Actions: Arrange and Present files

pdfToolbox / pdfaPilot offers a set of predefined actions. These actions ease the use of frequently needed processes like impositioning or color conversions.

In the following articles you will find an overview of all actions categorized in groups and their availability in the different flavors of pdfToolbox / pdfaPilot.

Booklet

Prepares a PDF document for double sided printing, such that the printout can be folded and saddle-stitched.


pdfToolbox pdfaPilot
Plug-In Booklet
Standalone
Server/CLI --booklet
SDK PTB_Booklet

N-Up

Puts several pages onto a new page.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
N-Up Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--nup
SDK
 PTB_NUp

Fill page

Puts several pages onto a new page with a defined page size. Distributes pages across/down as space permits.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Fill page
Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--fillpage
SDK
 PTB_FillPage

Impose

Offers flexible imposition based on imposition templates.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Impose
Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--impose
SDK
 PTB_Impose

Slice

Creates two documents. One containing the chosen objects. The other one contains all other objects.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
Slice Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--slice
SDK
 PTB_Slice

Sandwich

Places the chosen PDF on top of the active PDF file.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Sandwich
Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--overlay
SDK
 PTB_Overlay

Reader spreads

Prepares a PDF document for double sided printing. The pages are sorted continuously.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Reader spreads
Standalone
Server/CLI
--readerspreads
SDK
 PTB_ReaderSpreads

Split in half

Splits double pages into single pages. Recognizes whether single and double pages are present, and only splits the double pages, leaving the single pages as they are.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
Split in half
Standalone
Server/CLI
--splithalf
SDK
 PTB_SplitHalf

Step & Repeat

Puts each page multiple times on a new page.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Step & Repeat
Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--steprepeat
SDK
 PTB_StepRepeat

New page

Creates an empty page in the active PDF document.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 New page
Standalone
Server
Fixup 'Insert page'
CLI
SDK

Duplicate page

Duplicates pages.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
Duplicate page
Standalone
Server/CLI
--duplicatepage
SDK
Not available

Presentation

Optimize PDF for use as a slide presentation. Add progress thermometer to each page (except first page).


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Presentation
Standalone
Server/CLI
--presentation
SDK
 PTB_Presentation

Handout

Creates a handout containing several slides on one page and optionally some lines for notes.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Handout
Standalone
Server/CLI
--handout
SDK
 PTB_Handout

Passe partout

 Adds a background border around the current page content.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
Passe Partout
Not available
Standalone
Server/CLI
--passepartout
SDK
 PTB_PassePartout

Light table

Puts several pages on one new page to give the impression of a light table.


pdfToolbox
pdfaPilot
Plug-In
 Light Table
Standalone
Server/CLI
--lighttable
SDK
 PTB_LightTable

Split or reorder

Splits the PDF into single pages or (if specified) according to a split scheme (see Help button). “Merge again” creates a single PDF from the split parts in the order specified in the split scheme.

This is available as a ProcessPlan action. Resulting files shall be written as separate output (like with "SaveAsImage")


pdfToolbox pdfaPilot
Plug-In Split or reorder (Switchboard)
Standalone
Server/CLI --splitpdf
SDK PTB_Splitpdf

Split PDF at mark

Splits the PDF into parts based on pages identified by Checks.


pdfToolbox pdfaPilot
Plug-In Split PDF at mark
Standalone
Server/CLI --splitatmark
SDK