Creating a PDF Document with Multiple Files

This tutorial will show you how to take multiple files, including Word documents, image files, existing PDF files, and more, and convert all of them into a single PDF file.

A- The first thing you will want to do is to decide on all of the files you wish to use in the conversion process. It may be helpful to collect all of these files and place them in a single folder. If you have many files to use and they are scattered all about your hard drive, finding them all may be tricky, and it will be easy to forget one or two.

 

B - Now open Adobe Acrobat. You should see the following screen.

C - Near the top of the screen there should be a graphic labeled "Create PDF" with a drop-down arrow beside it. This graphic should be roughly in the middle of the screen. If you need help finding it, just look for the graphics across the top that say Open, Save, Print, Email, Search, and so on. This graphic will be in the same row.

Click this button. You should see a small menu appear.

D - From this menu, click the option labeled "From Multiple Files...".

E - This will bring up a dialog box. There will be a browse button on the left. Click on it.

F - This will open another dialog box. Here is where you select the files you wish to use. Go ahead and select them now. You can select multiple files by holding down the ctrl key and clicking on each individual file.

Once you have selected your files, click "Add"

Note that you cannot simultaneously select files that are in different folders. For example, if you have files in a folder called "Add1" and other files in a folder called "Add2", you must first add the files from Add1, then go back and repeat the file adding process for Add2. If you have only two folders to add this is not a big deal, but if you have a large number, then copying all files into a new folder first would help save time.

G - After clicking Add you should be back at the previous dialog box. Now you should see your files listed under the "Files to Combine" box on the right.

Notice the two checkbox options in the bottom portion of the box.

Include all open PDF documents: Checking this will add to the list of files any PDF files that you are currently viewing. So if you currently have open a PDF file called "ReadMe", this file will be included in the list of files to use in the conversion. If you have five PDF files open, all five will be included. It is probably a safer choice to close out of all PDF files and instead, select them in step F above.

Include most recent list of files to combine: If checked, this option will include all the files from the last time you created a PDF document from multiple files. For example, say you used three files, 1.doc, 2.gif, and 3.pdf, to create a PDF document. Now you come back tomorrow and want to create another PDF document from multiple files. This time you specify the files 4.doc, 5.pdf, and 6.pdf. If you check this option, Acrobat will automatically include the files you used last time - 1.doc, 2.gif, and 3.pdf. So if you want to build on your previous creation, use this option. If you had added many files, just clicking this will save you the time of having to track down all those files again. If you want a fresh file without any old stuff, leave this unchecked.

H - Now click the "OK" button. Acrobat will start the process. You may see some other programs, such as Microsoft Word, start up. Do not worry - this is normal. Depending on how many files you have added, this process may take a long time.

Eventually you will be back at the main Acrobat screen and will see your newly created PDF file. Now you need to save it. To do so, click the "Save" button at the top. It should be right under the familiar menu choices for File, Edit, View, Document, and so on.

I - You should now see the familiar Save As dialog box. Give your new PDF file a name, decide where to save it, and click "Save".

 

You have now created your multi-file PDF document.