Split Up Data Merged PDF Files into Smaller Files
Alistair wrote:
I have a two page letter that, when merged, becomes a 40-page document — that is, 20 x 2 page letters. I want to be able to save each letter as a separate PDF. Is there a way of doing this all in one go? Or do I have to save each of the 2 pages as PDFs individually until I’ve saved all 20 letters?
I was convinced that you would have to do this manually until last week, when another reader informed me of a small utility that would do it, called PDF Splitter & Merger. Unfortunately, it appears to be Windows-only, and it also costs money. I have no problem with things costing money — developers need to get paid for their work. But I need a Mac solution myself, so I kept looking and soon found a free open source, Mac OS and Windows solution called PDF Split and Merge, a.k.a. PDFsam.
Now, like many open source apps, this one took some time to figure out. I mean, the user interface is simple, but not obvious, if you know what I mean. It also runs inside Java, so it kind of like a mixe between Windows 98 and Linux. That said, after 4 minutes of clicking around, I figured it out and it’s quite amazing. (Click the image below to zoom in on it.)
Here’s the quick rundown: Start the application, choose Split in the window on the left, click the Add button on the right to add the big PDF file (the one you want split up), choose the ‘Split every “n” pages’ radio button, fill out the rest of the options if you want, then click Run. Then, if you find yourself using this often, please visit SourceForge, sign in (free), and donate some euros or dollars or rubles or yen or something to the team who wrote this.
I wish InDesign’s Data Merge feature could do this for you, but it can’t. Until CS5 (or 6?), we’ll just have to run one of these sorts of programs on the final PDF file.
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Hey, don?t buy anything! Just upgrade to Acrobat 9 Pro. Their is a new feature to Split PDF document either in numbers of pages, or file size or Top Level bookmark.
In Acro9 Pro, choose Document > Split Document. If you don?t have one already open you can add them later.
Jean-Claude, thank you! Wow, how embarassing. I should have seen that in Acr9, but I only have it installed on one of my computers (not the one I usually write on). Hey, another good reason to upgrade.
The amusing thing is that I think a lot of InDesign users haven’t even thought about upgrading to Acrobat 9 because it doesn’t seem “real” until CS4 is out. But it is real, it is part of the 3.3 upgrade. Hey, if people ugprade to 3.3 now, will they get CS4 free? I have no idea.
They’ll only get CS4 free if they upgrade to CS3.3 from CS2.x or earlier. CS3 to CS3.3 is more of an update than an upgrade.
It’s a $159.00 update that gets you Acrobat 9 Pro and Fireworks CS3. That in turn gets you a $160. discount on the price of the CS3 to CS4 upgrade.
Note: the above assumes that we’re discussing Design Premium which in my opinion is the best buy in the bunch.
Thanks, David, for finding “PDF Split and Merge”! It’s a handy tool to have at hand, er, to keep around — even if the forthcoming Acro9 can also auto-split PDFs. I’m not exactly dying to get it, even though it will be in my CS4 Design Premium box. But I am happy that now, unlike with CS3, we’re getting Fireworks in the box. I ranted to John Nack about that, as did many others, and it seems to have helped.
I forget to tell you, that is you are still using Acrobat 5,6,7 or 8, you can download and use “FREE” a wonderfull tool call: Abracadabra Tool from this site:
https://www.abracadabrapdf.net
It’s a set of Javascript that works both on Mac and Windows. It add a lot of nice functions along with the possibility to Spit a large PDF.
That is so cool David! I couldn’t believe how fast it split the document.
I knew you’d have an answer.
Thanks so much.
Alistair
Hi David & all.
You do not have to have Acrobat 9. Already Acrobat 8 (and may be earlier versions too) know the command (I am translating from german) “Document > Take pages out” (or something like this in the english version). The dialog there gives you the opportunity to take out pages as single docs.
@Jochen: There is a big difference in that feature, however. In Acr8, you have to specify exactly which pages to “Extract”. In this situation, you would have to manually extract pages many times, or extract all the pages, but only one at a time (as single pages). With the new feature, you can say “extract every 2 pages” or “every 10 pages” or like that.
See the point. Thanks.
i’ve been looking for this solution everywhere! THANK YOU!!!
That may be the problem I had. You can’t do a multi-document merge when the template goes over one page. The button gets grayed out. The limitations of DataMerge as what they are, I’ve really never used it for more than a mail merge or sign-in sheet at the IDUG meetings.
In effect, DataMerge is the Frame method. Limited, but useful certain purposes.
The above post is nice, but you have explained the way by which only MAC user can split and merge PDF files. So i want to suggest you PDFWARE this range of PDF products are completely based on Windows O.S…………
Thanks and Regards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuQArPdsRxg
merge multiple PDF files into one PDF on Mac