Split a Book Manuscript Into Chapter Files
A manuscript that uses one H1 per chapter can be split into one file per chapter, each downloadable on its own.
Direct answer
Write or paste the manuscript with one heading per chapter, then use Split mode with 'By H1' (or 'By H2' if chapters sit under a part title). Each chapter becomes a part with its heading intact, a character count, a copy button, and a download button. Downloads are per part; there is no zip.
Open Merge & Split Markdown toolWhen to use this
- A manuscript lives in one long file and your publishing tool wants one file per chapter.
- Co-authors each need their own chapter to edit.
- You are moving a draft into a static site or an ebook builder.
Steps
- Open the Split tab.
- Load the manuscript file or paste the full text.
- Choose the heading level that marks a chapter.
- Check the part count against your chapter count.
- Download each chapter, renaming as you save if your publishing tool expects a naming pattern.
Example conversion
# Chapter 1: The Arrival Text. # Chapter 2: The Offer Text. # Chapter 3: The Return Text.
Part 1 — Chapter 1: The Arrival Part 2 — Chapter 2: The Offer Part 3 — Chapter 3: The Return
Common mistakes
- Title pages, dedications, and a table of contents before chapter one become a separate leading part. Delete that part if you do not want it.
- Inconsistent heading levels split badly. Normalise every chapter to the same level before splitting.
- Downloaded files are named from the part number and heading. Rename them if your builder expects a strict pattern.
FAQ
- Does the manuscript stay private?
- Yes. The text is processed in your browser only. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for unpublished work.
- Can I split by scene breaks instead of headings?
- Not directly. The split modes are H1, H2, and approximate size. Convert scene breaks to a heading level first if you need them as boundaries.
- Can I rejoin the chapters later?
- Yes. Switch to Merge mode, select the chapter files, order them, and merge with no separator to rebuild the manuscript.
Related merge and split guides
How to Combine Multiple Markdown Files Into One
Select several .md files, put them in the order you want, and join them with a horizontal rule or a filename heading between each one. Everything runs in the browser.
How to Split a Long Markdown Document by Heading
Paste one large Markdown document, choose H1 or H2 as the break point, and get one part per section with its own copy and download button.
Chunk a Markdown File for AI Context Windows
Split a long document into size-limited parts so each chunk fits a model context window or a RAG index entry. Size is set in characters, with an approximate token count shown.
Merge a Docs Folder Into a Single Markdown File
Select every file in a docs folder, order them, and join them into one document with filename headings so each source stays identifiable.