Combining PDF's from Windows Explorer

[starabokija30]

My company recently purchased new laptops with Adobe Acrobat Standard 2017 installed (currently using Version 2017.011.30140).  On my old laptop, with another version of Standard installed, I was able to select multiple PDF files in Windows Explorer, right-click on the selected files and choose "Combine files in Acrobat".  This would then bring up the Acrobat Standard program with a list of the PDF's that I selected, allowing me to move the files up and down prior to combining them.  Now when I follow this same process, it still gives me the option to "Combine" in Windows Explorer; however, after clicking on "Combine", it just opens up Standard and I have to go through the actual 'combine' tool to choose the files (extra step).  My co-worker, running the same version on the same laptop, does not have this issue.  I'm wondering if its a setting on my computer, but can't seem to find it.

Please note that if I already have the Acrobat Standard program open in the background, the Windows Explorer function will work properly.  This only occurs when I do not have the program open.

Any help that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Starabokija,

As you have mentioned that the combine option just opens the application not the tool, this should not happen.

Try once to repair the installation. Launch the Acrobat and go to Help > Repair Installation.

Then reboot the machine and check if you still experience the same behavior.

Please share the Windows OS currently installed on your machine.

Did you check if the behavior occurs with some particular files? Try to check with other files.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[starabokija30]

Thank you for the reply Meenakshi.  I utilized the Repair Installation function and then rebooted my machine.  I tried the Combine function from Windows Explorer again using the same files I tried earlier, but still having the same issue.  I also tried different PDF files but still get the same issue.  Each of the two sets of files that I tried were located on different networks (one was on my local drive, another on a company network), just to rule out if the issue was associated with the network location.

Current Windows OS: Windows 10 Pro, Version 10.0.17763

Like I said in my original post, my coworker is not having this issue and he's running on the same type machine with the same Adobe & Windows product (although I haven't checked his versions/OS, but I assume its the same as our laptops were setup up the same way by our IT consultant).

I appreciate the recommended solution, but unfortunately that didn't seem to work.

[mskjmp]

Hello Strabokija30. Has this been resolved for you yet? I am now having the same problem and there have been no changes made to my computer or OS.

[revital22725116skmm]

having the same problem.. any resolve?

[McLarenIT8765]

Hello

I know the post is old but I am having the exact same problem. Can combine in the acrobat pro x64 app but not in File Explorer. Tried all of the above with no joy? Imagine it''s a win11 thing. Can you help spread any light on this please

[Tim38882147t9u8]

Hmmmm, July 2024 and the problem still exists and never a solution here.  Nice adobe community.