split PDF files - context menu program?

[brotherS]

Hi,

long time no type! 

Is there a tool that I could use like any other "Open with..." tool? I sometimes get PDF files of 2 or 3 pages and need to split them (always into single pages), which I now do in another program. Not the most handy solution... Any ideas?

[Darwin]

Crap! How'd I miss this post - welcome back, brotherS - you've been missed! I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for - an alternative to the "Open With" functionality in the context menu or an application to split pdfs into discrete pages?

[lanux128]

yes, welcome back! it's been exactly 6 months between your posts..

[attach=#]

[brotherS]

Crap! How'd I miss this post - welcome back, brotherS - you've been missed!

yes, welcome back! it's been exactly 6 months between your posts..

Thanks guys  Funny coincidence that I made that exactly 6 months... those were 6 very busy months, and while the level of 'business' (in the fullest meaning of the word) won't drop much, I plan to post a little bit more often again.

I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for - an alternative to the "Open With" functionality in the context menu or an application to split pdfs into discrete pages?

Both! I need such an application that I could assign to the "Open with" menu. I don't want to open an external program, just right-click such a file and pick "split PDF file" from the context menu.

[Darwin]

Hmm... I just googled on "split pdf" and there are a lot of choices - many of them shareware and many offering context menu functionality and some even command line functinonality (I only looked at the first three or four hits). What are you using at the moment?

[rjbull]

pdftk - PDF toolkit can split PDFs into separate files for each page, and there's a pdftk Builder Windows GUI shell, but I don't know of any context-menu integration.  However, I seem to remember seeing various forums and Web sites devoted to PDF tools,maybe they'd be the place to search.

[Frank D]

I tried various PDF splitters, but couldn't find one that was both free and easy to get to work (note that I didn't say "easy to use" <g>) -- they're all easy to use but hard to get to do exactly what you want (i.e., the ones I tried all split the original PDF into single output pages and I wanted multiple pages).

Finally I found a workaround. Here it is: download and install CutePDF Writer (http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp). Open the long PDF document in your PDF reader (I use Foxit). Then when you want to "split" this long PDF file into a PDF of, say, 25 pages, just click on File > Print, specify CutePDF Writer as your printer and input the number of the first and last pages (like, for example, 7-31), give the new page range a name when prompted, and there you go -- your new, smaller PDF file is created. Of course you can "print" single pages if you want.

Frank D

[lanux128]

good work-around, Frank but it won't work for PDFs that are restricted from printing..

[Frank D]

Posted by: lanux128
". . . it won't work for PDFs that are restricted from printing.. <smiley>"

Drat! I knew it was too easy! <g>

Hmm, I never even thought of that angle, because I've never run into a PDF that was restricted from printing. Guess I've lived a sheltered life! <g> Oh well, at least it'll work for some folks.

I'm following this topic up with interest.

Frank D

[Carol Haynes]

Have you tried PDF Shell Tools: http://homepage.oniduo.pt/pdfe/shelltools.html

It isn't free or cheap (40 Euros) but it does work well and there is a free fully functional trial version. Each time a new version/update comes out you can trial it again. I think have even been able to manipulate password protected files (IIRC) - its been a while.

The developer is responsive when you have any problems (I found a bug early on and he fixed it very quickly).

PDF Explorer is also a good product (same site) but at 60 Euros I think it is a little pricey for home use.

[Carol Haynes]

Follow up ...

Just checked latest build of PDF Shell Tools again and you can split/combine/extract pages from PDF files very easily.

It does allow you to extract pages (up to the whole document) for password protected files too and produces an unprotected version of the PDF file. (So much for tamper proof DRM in PDF files.) Just use PDF Merge/Rearrange ... but only specify one file and then click Go. It asks for an output file and the resulting file is the same as the one you started with (except book marks are removed) just unlocked.

Even easier - right click on a locked PDF file and select "Password Security ..." from the submenu and click on "No security". Check that the backup option at the bottom is set the way you want and then click GO. A new PDF, identical to the original (including bookmarks etc) except that it is unlocked, is produced and the original backed up (if specified).

By the way the splitting and combining of PDFs has lots of options and you can specify an exact list of pages sets which are extracted to separate files or combined into a single file - whatever you want.

[brotherS]

Thanks for all your comments! Since it doesn't happen daily, the annoyance is not big enough that I'm willing to spend money to get around this problem (yet?)

Currently I use PaperPort to do the splitting, but that means I sometimes have to close other programs first (limited resources), and I have to move the documents around manually.

[Darwin]

I take it that the PDF Explorer and PDF Shell Tools are two distinct products? I did look at the website, I swear! Anyway, Carol, do you also use PDF Explorer? I use Archivarius, Endnote and PaperPort (the latter very minimally) and wonder if PDF Explorer is an advance over any/a combination of these? With the Canadian dollar so strong at the moment the price might even be acceptable...

[Darwin]

BrotherS - I hope this signals a return to "active duty" on your part? Seriously, it really is good to see you posting again 

[Edvard]

Here's an AutoHotkey script I have in my "Send To..." folder.
It uses PDFTK and you'll have to change the program file paths, but here it is...

Code

file = %1%
filesel = %1%
If file =
{
	FileSelectFile,filesel,3,,Select a PDF to Burst,PDF Documents (*.pdf)
	file = %filesel%
}
If filesel =
{
	MsgBox,0,Pdftk Burst,No files selected
	ExitApp
}
SplitPath,file,,filepath,,name,
newdir = %filepath%\%name%
FileCreateDir,%newdir%
Loop,%file%
    sh_file = %A_LoopFileShortPath%
SplashTextOn,400,75,Pdftk Burst,Now bursting %file%
WinSet,Enable,,Pdftk Burst
WinActivate,Pdftk Burst
RunWait,E:\Program Files\pdftk\pdftk.exe %sh_file% burst,%newdir%,hide
Sleep,200
SplashTextOff
FileDelete,%newdir%\doc_data.txt
MsgBox,64,Pdftk Burst,PDF Burst Operation Complete
ExitApp

;To Do---
;
;select output directory

I would recommend compiling to .exe and using the standard "Open With..." tool to select it.
What it does is create a folder in the same directory as the pdf file you are bursting, and fills it with the pages from your pdf.
Hope this helps!

[Carol Haynes]

I take it that the PDF Explorer and PDF Shell Tools are two distinct products? I did look at the website, I swear! Anyway, Carol, do you also use PDF Explorer? I use Archivarius, Endnote and PaperPort (the latter very minimally) and wonder if PDF Explorer is an advance over any/a combination of these? With the Canadian dollar so strong at the moment the price might even be acceptable...

Yes they are two separate products.

I have tried PDF Explorer but I haven't really used it enough to say I know it well. I'm afraid the price put me off somewhat.

I keep thinking Shell Tools might be worth having - but again the price is a bit steep.

Perhaps we should see if he'll do a discount for DC ?

[Darwin]

Good thinking, Carol! No point spending more of my grossly inflated Canadian dollars than I have to! A dollar, after all, is still a dollar. Unless of course it is more than a dollar... Now I'm confused 

[jar]

Hello,

I have tried a commercial program PDFExplode http://www.pdfexplode.com and that is working very nice. It works with tags included in the source-pdf and you can burst pdf's easily. The program also offers the option to email the resulting pdf's when the tags are emailadresses. Very nice. I am still looking for an opensource alternative but have not found anything.

Greetings,
Jar

[Carol Haynes]

Hmmm at $350 ..... not even bothering with the demo

[tomos]

pdftk - PDF toolkit can split PDFs into separate files for each page, and there's a pdftk Builder Windows GUI shell, but I don't know of any context-menu integration.  However, I seem to remember seeing various forums and Web sites devoted to PDF tools,maybe they'd be the place to search.

had to quickly combine PDF's - the GUI version has everything in one install, has been updated a few times this year and
worked a treat, thanks rj 

[Darwin]

Hmmm at $350 ..... not even bothering with the demo

Thanks for posting that, Carol! I'm not even bothering following the link at that price!

[lanux128]

Hmmm at $350 ..... not even bothering with the demo

Thanks for posting that, Carol! I'm not even bothering following the link at that price!

another first post recommending a commercial product..

[Darwin]

another first post recommending a commercial product..

I wondered about that, too...

[nogojoe]

have you tried PDF Splitter/Merge maybe that what you want.

I use the merge option works well

lookup

http://sourceforge.net/project/platformdownload.php?group_id=217208&sel_platform=6826

[jgpaiva]

Hmmm at $350 ..... not even bothering with the demo

Thanks for posting that, Carol! I'm not even bothering following the link at that price!

another first post recommending a commercial product..

Not only that, as they also didn't come back after july 11. I guess that means something.