Update Page Labels from Margins

Overview

Update Page Labels from Margins detects page numbers printed in the margins of each page and converts them into PDF page labels. It is designed for scanned or typeset PDFs where the visible numbering differs from the internal PDF page index.

How to use

  1. Open the PDF and go to Plug-Ins > Page Labels > Update Page Labels from Margins.
  2. Select which margins to search (left, right, top, bottom) using the checkboxes.
  3. Set the margin values in the chosen unit (inches, centimetres, or points).
  4. Optionally enable the page preview and adjust margin guides by dragging them directly on the preview.
  5. Choose the label style, prefix, and suffix.
  6. Set the page range and click OK.

Margin settings

OptionDescription
Left / Right / Top / Bottom Check to include a margin in the search area. When a margin is unchecked, its value fields and spin controls are disabled. At least one margin must be selected.
Margin values Numeric values defining how far from the page edge to search. Adjustable via spin controls or by typing directly.
Units Choose inches, centimetres, or points. Changing units converts existing values automatically. The default is based on your Windows locale setting.

Page preview

When Show page preview is checked, a visual representation of the current page is displayed with red margin guide lines. You can:

Label settings

OptionDescription
Style As defined by document — reuses each page's existing style.
Decimal1, 2, 3
Upper RomanI, II, III
Lower Romani, ii, iii
Upper AlphabeticA, B, C
Lower Alphabetica, b, c
No numbers — uses prefix/suffix text only.
Prefix Optional fixed text placed before the detected number.
Suffix Optional fixed text placed after the detected number.

Page range

OptionDescription
From page / To end of file Process pages from the start page through the last page of the document.
From page / To page Process pages within a specific contiguous range.
Custom page range Enter comma-separated pages or ranges, e.g. 1-5,10,15-20.

Tip

Use the interactive preview to visually confirm that your margin settings capture the printed page numbers. Drag the guide lines until the hatched area covers only the margin region containing the numbers.

Note

OCR is required for scanned pages without selectable text. The tool updates PDF page labels, which affects page thumbnails, the navigation bar, and bookmark page references. If margin suggestions are available from the document, they are displayed automatically.

See also