How to use the command 'pdfjoin' (with examples)

pdfjoin is a command-line utility for merging PDF files, part of the pdfjam suite of tools. It allows users to combine PDFs in flexible ways, whether merging entire documents, selecting specific pages, or rearranging content. Leveraging the power of LaTeX and its PDF toolkit, pdfjoin simplifies many tasks that would typically require more complex software. Below are practical examples illustrating different ways to utilize this command.

Use case 1: Merge Two PDFs into One with the Default Suffix “joined”

Code:

pdfjoin path/to/file1.pdf path/to/file2.pdf

Motivation: In many professional or academic settings, you may have separate PDF documents that need to be consolidated into one file for seamless sharing or archiving. For instance, combining related reports or different chapters of a thesis into a single document can facilitate easier handling and presentation.

Explanation:

• path/to/file1.pdf and path/to/file2.pdf: These arguments specify the paths to the two PDF files you wish to join.
• The command by default appends a suffix “joined” to the resultant file, which indicates the files were merged. No separate output file is defined explicitly here, so it defaults to this naming.

Example Output: Upon running the command, you will get a new PDF file named file1-file2-joined.pdf in the current working directory. This file contains the contents of both file1.pdf and file2.pdf, placed sequentially.

Use case 2: Merge the First Page of Each Given File Together

Code:

pdfjoin path/to/file1.pdf path/to/file2.pdf ... 1 --outfile output_file

Motivation: You might be in a scenario where you only need the introductory pages from several documents, perhaps to create a table of contents or an overview file. Extracting and merging just the first pages can streamline this task efficiently.

Explanation:

• path/to/file1.pdf, path/to/file2.pdf, etc.: These are the PDFs from which the first page will be extracted.
• 1: Indicates that only the first page of each specified PDF file should be included in the final document.
• --outfile output_file: This option determines the name of the output file. In this context, it names the resultant document output_file.pdf.

Example Output: As a result, you will have an output_file.pdf that contains only the first page from each of the input PDFs, ordered as specified in the command.

Use case 3: Save Pages 3 to 5 Followed by Page 1 to a New PDF with Custom Suffix

Code:

pdfjoin path/to/file.pdf 3-5,1 --suffix rearranged

Motivation: Imagine you have a PDF and need to rearrange specific pages — for example, putting introductory notes from page 1 at the end after showcasing contents from pages 3 to 5. This command allows you to reorganize pages precisely to meet particular presentation or printing needs.

Explanation:

• path/to/file.pdf: The PDF from which pages will be selected.
• 3-5,1: Specifies the page range from 3 to 5 followed by page 1, indicating the order of selection from the original PDF.
• --suffix rearranged: Sets a custom suffix called “rearranged” for the output file to indicate its specific organization.

Example Output: The output will be a new PDF named file-rearranged.pdf containing pages 3 to 5 followed by page 1 from the original document.

Use case 4: Merge Page Subranges from Two PDFs

Code:

pdfjoin /path/to/file1.pdf 2- file2 last-3 --outfile output_file

Motivation: There are times when you only want to compile certain sections of multiple reports, such as the conclusions from one and the appendices from another. This command can facilitate the custom compilation without editing each file separately.

Explanation:

• /path/to/file1.pdf: Path to the first PDF file.
• 2-: Indicates selecting pages from page 2 to the last page of file1.pdf.
• file2 last-3: This part means selecting from file2 only the last three pages.
• --outfile output_file: Indicates the name of the combined output PDF.

Example Output: The command generates a PDF named output_file.pdf containing pages 2 to the end from file1.pdf, continued by the last three pages of file2.

Conclusion:

pdfjoin is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance productivity when working with multiple PDF files. Its ability to specify page ranges, output files, and file suffixes offers users control over how documents are merged. Whether for academic, corporate, or personal use, mastering pdfjoin can streamline document management tasks efficiently.