the workbook
workbook.Worksheets.Add();
// Get the cells in the second sheet
cells = workbook.Worksheets[1].Cells;
// Get the B10 cell in the second sheet
Aspose.Cells.Cell B = cells["B10"];
// Enter a value
B.PutValue("page2");
// Add a new worksheet to the workbook
workbook.Worksheets.Add();
// Get the cells in the third sheet
cells = workbook.Worksheets[2].Cells;
// Get the C10 cell in the third sheet
Aspose.Cells.Cell C = cells["C10"];
// Enter a value
C.PutValue("page3");

// Create a main PDF Bookmark entry object
Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry pbeRoot = new Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry();
// Specify its text
pbeRoot.Text = "Sections";
// Set the destination cell/location
pbeRoot.Destination = p;

// Set its sub entry array list
pbeRoot.SubEntry = new ArrayList();

// Create a sub PDF Bookmark entry object
Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry subPbe1 = new Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry();
// Specify its text
subPbe1.Text = "Section 1";
// Set its destination cell
subPbe1.Destination = A;
// Define/Create a sub Bookmark entry object of "Section A"
Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry ssubPbe = new Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry();
// Specify its text
ssubPbe.Text = "Section 1.1";
// Set its destination
ssubPbe.Destination = D;
// Create/Set its sub entry array list object
subPbe1.SubEntry = new ArrayList();
// Add the object to "Section 1"
subPbe1.SubEntry.Add(ssubPbe);
// Add the object to the main PDF root object
pbeRoot.SubEntry.Add(subPbe1);

// Create a sub PDF Bookmark entry object
Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry subPbe2 = new Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry();
// Specify its text
subPbe2.Text = "Section 2";
// Set its destination
subPbe2.Destination = B;
// Add the object to the main PDF root object
pbeRoot.SubEntry.Add(subPbe2);

// Create a sub PDF Bookmark entry object
Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry subPbe3 = new Aspose.Cells.Rendering.PdfBookmarkEntry();
// Specify its text
subPbe3.Text = "Section 3";
// Set its destination
subPbe3.Destination = C;
// Add the object to the main PDF root object
pbeRoot.SubEntry.Add(subPbe3);

// Create an instance of PdfSaveOptions
Aspose.Cells.PdfSaveOptions pdfSaveOptions = new Aspose.Cells.PdfSaveOptions();

// Set the PDF Bookmark root object
pdfSaveOptions.Bookmark = pbeRoot;

dataDir = dataDir+ "PDFBookmarks_test.out.pdf";
// Save the pdf file
workbook.Save(dataDir, pdfSaveOptions);

If your spreadsheet has formulas, it is best to call Workbook.CalculateFormula just before rendering the spreadsheet to PDF format. Doing so will ensure that the formula dependent values are refreshed & rendered correctly in PDF.