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aspernpapers
aspernpapers
Participant
May 2, 2020
Question

automate merging 2 pdfs into 1

  • May 2, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 4451 views

I have a large amount of pdf documents that I need to merge into pairs or into 3s. is there any way to automate this process?

One of the documents is a form that needs to be have data entered. currently I am filling these in separately then merging it with another document . 

 

Is it possible to automate at least one of these processes?

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2 replies

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 2, 2020

There are a number of ways to automate merging documents. A batch process (the Action Wizard) may or many not be helpful with this task. A batch process operates on a defined set of individual PDFs. Using it to combine files would be awkward, but is possible. The script ls_rbls links below is not a batch solution, but rather an automation script that uses the documents currently open in Acrobat. 

 

The Combine Files feature in Acrobat only operates on documents that are manually selected, this feature cannot be automated. 

 

Since you've stated you have a large number of PDFs that need to be merged in pairs or triples, you'll need a different technique. 

This could conceivably be done with an Acrobat Automation Script, but to do so would require some automated way to identify the files that need to be merged. For example, do the file names follow some pattern?

 

 

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
    ls_rbls
    Community Expert
    ls_rblsCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 2, 2020

    Thank you for clarifying Thom! ... the Jedi Master.   

    ls_rbls
    Community Expert
    ls_rblsCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 2, 2020

    You may need to create an JavaScript batch sequence for the merging part and one action for the data filling part (this is assuming that the data to be entered will be the same for the document with that form that needs to be filled in ).

     

    See an answer with JavaScript example  for the merging part here: https://answers.acrobatusers.com/Batch-Merge-PDF-q75387.aspx

     

    See answers and observations here for the filling the fields part: https://acrobatusers.com/forum/javascript/how-populate-text-field-text/

     

    aspernpapers
    aspernpapersAuthor
    Participant
    May 2, 2020

    I am a complete novice . Where would I enter the script in Acrobat?

    Perhaps if I completed the forms manually this would make the task easier, then I would need to merge the completed document with another dcoument. Trouble is I need to do this to number of files

    ls_rbls
    Community Expert
    ls_rblsCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 2, 2020

    You go to tools, and open the Action Wizard tool.

     

    There you can add  a new action. In the new action you can choose to add a JavaScript which will execute when you click on it. 

     

    The  slides below show examples of how I would do it.

     

    The first slide is just shows how to use the Combine Files tools, this is an example of an action sequence.

     

    The second slide shows  how to add a script as an action that will execute only when you click on it to process your documents:

     

     

     

     

    Note that the script above has nothing to do with your case.

     

    This was a script that was shared in another discussion with a user that was asking how to convert all of the the text fields that were not blank into read only so that the users of the form would not tamper with them and be able to continue to work with other blank fields.

     

    In a similar fashion you can have a script like this to facilitate how to autopopulate specific data into certain fields.

     

    In addition, the good news is that you can create a New action by combining two or more sequences together that will execute in a series of events.

     

    In your casse, let's say that you have a JavaScript that allows filling in some text fields, then this action can run after all documents are merged into one.

     

    Now, let me reiterate that this task is not a simple as I'm making it look.

     

    This task may require some serious programming skills necause of how many documents your merging together and because you have to take into account if the data that you're filling some fields with is the same for every form.

     

    But it is possible to find developers in this community willing to help you with the scripting part if you are learning JavScript or even have a readily available paid-for tools to accomplish this task.

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