Re-combining pages into one large map.

[nfotx6708]

I made a large map, 24 inches by 29 inches, using Acrobat IX.  When I open the map in Pro DC, it appears as 16 separate pages.

How do I recombine it or open it in the original format?  It is worthless as 16 pages and needs to be one large map.

[Dov Isaacs]

Are you saying that a PDF file you produced in the past as a single page PDF file 24"x29" and displayed as such in Acrobat now appears as a sixteen page PDF file? There is no function within Acrobat that would cause something like that to happen at any time.

          - Dov

[nfotx6708]

Dov,

That is exactly what has happened. And today was the second instance. I have attached the map I used as a base (Fresno - West 1/2). Once colored and labeled it opened up in Pro DC as 16 pages. I want my old file back. Also attached the 16 pages (Parcels of Fresno County . . .)

Thanks,

Neil

[Dov Isaacs]

The only way we can ascertain what is going on is to have a copies of the original PDF file and the PDF file that now opens up as 16 pages.

There is no built-in function with Adobe Acrobat that decomposes large pages into “tiles” as you see them. Only if we have the files can we attempt to duplicate what you've seen since we have never had reports of anything like this before.

Please post the files via Acrobat's Send-&-Track facility or Dropbox. If you keep to keep these files confidential, send the links to me via a private forum message. Adobe will keep such content confidential.

          - Dov

[nfotx6708]

Dov,

I am aware of the non-attachment policy as of this morning. I will get them to you today.

Neil

[Dov Isaacs]

Thanks. At this point, I see only two possibilities of what is happening …

(1)     When you first look at the PDF file, you are using a viewer (of PDF or of something that you are about to download as PDF) that is tiling the pages into what looks like a single page but when you open it up with Acrobat (or Reader), the actual pages are shown.

(2)     Somehow a PDF with a large page is being “printed” to PDF using print tiling option.

Yes, I know these are really wild-*ass guesses, but so are the symptoms! 

          - Dov

[nfotx6708]

Dov,

I have the large pdf file. I tried to send it using the Adobe system but it only appears to work with Outlook. I’m using macOS High Sierra. I have it in Dropbox but do not have an email address for you to share the files.

Can you send your email address or is there another way for me to send this large file? Or, I can try the address used above in the “To:” line.

Thanks,

Neil

[Dov Isaacs]

I have just sent you an e-mail (based on your forum registration) with my e-mail address.

          - Dov

[Bernd Alheit]

How did you create the PDF file?

[Dov Isaacs · Accepted solution]

I believe I know what is going on now. Neil e-mailed the “before” and “after” PDF files.

The first file is a one page (24"x29"), 4MB PDF file created directly from an Autodesk application using MacOS' native PDF production capabilities. It contains a mixture of text, vector artwork, and raster graphics. The following is what shows in Document Properties => Description within Acrobat Pro DC:

The second file is a 16 page (8.5"x11"), 2MB PDF file created from Microsoft Excel using MacOS's native PDF production capabilities. It is totally low resolution raster graphics. The following is what shows in Document Properties => Description within Acrobat Pro DC:

The reality is that nothing was done to the original PDF file itself. Rather, the evidence points to someone creating an Excel spreadsheet and importing the PDF file into that spreadsheet. That spreadsheet was then saved from Excel as a PDF file. In doing that save, Excel adhered to the defined page size of the spreadsheet (8.5"x11" portrait) and “tiled” the content in producing the output. In reality, Excel was doing exactly what it was supposed to do. If a custom page size of (24"x29") for the spreadsheet was defined with layout of 0" margins and no headers or footers, possibly output from Excel would have appeared on one page. Note that importing PDF into any Microsoft Office document is somewhat iffy and often leads to low resolution output, which is what we see here.

Bottom line summary is that the 16 page PDF file was not modified by anything, but rather, it was imported into Excel from which the tiled, 16 page version was created. By itself, Acrobat has no way of doing that tiling (other than through a convoluted set of labor-intensive manual operations which would challenge even the most tech-savvy on these forums).

          - Dov