Introduction to AppendPDF Desktop Edition

AppendPDF DE | AppendPDF DE Parameters

About This Manual

This manual packages all of the help topics included with AppendPDF Desktop Edition in one file for your convenience. You can use it to display or print all of the help files at once, and learn about AppendPDF Desktop Edition, even when you are away from your computer.

Welcome to AppendPDF Desktop Edition

AppendPDF Desktop Edition provides a fast and efficient way to combine PDF files to generate customized documents or reports. With AppendPDF DE you can combine whole documents, and/or page ranges and sections from a series of documents.  You can add customized Document Information to files as well as include bookmarks from original files. You can generate a Table of Contents—complete with PDF bookmarks, as well as add a customized Cover page. AppendPDF DE can stamp information onto the finished document—adding watermarks, copyright information, headers or footers to further customize your document delivery.

The following sections will describe in detail how to use AppendPDF DE.

AppendPDF DE has a very easy User Interface. When launched a dialog window opens that has sections and fields for you to add the files you want to append together. There are five sections: Input, Cover Page, Table of Contents, Output and Parameters.

Input Files

The Input section specifies the input files, page ranges, and Table of Contents entry text to appear in the appended document.

Adding Input files

To add input files, in the Input pane:
  1. Click Add File

     > The Select a PDF file dialog box opens.

  2. Browse to the PDF file you want to add.
  3. Click Add

You can also drag files onto the input pane.

To add an entire folder of PDF files:
  1. Click Add Folder

     > The Select a folder dialog box opens.

  2. Browse to the folder which contains the PDF files you want to add.
  3. Click OK
  4. Drag files up or down to reorder them, if needed.

Specify page ranges

By default, AppendPDF DE includes all pages of a file. To specify page ranges:

  1. Locate the row of the file you want to change.
  2. Click on the cell in that row in the column labeled SP (Start Page).

     > The Start Page cell becomes editable.

  3. Type the page number of the start of the range you would like to include.
  4. Click on the cell in that row in the column labeled EP (End Page).

     > The End Page cell becomes editable.

  5. Type the page number of the end of the range you would like to include.
  6. Press Enter or click out of the cell.

Removing a file from the input list

To remove a file from the input list, and from the append operation:

  1. Click on the filename to select the file.
  2. Click Remove.

     > You are prompted to confirm.

  3. Click Yes to confirm.

     > The file is removed from the list.

Select Input Files Tips

Adding files
  • Full, OS - specific paths must be used in all cases. AppendPDF DE will automatically use the correctly formatted, full path when you add files. If you use a pre-existing XML parameter file, make sure it specifies full path names. See Working with Parameter Files for more information.
  • Drag files onto the AppendPDF DE Input pane.
  • Reorder files by dragging them up or down to the appropriate place on the list.
Page ranges
  • By default, the entire file will be appended.
  • You can specify multiple page ranges by specifying the same file repeatedly. For each instance, specify one of the required ranges.
  • To specify one page, make the value of Start Page and End Page are the same.
  • You can specify the last page of a document using "-1". This is especially helpful if the number of pages in a document may change.

Specify Output File

Specifies the output path and filename for the appended document.

Naming the output file

To specify the output file, in the Output pane:

  1. Click Set File.

     > The Set Output File dialog appears.

  2. Browse to the directory where you want the output file to go.
  3. Type a file name in the File name field, or accept the default of output.pdf.
  4. Click Save to set the output file.

Specify output stamp

To add a stamp to the body of the appended document, in the Output pane:

  1. Click Add Stamp.

    > The Select a Stamp file dialog appears.

  2. Browse to the directory which contains the stamp file.
  3. Select the Stamp file.
  4. Click Add. For more information about Stamp files, see Tips below.

Remove output stamp

To remove the output stamp:

  1. From the Menu bar, select Remove  > Output Stamp.

     > You are prompted to confirm.

  2. Click Yes to remove the output stamp file.

Specify Output Files Tips

Adding files
  • Full, OS-specfic paths must be used in all cases. AppendPDF DE will automatically use the correctly formatted, full path when you add files. If you use a pre-existing XML parameterfile, make sure it specifies full path names. On Windows, you cannot type in the file name.
  • If you are replacing an existing output file, you can drag it onto the File name field in the AppendPDF DE Output pane. You can drag a stamp file onto the stamp field.
 Stamp files
  • A stamp is a piece of text or an image that is placed in your document, as if it is "stamped" onto the page. Text or images added by stamping become a permanent part of the document. A stamp file is a text file you create that specifies how AppendPDF DE applies stamps. For information on creating stamp files, refer to our StampPDF Batch documentation.
  • The stamp file specified in the Output pane only applies to the body of the document (those files specified in the Input pane). It does not apply to the cover page or the Table of Contents.

Specify Cover Page

Specifies PDF file that AppendPDF DE uses as a cover page for the output document.

Specifying the cover page

To specify the cover page file, in the Cover Page pane:

  1. Click Add File.

    > The Select a Cover Page PDF file dialog appears.

  2. Browse to the directory which contains the cover page PDF file.
  3. Select the Cover Page file.
  4. Click Add.

Remove cover page

To remove the cover page:

  1. From the Menu bar, select  Remove > Cover Page

      > You are prompted to confirm.

  2. Click Yes to remove the cover page file.

Specify cover page stamp

To add a stamp to the cover page of the appended document, in the Cover Page pane:

  1. Click Add Stamp.

     > The Select a Stamp file dialog appears.

  2. Browse to the directory which contains the stamp file.
  3. Select the Stamp file. 
  4. Click Add. For more information about Stamp files, see Tips below.

Remove cover page stamp

To remove the cover page stamp:

  1. From the Menu bar, select  Remove > Cover Page Stamp.
     > You are prompted to confirm.
  2. Click Yes to remove the cover page stamp file.

Removing a file from the input list

To remove a file from the input list, and from the append operation:

  1. Click on the filename to select the file.
  2. Click Remove

    > You are prompted to confirm.

  3. Click Yes to confirm

     > The file is removed from the list.

Specify Cover Page Tips

Adding files
  • Full, OS-specific paths must be used in all cases. AppendPDF DE will automatically use the correctly formatted, full path when you add files. If you use a pre-existing XML parameter file, make sure it specifies full path names. On Windows, you cannot type in the file name.
  • Drag files onto the File Name and Stamp File fields in the AppendPDF DE Cover Page pane.
Stamp files
  • A stamp is a piece of text or an image that is placed in your document, as if it is "stamped" onto the page. Text or images added by stamping become a permanent part of the document. A stamp file is a text file you create that specifies how AppendPDF DE applies stamps. For information on creating stamp files, refer to our StampPDF Batch documentation. The stamp file specified in the Cover Page pane only applies to the Cover Page of the document. It does not apply to the body of the document or the Table of Contents.

Specify Table of Contents

If you specify a PDF file to use as a template for a Table of Contents, AppendPDF DE creates a Table of Contents with an entry for each input file, including the page number of, and a bookmark to, the first page in the file.

In order to create a complete Table of Contents:

  • Specify a TOC template file
  • Add TOC entries to input files
  • Specify TOC formatting options

Specify a TOC template file

Specifies a PDF file that AppendPDF DE uses as a template for the Table of Contents of the output document.

Specifying a TOC Template file

To specify the TOC template file, in the Table of Contents pane:

  1. Click Add File.

    > The Select a TOC PDF file dialog appears.

  2. Browse to the directory which contains the TOC template PDF file.
  3. Select the TOC template file. 
  4. Click Add.

Note: If you do not add a TOC template file, no Table of Contents will be generated.

Remove the TOC Template file

To remove the TOC Template file:

  1. From the Menu bar, select Remove > TOC

     > You are prompted to confirm.

  2. Click Yes to remove the TOC template file and stamp.

Specify a TOC Stamp

To add a stamp to the TOC of the appended document, in the Table of Contents pane:

  1. Click Add Stamp.

     > The Select a Stamp file dialog appears.

  2. Browse to the directory which contains the stamp file.
  3. Select the Stamp file. 
  4. Click Add. For more information about Stamp files, see Tips below.

Remove TOC stamp

To remove the TOC stamp:

  1. From the Menu bar, select Remove > TOC Stamp.

     > You are prompted to confirm.

  2. Click Yes to remove the TOC stamp file.

Specifying a Table of Contents Tips

Adding files

  • Full, OS-specific paths must be used in all cases. AppendPDF DE will automatically use the correctly formatted, full path when you add files. If you use a pre-existing XML parameter file, make sure it specifies full path names. On Windows, you cannot type in the file name.
  • Drag files onto the File Name and Stamp File fields in the AppendPDF DE Table of Contents pane.
  • AppendPDF DE will only use the first page of the Table of Contents file. It will add more pages as needed.

Stamp files

  • A stamp is a piece of text or an image that is placed in your document, as if it is "stamped" onto the page. Text or images added by stamping become a permanent part of the document. A stamp file is a text file you create that specifies how AppendPDF DE applies stamps. For information on creating stamp files, refer to our StampPDF Batch documentation. The stamp file specified in the Table of Contents pane only applies to the Table of Contents of the document. It does not apply to the body of the document or the Cover Page.

Add TOC entries to input files

You can specify any text to use as the entry in the TOC for each file. If you do not specify a TOC entry, AppendPDF DE will use the filename.

 To add a TOC entry, in the Input pane:

  1. Click Show TOC Entries.

     > The Input pane changes to show the Filename and TOC Entry.

  2. Locate the file you want to change.
  3. Click on the TOC Entry cell for that file.

     > The TOC Entry cell becomes editable.

  4. Type the text you would like for the Table of Contents entry.
  5. Press Enter.
  6. Repeat for each input file.

If you later need to add files or modify page ranges, click Hide TOC Entries. AppendPDF DE remembers the TOC Entries when switching back to the Page Range view.

Specify TOC formatting options

You can customize the Table of Contents for your needs by specifying various formatting options. You can specify:

See the Sample TOC page for examples of each setting. To Specify TOC formatting options:

  1. From the Menu bar, select

     Options > TOC

  2. Fill in or choose the options described below.

Text Attributes

TOC Bookmark Text

Specifies text to appear in the bookmark pane identifying the Table of Contents. The default is "Table of Contents" but you can call it anything you want.

Font Name

Specifies the name of the font for the TOC text. Default is Times-Roman.

Font Size

Specifies the size of the font. Default is 14.

Font File

Name and path of the font file, if needed.

Font name

There are two types of fonts AppendPDF DE can use:

  • One of the Base 14 fonts
  • A PostScript Type 1 font

The names of the 14 base fonts are:

  • Courier   • Helvetica   • Times-Roman   • Symbol
  • Courier-Bold   • Helvetica-Bold   • Times-Bold   • ZapfDingbats
  • Courier-Oblique   • Helvetica-Oblique   • Time-Italic  
  • Courier-BoldOblique   • Helvetica-BoldOblique   • Times-BoldItalic  

If you use a PostScript Type 1 font, specify the PostScript name of the font. Refer to the font user documentation for the exact spelling of the font name.

You cannot use TrueType or OpenType fonts with AppendPDF Pro. If you use a font other than a Base 14 font, it must be a PostScript Type 1 font.

Font file

If you specify a PostScript Type 1 font, you must supply the font name, and the path and name of the font file:

  • Type 1 fonts use two files, a .pfb and a .pfm file. Both files need to be in the same directory, but you specify the .pfb file.
  • If there is a conflict between Font Name and Font File, the information in the font file overrides the font name.

Page Attributes

Left Margin

Specifies the left margin, in points. Default is 72 points (1 inch).

Right Margin

Specifies the right margin, in points. Default is 72 points (1 inch).

Header Height

Specifies the distance, in points, from the top of the page box to the start of the Table of Contents entries. Default is 72 points (1 inch).

Footer Height

Specifies the distance, in points, from the bottom of the page box to the end of the Table of Contents entries. Default is 72 points (1 inch).

Pagebox

Specifies the boundaries that AppendPDF DE measures from to determine where to place TOC elements.

  • Mediabox—Empty element that tells AppendPDF DE to use the media box as the page box.  The media box defines the maximum imageable area of the physical medium on which the page is to be printed. This is the default value.
  • Cropbox—Empty element that tells AppendPDF DE to use the crop box as the page box. The crop box defines the region to which the contents of the page are to be clipped (cropped) when displayed or printed. If your printing process specifies an area to crop, make sure to specify cropbox to make sure the TOC does not fall outside the viewable area.
  • Artbox—Empty element that tells AppendPDF DE to use the art box as the page box. The art box defines the extent of the page's meaningful content as intended by the page's creator.
  • Bleedbox—Empty element that tells AppendPDF DE to use the bleed box as the page box. The bleed box defines the region to which the contents of the page should be clipped when output in a production environment. This may include any extra "bleed area" needed to accommodate the physical limitations of cutting, folding, and trimming equipment.
  • Trimbox—Empty element that tells AppendPDF DE to use the trim box as the page box. The trim box defines the intended dimensions of the finished page after trimming.

TOC Attributes

Leader

Specifies the leader character, the character used in the space from the end of the text to the page number.

Line Space

Specifies the line spacing of the TOC text. Default is 3.

Column Width

Specifies the width of the column that holds the TOC page numbers. Default is 72 points (1 inch).

TOC Attributes Tips
Leader

The following notes apply to the leader:

  • If you do not specify a leader, long TOC entries will wrap to a new line. Consider this when choosing LineSpace or TOC entries may overlap each other.
  • If you do specify a Leader, lines will not wrap in the TOC entries. Long lines will be truncated.
Line space

Line spacing is specified as:

  • 1 = single spacing
  • 2 = double spacing
  • and so on...

    The default value is 3. Refer to the Leader note above for more information.

    Note: If you specify 0, bookmarks are created, but no TOC text is applied to the TOC page.

Column Width

Column Width can be used to tighten or loosen up the space between the numbers and the leader. Make sure it is big enough to hold all the digits of the page numbers in the font size used.

Color Space

Specifies whether the text for the TOC is grayscale or RGB color. If it is:

  • Grayscale, the gray level is specified,
  • RGB color, the Red, Green, and Blue levels are specified to create a color.
Gray

If the colorspace is Grayscale, Gray specifies the percentage of white:

  • 0 would be black
  • 50 would be medium gray
  • 100 would be white
Red, Green, Blue

If the colorspace is RGB, red, green, and blue specify the levels of each color from 0-255, such that:

RedGreenBlueResult
0 0 0 Black
255 0 0 Red
0 255 0 Green
0 0 255 Blue
255 255 255 White
128 128 128 Gray

16 million colors are possible with this system. You can get help choosing RGB values from graphic design software or several internet sites (for example, www.visibone.com/colorlab).

Note: that Red = Green = Blue makes gray. You can duplicate any gray color in RGB with appropriate choice of equal values.

Click Set Color to choose a color.

 

 

 AppendPDF DE | AppendPDF DE Parameters