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Combining multiple pdf files

Forum Index > General Acrobat Topics > Combining multiple pdf files
2008-03-07 09:53:33
javedwahid
Registered: Mar 7 2008
Posts: 9

I have a bunch of PDF files I wnat to combine into 1 File. I open them up to combine, then once there all in 1 file and I try to save it I get an error. "The document could not be saved. A number is out of range" And it only happens when I try to combine these specific PDFs.

I've combined others and it works fine.

Any Ideas?

Thanks.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 7.0.9, Windows
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2008-03-07 10:23:31
#1
Dimitri
Expert
Registered: Nov 1 2005
Posts: 1389
Hi javedwahid,

Are all the files you want to combine "regular" PDF files and do any of the PDFs have security applied? If any of the PDFs were created in LiveCycle Designer or if any of them have security features activated you cannot combine them using the Combine Files feature. You could use a PDF Package if security or LiveCycle Designer PDFs are in the mix.

Hope that helps,

Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.windjack.com

Dimitri Munkirs
WindJack Solutions
pdfscripting.com

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2008-03-07 17:04:13
#2
javedwahid
Registered: Mar 7 2008
Posts: 9
That is a good question. I am not sure I will have to check the files, I didn't create the originals. I will check that on monday. Thanks for the tip. I'll let you know if it works.
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2008-03-10 08:49:15
#3
javedwahid
Registered: Mar 7 2008
Posts: 9
I checked the files, they don't seem to have any security on them, and as far as I know they were generated from Adobe Illustrator CS2 files. they are PDF version: 1.4.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

javedwahid
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2008-03-10 09:16:16
#4
michaelejahn
Registered: Apr 26 2006
Posts: 232
There may be something poorly formed in the PDF - how many pages are we speaking of ?

1. try opening one, then add one page, save, add another page...

2. If one of the pages is the problem page, try saving it as an eps and distilling

Good luck !

Michael Jahn
Application Support Specialist
Compose Systems Inc, USA.
4740 Northgate Blvd. Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel: (916) 920-3838 ext 102
Fax: (916) 923-6776
Email: michaelejahn [at] composeusa [dot] com
Web: www.composeusa.com

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2008-03-10 11:58:04
#5
javedwahid
Registered: Mar 7 2008
Posts: 9
I 've got a total of 26 single page pdfs. I've tried combining different combinations of 2 of them. And it won't let me do that. Also if I open anyone of them, and try to "save as" it gives me the same error "The document could not be saved. A number is out or range".

I'll look into the eps and distilling, Thanks.

Anyone else got any other ideas?

Thanks,

javedwahid
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2008-03-10 13:20:45
#6
michaelejahn
Registered: Apr 26 2006
Posts: 232
Without actually looking at the PDF files it is impossible to say, but I am begining to suspect that they may have been 'saved' from Illustrator using a more advanced version than your version is - for example, if I save out a PDF from Illustrator to PDF version 1.6, I might not be able to work with that in Acrobat version 6 if the PDF file uses some object that is not supported.

But saving as eps and re-distilling will "most likely" solve that.

Good luck !

Michael Jahn
Application Support Specialist
Compose Systems Inc, USA.
4740 Northgate Blvd. Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel: (916) 920-3838 ext 102
Fax: (916) 923-6776
Email: michaelejahn [at] composeusa [dot] com
Web: www.composeusa.com

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2008-03-11 09:01:35
#7
javedwahid
Registered: Mar 7 2008
Posts: 9
I tried saving them as eps files and then saving as pdf files. (I think that is what distilling is, Right?) I am still getting the same error.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

javedwahid
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2008-03-11 10:30:20
#8
michaelejahn
Registered: Apr 26 2006
Posts: 232
Wow.

So, yes, if you have a page in Adobe Acrobat, and you then go under the File Menu, select Save as, select EPS - save that then open in Distiller to convert the EPS back to PDF

Okay, so, how big are these file size wise - this probably is not a memory issue, but what sorts of things do these PDF files contain ?

Can you email me two of them so I might examine them and see what can be done ?

Michaelejahn [at] gmail [dot] com - if they are over 5 MBs, email me privately and I will set up an FTP site.Sorry, need to see them to figure this one out !

Michael Jahn
Application Support Specialist
Compose Systems Inc, USA.
4740 Northgate Blvd. Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel: (916) 920-3838 ext 102
Fax: (916) 923-6776
Email: michaelejahn [at] composeusa [dot] com
Web: www.composeusa.com

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2008-03-11 10:53:10
#9
javedwahid
Registered: Mar 7 2008
Posts: 9
They are very small, I think the total amount of all of them is less than 4mb. I figured out a way though. I used the JavaScript debugger and then used the this.insertPages() method to insert them 1 at a time. It took me a while and I still can't seem to figure out why they wouldn't combine normally.

I want to thank you guys for the help and the effort.

Thanks again,

javedwahid
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