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Participant
October 23, 2019
Answered

Acrobat Pro Keyboard shortcuts to Combine files

  • October 23, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 12529 views

Hello,

I am working on trying to automate combining specific PDf files into 1 file using Acrobat Pro DC. Is there keybords commands to combine files, it looks like just able to mouse click. I can open the files in Acrobat but no keyborad key to hit the combine buttons. any help would be aprreciated.

Thanks

Trevor 

    Correct answer ls_rbls

    Hi,

     

    The quickest way to do this using the keyboard is by going old school. 

     

    When you open Acrobat access the File Menu via keyboard shortcut using "ALT+F" then hit letter "R"  then hit letter "M"

     

    This is the keyboard shortcut sequence to open up the Combine Files Tools without using the mouse.

     

    If you like learning shell scripting or batch programming you can automate this keyboard sequence as a keyboard gesture using AutoHotkey. Download it and install it, learn how to use,  and get creative.

     

    But the sequence above is what you need. Very simple.

     

    This used to be taught in computer repair classes back in the day when a mouse was broken and only keyboard was working.

     

    With your left-hand thumb press the ALT key and hit F with your left index finger;  it will quickly open up the File Menu; release your left thumb from the ALT key while moving up your left index finger one letter above letter F  which in this case is R , hit it once to open up the "Create File" submenu.

     

    Last, hit once with your right index finger letter M which will open up the Combine Files Tools. That's it.  It takes less than a second to perform this sequence.

     

    Just remember: (ALT+F) --> R  -->  M

    3 replies

    ls_rbls
    Community Expert
    ls_rblsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 19, 2020

    Hi,

     

    The quickest way to do this using the keyboard is by going old school. 

     

    When you open Acrobat access the File Menu via keyboard shortcut using "ALT+F" then hit letter "R"  then hit letter "M"

     

    This is the keyboard shortcut sequence to open up the Combine Files Tools without using the mouse.

     

    If you like learning shell scripting or batch programming you can automate this keyboard sequence as a keyboard gesture using AutoHotkey. Download it and install it, learn how to use,  and get creative.

     

    But the sequence above is what you need. Very simple.

     

    This used to be taught in computer repair classes back in the day when a mouse was broken and only keyboard was working.

     

    With your left-hand thumb press the ALT key and hit F with your left index finger;  it will quickly open up the File Menu; release your left thumb from the ALT key while moving up your left index finger one letter above letter F  which in this case is R , hit it once to open up the "Create File" submenu.

     

    Last, hit once with your right index finger letter M which will open up the Combine Files Tools. That's it.  It takes less than a second to perform this sequence.

     

    Just remember: (ALT+F) --> R  -->  M

    Participant
    April 3, 2024

    Hi there! How do you navigate to the Combine Files button from that point using only the keyboard? 

    ls_rbls
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 4, 2024

    Hi @Grace36501166nkrw ,

     

    You navigate using the keyboard shortcut sequence :

     

    ALT+F + R + M

     

    Or just hit ALT+F , it will open the File Menu (if you have it enabled), and you may use the arrow keys to navigate through the main menu and sub-menus.

     

    If you notice, every item that is listed on each menu will have a letter underlined.

     

    For example, if you open the File menu, looke at the word "Create"; letter "r" appears uderlined, indicating that if you press thebletter "r" on your keyboard it will open the next sub-menu.

    Dave__M
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 23, 2019

    This isn't exactly what you're asking... but in Windows, one can select multiple files, right-click and choose Combine Files in Acrobat... 

    My keyboard has a right-click key, so I can tap it and use the arrow keys to get to the Combine command.

    One can also drag files into the Pages panel of an existing PDF to combine pages/docs with intended precision of page location, etc.

    You can also build a custom Action that is pretty easy to call up when you need to do the same tasks repeatedly.  I hope something here is helpful.

    My best,

    Dave

    jamesk12775962
    Participant
    May 17, 2020

    Dave,

    Thank you for your help.  It didn't answer the question properly however, it showed thinking out of the box and it saved me a lot of time.

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 23, 2019

    No, unfortunately not.
    And worse: in Acrobat the keyboard shortcut editor is still science fiction…

    😞

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
    Participant
    October 23, 2019

    Thanks...I was hoping...I will need to find another app that will combine PDF files with some keyboard shortcuts