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Question

How to use multiple copies of the same form combined in one file

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 6, 2025
2 replies
1929 views

I use a test pit form that has many fields. When I am done with a project I want all of these forms say 2 to 10 depending on the project to be in the same pdf file. I do not want to ge through each fiel and change each field to blahblah page 2 and then page 3 etc. If i don't do this and combine they are all identical. So I have been flatening. This is an extremely irritating process that must have a work around. flattening each page separately with a new name and then combining the files wastes so much time say bad things to my computer (that I would not want to repeat here). There must be another way.

Of course I am using Acrobat Pro and probably in the wrong forum. I can't wait to hear that.

try67

Community Expert

You can flatten an entire file at all once using the Preflight tool, or this simple script:

this.flattenPages();

You can even use an Action and run this command on multiple files in a single process.

Just be aware this change is not reversible, so make sure you keep backup copies of your files, in case you want to edit them later on.

Thom Parker

Community Expert

You could even automate the entire process so that the files are flattened and combined in a single action.

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often

J

jlcampijrAuthor

Known Participant

Better yet, combining simultaneously.

I am an advanced programmer. For example I know

10 Hi

20 Goto 10

I have even heard that there is a way to do this such that it fills the entire row and then proceeds to line 20. I'm sure you understand that I am prepared to write a script on nothing more than a concept. No, sadly I am just a civil engineer attempting to use multiple copies of the same form with different information on each form.

I will tell you this, when I discovered this initially, after entering all of the test pit data for multiple pits, combining and then discovering all the sheets were identical (with no backup) I may have said a bad word. That's not nice. Any additional help and you could be looking at aquiring another correct answer.

Jim

By the way, the comments are all helpful and I thank you for your time replying. We are very close to a solution, just a bit more explanation how this is done and I can toss my potty mouth soap bar.

PDF Automation Station

Community Expert

Are you referring to a form field that says page 1 of 10, 2 of 10, etc.?

J

jlcampijrAuthor

Known Participant

Every form field has a name. If you are using multiple copies of the same file, when they are combined they sync. So it the first line 20th line of each page has a form field titled test pit 3, then all of the pages will have identical contents in the field called test pit 3.

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