Merging PDF Documents With Similar File Names

AutoSplit plug-in for Adobe® Acrobat®

Introduction

Use Plug-ins > Merge Documents > Merge Multiple Documents With Similar Filenames menu to merge multiple PDF files from one or more folders into multiple output files. Unlike regular document merging, there are multiple output files from this operation. Each output file is created by taking one input document and finding all other documents that have at least X common first characters in the filename. The similarity between two filenames are computed using the following two methods:

User-Specified Number of First Common Characters
User-Specified Text Pattern

Files that have matching filenames are merged into a single output file and placed into the output folder. Merged files can be named using the matching text or alternatively saved with filename as a first file in the group of files used for merging into the same document.

Example of Using First N Common Characters

This file name comparison method merges files into a single document if they have the same first N-characters. Where N is a user specified number.
For example, if the input consists of the following 10 files, then it can be merged into 4 output documents based on first 10 characters in the filename.

10 files merged based on first 10 characters

Here is a list of 4 output files that will be created:

Account100.pdf that includes 2 files: Account100.pdf, Account100_DataSheet.pdf
Account200.pdf that includes 3 files: Account200.pdf, Account200_DataSheet.pdf, Account200_Index.pdf
Account355.pdf that includes 2 files: Account355.pdf, Account355_DataSheet.pdf
Account987.pdf that includes 3 files: Account987.pdf, Account987_DataSheet.pdf, Account2987_Index.pdf

Example of Using a Text Pattern

Text patterns (regular expressions) can be used to match a specific sequence of characters in the filename and use it to compare files. It can be a certain variable number of characters anywhere in the file name. This method can be used to compare text at the start, end or in the middle of the filename. Files with identical text matching the pattern are merged into a single output PDF file.
For example, if the input consists of the following 10 files, then it can be merged into 3 output PDF documents based on text to the left of the underscore in the filename.

10 files merged based on text to the left of the underscore

Here is a text pattern (regular expression) to use for this case: ^[^_]+
This pattern will match one or more characters that are not an underscore starting from the beginning of the filename.

The following 3 output files will be created:

Edgar Alan Poe.pdf that includes 3 files: Edgar Alan Poe_Summary.pdf, Edgar Alan Poe_DataSheet.pdf, Edgar Alan Poe_Details.pdf
Mark Twain.pdf that includes 3 files: Mark Twain_Summary.pdf, Mark Twain_DataSheet.pdf, Mark Twaine_Details.pdf
Charles Dickens.pdf that includes 4 files: Charles Dickens_Summary.pdf, Charles Dickense_DataSheet.pdf, Charles Dickens_Details.pdf, Charles Dickens_Attachments.pdf

Regular Expressions

Text patterns provide a very powerful method for merging a wide variety of the files. See the following page for more examples on using this advanced method.

Regular expression (or regex) syntax is used to define text patterns. Regular expressions syntax is used by virtually all text processing applications. Short for regular expression, a regex is a string of text that lets you create patterns that help match, locate, and manage text.

Input File Requirements

IMPORTANT: Please note that input PDF files should not be password protected, digitally signed or restrict user-access rigths.

Prerequisites

You need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Standard/Professional along with AutoSplit™ plug-in installed on your computer in order to use this tutorial. You can download trial versions of both Adobe Acrobat and AutoSplit™.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Open "Merge Documents With Similar Filenames" Menu: Select "Plug-ins > Merge Documents > Merge Documents With Similar Filenames" from the main menu.; [⚡ How to locate Plugins menu ⚡].
Specify Input Files: Specify an output folder via Browse... button. Merged PDF files will be saved into this folder.; Use Add Folder button to add all files from a specific folder and/or use Add File button to add individual input files for merging.
Choose How to Determine Filename Similarity: In this tutorial, we are going to merge PDF files based on first 10 characters in the file names. Files with the same text are going to be merged into a separate document. Enter number of common characters (10) into “Merge files that have at least first common characters” entry box.
Optional: Specify Output Options: Optionally, press Output Options… button and select desired processing options. You can control bookmarking and various other options.
Start Merging Process: Click “OK" to start merging process. The list of output files will be displayed at the end of the processing.
Review the Report File: The plug-in automatically creates detailed report file in HTML format that shows what files have been used to created output documents.
Merging Files Using Text Patterns: Text patterns provide a very powerful method for merging a wide variety of the files. See the following page for more examples on using this advanced method.; Click here for a list of all step-by-step tutorials available.