New Features

Please see the AppendPDF Options for the full documentation of the new features.

AppendPDF 5.5

Fixed in this release

Options set in Advanced Tab of the first input PDF file are copied over into the output appended document.  In previous versions of AppendPDF, if a Language was set in the first input file, the Language was not copied into the appended document.

Document property information was not getting overwritten in the output file if the first input PDF already contained data in the fields (Title, Author, Subject).  In version 5.5, document property fields are now properly updated with the information set in the parameter file.

AppendPDF 5.1

-cmds <filename>

To process multiple commands quickly and efficiently, use the -cmds <filename> option. The file specified by -cmds, the commands file, should contain one or more single line commands. Each command is just like an ordinary StampPDF Batch command-line without the executable name. The commands file does not support wildcards in filenames.

When you use the -cmds option, many of the StampPDF Batch options should be set in the -cmds file instead of on the command line. The following options are supported on the command line when using the -cmds option:
-r, -l, -n, -p

If the same option is set on the command line and in the a record of the -cmds file, the option value from the -cmds file record will be used.

For more information on the -cmds option, see Command Collections.

AppendPDF 5.0

For document optimization, use -optimize. This flag reduces file size in most instances, and performs a variety of functions:

• encode any non-encoded streams using Flate compression
• remove ASCII85 filters from all streams
• replace LZW encoded streams with Flate encoding
• merge identical XObjects and images
• optimize common sequences in page content
• merge identical font descriptors and encodings

To maximize compression, use -comp.  This flag will apply object level compression, typically reducing file size by 2%.

To not use object level compression, use, -nocomp. This flag will not add object level compression and will remove object level compression, if found; resulting in a document that is compatible with all versions of Acrobat.

To create an ISO 32000 compliant PDF, use -iso32000. This flag sets the output file version for ISO 32000 compliance (Adobe PDF version 1.7).

• -b on command line: All bookmarks from the original files are copied into the appended document. NEW behavior for version 5.0: If an input file does not have ANY bookmarks, a top level bookmark is created. The name of the bookmark will be the “Title” of the PDF. If there is no “Title” set, then the name of the PDF will be the name used for the bookmark.  JavaScript bookmarks are now also supported. Top level bookmarks are always expanded.
• -extra: This flag will copy any named destination bookmarks/links, and article threads into the appended document. If this flag is on the command line AND a page range is specified for an input file, no extra bookmarks or article threads will be copied over into the appended document

AppendPDF 4.3

• New XML Parameters: Additional functionality has been added to the XML which provide more control over the appearance of the output PDF document.

• <extras>: This new element specifies additional attributes you may want to define for the output file.
• <opentopage>: The page number at which to open the document.
• <openmode>: Specifies what is displayed when the document opens in Acrobat. Options for openmode are:
  • <showbookmarks>: The document opens with the bookmarks navigation panel showing
  • <showthumbnails>: The document opens with the thumbnails navigation panel showing.
  • <shownone>: The document opens with no navigation panels showing.
  • <fullscreen>: The document will open in the fullscreen mode.
• <viewmode>: Specifies the zoom level when the document opens. Options for viewmode are:
  • <bookmarkmode>: Specifies the initial state of the document’s bookmarks in the navigation pane. This does not affect the visibility of the bookmark pane.
  • <openbookmarks>: Expands the bookmark list to show all bookmarks in the navigation pane when the document is opened.
  • <closebookmarks>: Collapses the bookmark list to show only the top level bookmarks in the navigation pane when the document is opened.
  • <openlevel>: Expands the bookmark list through level n. For example, n=3, all bookmarks up to and including the third level are shown. The fourth and higher level bookmarks are collapsed.
• <layoutmode>: Specifies the display page layout when the document opens.
  • <single>: Displays one page at a time.
  • <onecolumn>: Arranges the pages in a continuous vertical column.
  • <twocolleft>: Arranges two pages side by side, the first page on the left.
  • <twocolright>: Arranges two pages side by side, the first page on the right.
• <displaymode>: Specifies the window display mode when the document opens. You can specify more than one option.
  • <hidetoolbar>: Specifies that the tool bar will not be displayed when the document opens.
  • <hidemenubar>: Specifies that the menu bar will not be displayed when the document opens.
  • <hidewinui>: Specifies that window controls will not be displayed when the document opens.
  • <fitwin>: Resizes the document window to fit the first page when the document opens.
  • <centerwin>: Centers the document window on the screen when the document opens.
  • <showtitle>: Displays the document title, rather than the filename, on the title bar and the Windows menu.

Fixed Issues

• -n – Do not write anything to screen. The option to not write anything to the screen (or STDOUT) now works.
• Links with named destinations, articles and threads can be copied into the appended document by including the -extra flag on the command line.
• The -eb flag to include embedded files is not working in this version.

Known Issues

Stamping and Setting Doc Info

Occasional problem with setting and stamping doc info (title, author, subject) on document.

Verification of correctly formed XML files

Occasionally, AppendPDF will not verify a correctly formed XML file when the DTD is included in the XML file. AppendPDF returns the error message “Error in parameter file.” To run a file that gives this error with AppendPDF, remove the DTD from the XML file.

Form fields

Form fields are incompatible with AppendPDF. If your document has form fields, AppendPDF will not rebuild the form tree within the PDF document following the append operation. Thus, form fields will not function properly after being appended.

Linking Problems

When portions of documents are appended, links in the appended section will work only if they link to a page within that section. If multiple sections of the same document are appended, links between those sections will not work.

Bookmarks

If your file contains Named Destination bookmarks, you need to include the -extra flag on the command line for the bookmarks to be copied into the appended document. 

To Get Help

Documentation for AppendPDF can be found at /appendpdf/.

Contact technical support by:

emailing support@appligent.com, or calling 610-284-4006

Please provide the following:

Product name and version number
Operating system
Your name, company name, email address, and phone number
Description of your question or problem

Responses are typically emailed within one business day.