Turn the page arrows in a linked pdf

[Sero30]

I print on a flatbed printer a lot. So I often place a pdf on a 4'x8' sheet, and repeat to nest the files. Then I go back through each one to relink the same file, and turn to the next page. What would be nice is a small left arrow, then page number, then right arrow to appear when I click the linked file, allowing to manually change the page or type in a direct page number. Alternatively, in the links bar, put the arrows and page number with the ability to change within it. Maybe a deeper code to allow scrolling through files in a folder, in case I have 100 single pages I need to add.

 I have been using Illustrator for a long time. Am I missing some power user function and this exists within it? Is it in Indesign? I guess I could set up the 4x8 in it and export as a pdf or eps.

[Kurt Gold]

Which version of Illustrator are you using?

I'm not quite sure if I understand your request completely, but to me it sounds as if you may want to look at variables (see Variables palette).

Specifically linked files variables may awaken your interest.

Can you clarify a bit if that is not what you are looking for?

[Ton Frederiks]

As far as I understand, you want to place multiple pages on a single large page to print them together.

I think it is possible to Open the pdf in Illustrator, select a range that would fit on you page and import them linked as artboards.

You could then rearrange the artboards to position them as you would like to print them on a single page.

To create that page you can create a new large artboard, the size of your printing paper and move it behind the multiple artboards.

Repeat as nessecary.

But I think it would be faster to do something like this in InDesign.

In InDesign you would select all pages and use the Gridify feature to place them in a grid as described here:

https://indesignsecrets.com/quickly-place-images-indesign-document.php

But that works only for placing multiple single files or images but not a single multi page PDF or a multi Artboard Illustrator document.

To get single pages from a pdf you could export it as single pages using Acrobat.

Or use this trick:

https://indesignsecrets.com/place-multiple-pages-of-a-pdf-in-a-grid-in-indesign.php

[Sero30]

What I do now - place a linked 24x18 pdf with 10 pages on a 48x96 sheet and drag and copy 9 times. I then click each link, relink, select the same file, hit enter, choose the next page and hit ok. Repeat 8 more times.

 What I want to do is be able to click arrows on each link that allows me to change the pages of the linked pdf when I click the linked file, rather than relinking each page.