How to batch set PDFs to display page thumbnails when opened? Multi-file initial view settings tutorial

When a contract, report, bid, or electronic document contains many pages, if the PDF only shows the body text after opening, readers still need to manually bring up the page thumbnails, which makes finding content inconvenient. This article explains how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to import multiple PDFs at once and uniformly set "Show on Open" to "Show Page Thumbnails". After processing, compatible PDF readers will automatically display the thumbnail navigation panel when opening the file, making it easy to quickly preview the page structure and locate target pages, and reducing the repetitive work of changing the initial view of each file individually.

When organizing contracts, project reports, bid documents, training materials, product manuals, or scanned archives, we often encounter a problem that seems simple but actually takes a lot of time: PDF files have many pages, but each time they are opened, only the body area is displayed, and the page thumbnails on the left are not automatically expanded. If readers want to quickly find the cover, table of contents, attachments, or a specific page, they still have to manually click the thumbnail button.

If there is only one PDF, this operation is not complicated; but when there are dozens or even more PDFs in a folder, opening, modifying the initial view, saving, and closing them one by one creates a large amount of repetitive work. This article will explain how to use the office software " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool " to batch set PDF files to display page thumbnails by default when opened. The entire process does not require opening each file in a reader to adjust it one by one, and it is suitable for standardizing the opening interface of a batch of PDF documents.

It should be noted that the focus of this processing is the initial view and navigation panel preferences of PDF files, not converting PDFs into images, nor merging multiple PDFs into one file. The processed files are still PDFs, and when opened, they will convey the initial display setting of "show page thumbnails" to compatible readers.

1. Applicable scenarios: which PDFs are suitable for displaying thumbnails by default

Page thumbnails can display the appearance and arrangement order of each page of a PDF in the form of small images. For documents with many pages, complex structures, or requiring frequent page jumps, expanding thumbnails by default can usually improve browsing efficiency.

• Long reports and research materials: readers can quickly locate content based on title layouts, chart distribution, or chapter opening pages.
• Contracts, agreements, and bidding documents: making it easier to find signature pages, quotation pages, attachment pages, and pages containing specific clauses.
• Training courseware and operating manuals: after opening the PDF, the page structure can be seen immediately without repeatedly scrolling through the body text.
• Scanned archives and receipt materials: when a document lacks a clickable table of contents, thumbnails can provide more intuitive page navigation.
• PDFs that need to be delivered in batches: before enterprises send large amounts of materials to customers, colleagues, or partners, they can unify the file opening method to make the reading experience more consistent.

This kind of need is especially suitable for completion using batch-processing office software. Compared with manually setting each file one by one, importing multiple PDFs at once and uniformly selecting processing options can significantly reduce repeated clicking and omissions.

2. Effect preview: what is the difference before and after processing

1. Before processing: thumbnails are not displayed by default after the PDF is opened

The following is an example before processing. The PDF has been opened normally, and the reader mainly displays the document body, without automatically expanding the page thumbnail area on the left. For files with only a few pages, this display method has little impact; but when facing a report with dozens of pages, users often can only rely on the scroll bar, page number input box, or reader buttons to locate content.

From the image, it can be seen that the body area occupies the main space, and readers cannot browse the appearance of each page at the first moment when opening the file. If a batch of PDFs is in this initial state, recipients will need to manually bring up the thumbnail panel every time they open a file.

2. After processing: page thumbnails are automatically displayed when the PDF is opened

After the batch setting is completed, when the processed result is opened again with a reader that supports the PDF initial view, page thumbnails will automatically appear on the left. Readers can directly view the page arrangement and click a thumbnail to jump to the corresponding page.

The processed example clearly shows the thumbnail navigation area on the left. The before-and-after images use example files for demonstration only, and the page count and body content do not need to be exactly the same. When judging whether the setting has taken effect, the key is to observe whether the page thumbnail panel automatically appears on the left after the reader opens the PDF.

This setting does not amount to re-laying out the pages, nor does it embed thumbnails into the body text. It mainly controls the state of the navigation panel when the PDF is opened. The actual display position, panel width, and icon style may vary depending on the PDF reader.

3. Operation steps: batch set PDFs to display thumbnails when opened

Step 1: Enter the "Set PDF Initial View" function

Open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , and in the function categories on the left, enter "PDF Tools". The main software interface will display multiple PDF batch-processing functions. Find and click "35. Set PDF Initial View". From the interface prompts, it can be seen that this function is used to batch set the navigation panel, page display mode, and default zoom ratio when PDF files are opened.

The goal this time is to make many PDF files display thumbnails by default when opened, so "Set PDF Initial View" should be selected instead of other functions such as PDF to image, delete bookmarks, or modify metadata. After entering this tool, the processing flow will be displayed at the top of the page, including selecting records, setting processing options, setting the save location, and starting processing.

Step 2: Add the PDF files that need unified settings

After entering the processing page, add PDFs in the first step, "Select records to process". The top of the interface provides two entry points: "Add Files" and "Import Files from Folder".

• If only a few specified PDFs need to be processed, "Add Files" can be used for selection.
• If a large number of PDFs to be processed are stored in the same folder, "Import Files from Folder" can be used to reduce the repeated work of selecting files.

After the files are imported, the list will display information such as name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. In the example screenshot, 1.pdf, 2.pdf, 3.pdf, and 4.pdf have been imported, for a total of 4 records. Before formal processing, it is recommended to check the following:

1. Confirm that the extension in the list is pdf to avoid mistakenly selecting other types of files.
2. Check the file paths to ensure that the imported files are the versions to be processed this time.
3. If any file does not need to be processed, use the delete operation on the right side of the corresponding record to remove it from the list.
4. If the entire list is selected incorrectly, you can use the "Clear" button provided in the interface to add files again.

After confirming that the number of files and paths are correct, click "Next" at the bottom of the page to enter the processing option settings.

Step 3: Enable "Show on Open" and select "Show Page Thumbnails"

In the second step, "Set Processing Options", first enable the "Show on Open" option. After enabling it, options such as "Do Not Show Sidebar", "Show Bookmarks", and "Show Page Thumbnails" will appear below. Please select "Show Page Thumbnails".

The purpose of this selection is to uniformly set the PDFs in the imported list so that when the file is opened, the reader gives priority to displaying the page thumbnail navigation panel. In the screenshot, the circular selection marker is already in front of "Show Page Thumbnails", indicating that this option is selected.

The current task only requires modifying the navigation panel, so "Page Display Mode" and "Default Zoom Mode" can remain disabled. This avoids changing the page layout or zoom preference at the same time when there is no clear need. If other initial display parameters also need to be adjusted, they should be confirmed separately according to the actual delivery specifications before being enabled, and should not be modified arbitrarily just for displaying thumbnails.

After completing the settings, click "Next".

Step 4: Set the save location

The third step of the process is "Set Save Location". Please select the save directory for the processing results according to the prompts on the software page. To facilitate verification of the results, it is recommended to save the new files in an independent folder that is easy to identify, and not mix them with the original PDFs before the results have been verified.

When setting the save location, you can use management methods such as "Original Files", "Processed Files", or folders distinguished by date. The key here is not to fix a specific directory name, but to ensure that the output results can be found quickly later and that the original files can be returned to when necessary.

Step 5: Start batch processing and check the results

After entering the fourth step of the process, "Start Processing", confirm that the file list, processing options, and save location are correct, and then start the task according to the interface prompts. The software will perform the same initial view setting on multiple PDFs in the list. This is also the core value of batch processing compared with manual operation: the parameters only need to be configured once, and there is no need to open each PDF in turn.

After the task is completed, enter the save directory and spot-check several output files. It is recommended to first close any old windows that are already open, and then reopen the processed PDFs from the output directory to observe whether page thumbnails automatically appear on the left. For tasks with a large number of files, spot-check files with different page counts and different sources; if the files are important delivery materials, final confirmation can also be carried out file by file.

4. Common issues and precautions

1. Why do thumbnails still not appear automatically after the PDF is processed and opened?

Different PDF readers may have different levels of support for initial view settings. Some readers follow the file settings, while others may give priority to the interface state from the last time the user closed the file. Built-in PDF viewers in browsers may also simplify sidebar behavior. In such cases, you can test with a commonly used desktop PDF reader and make sure that the opened file is the processed file in the output directory.

2. Will displaying thumbnails change the page content of the PDF?

This function targets the initial view when the PDF is opened. The thumbnail panel belongs to the reader's navigation interface and is not a newly added page in the body text. For safety, after processing important contracts, stamped documents, or archived materials, it is still recommended to spot-check whether the page count, body display, and signature or seal status meet the requirements.

3. What is the difference between "Show Bookmarks" and "Show Page Thumbnails"?

Bookmarks usually navigate in the form of chapter names or hierarchical outlines, provided that the PDF itself contains a bookmark structure; page thumbnails display the page order through small preview images of each page. Even if a PDF does not have complete bookmarks, thumbnails are still suitable for finding target pages through the page layout appearance. The goal of this tutorial is to display page previews by default, so "Show Page Thumbnails" is selected.

4. Should page display mode and default zoom mode be set at the same time?

No. If the requirement is only to make the PDF display thumbnails when opened, simply enable "Show on Open" and select the corresponding option. Page display mode and default zoom ratio are different initial view parameters, and adjusting them arbitrarily may change the reading layout when recipients open the file.

5. Why is it recommended to keep the original files before batch processing?

For PDFs from different readers, different sources, or files with special permissions, the processing results may vary. Keeping the original files and outputting the results to a separate directory makes it easier to compare and check, and also reduces the management risk caused by accidental overwriting. If a file is open in another program, it is recommended to close it before processing.

5. Summary

To batch set PDFs to display page thumbnails by default when opened, you can enter "PDF Tools" in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , select "Set PDF Initial View", import files in batches, then enable "Show on Open" and check "Show Page Thumbnails". After that, set the save location and start processing, so that multiple PDFs can use a unified initial navigation panel preference.

For long PDFs such as reports, contracts, manuals, and scanned archives, this setting allows readers to browse the page structure immediately after opening the file, reducing the operations of manually expanding the sidebar and repeatedly turning pages. For now, you can select a few non-unique original files for testing. After confirming that the display effect in commonly used readers meets the requirements, apply the same parameters to the entire batch of PDF files.