Batch Processing: Merging PDF Documents via Action Wizard

AutoSplit plug-in for Adobe® Acrobat®

Introduction
The Adobe® Acrobat® Pro offers a powerful way for automating repetitive tasks. This functionality is called “Action Wizard”. It is also known as "Batch Processing" in previous versions of Adobe® Acrobat® (prior to version X). It allows to apply a series of PDF processing commands with user-specific settings to one or more PDF files without user interaction. The "action" can be executed on multiple files at once or on an entire content of the folder(s). Once an action is created, it can be executed either manually from the Adobe® Acrobat® toolbar or from a command-line batch file using AutoBatch™ plug-in.
The tutorial shows how to create a batch processing action that merges multiple PDF documents via Action Wizard using AutoSplit Pro plug-in .
Prerequisites
You need a copy of Adobe® Acrobat® Professional along with AutoSplit Pro plug-in installed on your computer in order to use this tutorial. You can download trial versions of both Adobe® Acrobat® Pro and AutoSplit™ Pro.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1 - Start Action Wizard
Select "Tools" panel located on the main Acrobat Professional toolbar.
Double-click on "Action Wizard" tool icon to open tool controls.
Start Action Wizard tool
Step 2 - Create New "Action"
Click on "New Action" icon on the "Action Wizard" toolbar to create a new batch processing "action".
Create New Action
Step 3 - Expand the “More Tools” Category
Click on the “More Tools” category to see the list of available commands.
Expand More Tools category
Step 4 - Add the "Merge Documents" Command to the Action Steps
Double-click on the "Merge Documents" command or press "+->" button to add it to the list of action steps.
Add Merge Documents command to the list of actions
Step 5 - Click "Specify Settings"
Press "Specify Settings" button in the "Action steps to show" box.
Click specify settings button
Step 6 - Click "Add Folder"
Click "Add Folder" to specify an input folder with documents for merging.
Click Add Folder button to select an input folder
Step 7 - Select an Input Folder
Select an input folder - all files from this folder are going to be used as input.
Important: Files can be added or changed in an input folder at any time prior to running the action. The input folder does not necessarily need to contain any files during the action creation.
Select an input folder
Step 8 - Select Processing Options
Optionally, select desired processing options.
Click "OK" once done.
Select processing options
Step 9 - Specify the Output Folder
Click “Browse” and specify the output file that would contain merged documents.
Click "OK" once done.
Specify output folder
Step 10 - Uncheck "Prompt User" Option
Uncheck "Prompt User" option (otherwise this command would always prompt for settings when executed) and press "Save" button.
Uncheck Prompt User option
Step 11 - Press "Add File" Button
Press "Add File" button.
Press Add File button
Step 12 - Select Any PDF File
Select any PDF file and press "Open" button. Select a single PDF file. The file is not going to be used for any processing. It does not matter what file is selected. It is just a stub file to execute a document merging command that requires an input file as any other Action Wizard command. The "Merge Documents" command has it own selection of input and output files.
Select any PDF file, it is not going to be used during the processing
Step 13 - Press "Save" Button
Press "Save" button to proceed.
Press Save button
Step 14 - Enter Action Name and Description
Type desired "Action Name" and, optionally, type description into "Save Action" dialog.
Press "Save" button to save the action.
Enter action name and optional description
Step 15 - Select Action For Execution
Now you should see this new action added to the "Action Wizard" toolbar.
Click on the action in the "Actions" list to execute it.
Select an action to execute
Step 16 - Start the Action
Press "Start" button to execute the action. All files specified in "Merge Documents" command are going to be merged into a single output file.
Press Start button
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