Merge Bulk PDF Documents with Similar Filenames
If you have a large collection of PDF documents that have been renamed according to a specific property or report, such as the example provided SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS, SMITH, JOHN WE0..., you might want to merge them into one file per primary file.
Why Merge Bulk PDF Documents?
Merging bulk PDF documents can help you manage your files more efficiently. It can allow you to:
- Reduce clutter and save disk space
- Search and find documents more easily
- Back up and store documents securely
- Review and edit documents more conveniently
How to Merge Bulk PDF Documents with Similar Filenames?
There are several ways to merge bulk PDF documents with similar filenames, depending on the operating system and the software you use. Here we will show you three methods:
Method 1: Using a Command-Line Interface (CLI)
If you are comfortable with using command-line interfaces (CLI), you can merge PDF documents using a tool like pdftk or Ghostscript. These tools allow you to specify the input and output files, as well as the range of pages you want to merge. For example, if you have several files named SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS_*.pdf, you can merge them into one file named SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS.pdf using a command like this:
pdftk SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS_*.pdf cat output SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS.pdfThis command will concatenate all the PDF files that match the pattern SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS_*.pdf and create a new file called SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS.pdf.
Method 2: Using a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
If you prefer using a graphical user interface (GUI), you can merge PDF documents using a tool like PDF Merger or PDFelement. These tools allow you to drag and drop the PDF files you want to merge, as well as rearrange the pages and customize the output settings. For example, if you have several files named SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS_*.pdf, you can merge them into one file named SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS.pdf using a tool like this:
- Launch the tool and select the PDF files you want to merge
- Rearrange the pages if necessary
- Choose the output format and destination
- Save the merged file
Method 3: Using an Online Service
If you don't want to install any software or use a command-line interface, you can merge PDF documents using an online service like Smallpdf or PDFjoin. These services allow you to upload the PDF files from your computer or cloud storage, as well as edit and preview them before merging. For example, if you have several files named SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS_*.pdf, you can merge them into one file named SMITH, JOHN WE0126PS.pdf using a service like this:
- Go to the website and choose the merge option
- Upload the PDF files from your computer or cloud storage
- Drag and drop the files to arrange them in the correct order
- Click the merge button and download the merged file
Summary and References
Merging bulk PDF documents with similar filenames can help you manage your files more efficiently. There are several methods to merge PDF documents depending on the operating system and the software you use. You can use a command-line interface with tools like pdftk or Ghostscript, a graphical user interface with tools like PDF Merger or PDFelement, or an online service like Smallpdf or PDFjoin.