Converting PDF to multiple pages

J Radical · May 27, 2009

Hi guys, I have a PDF version of a Power Point Presentation, that is 1 page per PP slide. For the past 20 minutes I've been trying to find a way to change the PDF document to multiple slides per page (or rather, multiple pages per page).

I do not have access to the original power point file. And I'm trying to e-mail, not print this document.

How can I convert a PDF file so that multiple PDF pages are squeezed onto a single PDF page?

Thanks.

smurfjammer · May 27, 2009

Can't think of a way you could, unless you have some PDF imposing software like Quite Imposing.

ergdegdeg · May 27, 2009

You can just print to PDF (File >> Print), in the Layout section, choose how many pages you want per sheet and hit the PDF button at the bottom left.

sushi · May 27, 2009

Never tried to do this.

OP, why do you need to convert to say 2 slides per page? File size?

J Radical · May 27, 2009

ergdegdeg said:
You can just print to PDF (File >> Print), in the Layout section, choose how many pages you want per sheet and hit the PDF button at the bottom left.

Doesn't work, in Preview when I select the print multiple pages per sheet option the preview pain doesn't change to reflect the changes I've made- when I save using the option in bottom left the 'new' document is identical to the original.

In Acrobat Pro the preview panel does change, but when I try to save it will not allow me and says I must do it using 'file --> save' on the menu bar, meaning once again I cannot alter the document. (You cannot save with the print dialog box open)

sushi said:
Never tried to do this.

OP, why do you need to convert to say 2 slides per page? File size?

Yeah its an issue of file size, I have 10 of these huge documents and can't mail them as they are, zipping doesn't do enough.

sushi · May 27, 2009

J Radical said:
Yeah its an issue of file size, I have 10 of these huge documents and can't mail them as they are, zipping doesn't do enough.

You might create a free account at ADrive for example.

Upload the files. Then send out e-mail links to the receivers so they can download the files.

design-is · May 27, 2009

You mention you have Acrobat Pro - if it's a size issue, you can use 'PDF Optimiser' in Acrobat Pro to reduce the resolution, increase the compression, and in turn reduce the file size of each PDF.

Sorry if this is already something you've tried though.

IgnatiusTheKing · May 27, 2009

It would take some time, but you could create a blank page in Photoshop, then rasterize the PDF pages one by one and shrink them to fit on the new page you created.

design-is · May 27, 2009

IgnatiusTheKing said:
It would take some time, but you could create a blank page in Photoshop, then rasterize the PDF pages one by one and shrink them to fit on the new page you created.

Good point actually... What software do you have?

If you have InDesign, you can make a master page with some boxes, make a load of pages and drag each PDF page into a box and use an object style to format and fit them how you please.

MisterMe · May 27, 2009

J Radical said:
...

In Acrobat Pro the preview panel does change, but when I try to save it will not allow me and says I must do it using 'file --> save' on the menu bar, meaning once again I cannot alter the document. (You cannot save with the print dialog box open)

...

I just tried this with Preview and Adobe Acrobat Pro 9. Both seem to work without issue for up to 16-up.

dpn48312 · Jun 2, 2009

Pages per Sheet broken after update to 10.5.7???

I have been using the Pages per Sheet function to create PDFs (without Acrobat) with 4 pages to a sheet for years. All of a sudden it won't work for me any more. The only change I can think of is the recent OS update. Is anyone else having this problem recently?

Any ideas how I can fix it?

Thanks,
David

telecomm · Jun 2, 2009

J Radical said:
Doesn't work, in Preview when I select the print multiple pages per sheet option the preview pain doesn't change to reflect the changes I've made- when I save using the option in bottom left the 'new' document is identical to the original.

The preview panel doesn't change, since it previews one page, not one sheet (you're printing several pages per sheet, but your pages haven't changed).

I can also confirm that this continues to work as usual (on 10.5.7).

dpn48312 · Jun 3, 2009

No... see the attached files. A.pdf is what I want. B.pdf is what I am getting -- with the exact same settings -- except that I generated A a few weeks ago, and B last night.

IgnatiusTheKing · Jun 3, 2009

dpn48312 said:
No... see the attached files. A.pdf is what I want. B.pdf is what I am getting -- with the exact same settings -- except that I generated A a few weeks ago, and B last night.

In the Print window, choose "Layout" and select "4" in the Pages per Sheet dropdown. Then click the PDF dropdown (lower left) and select "Save as PDF". Took me 5 seconds.

dpn48312 · Jun 3, 2009

Thank you for trying to help, but I don't think you took into account what I stated. I KNOW HOW to do that. I have done it before exactly as you describe. I gave you two files as samples to show you I accomplished it previously. IT NO LONGER WORKS for me.

telecomm · Jun 3, 2009

dpn48312 said:
Thank you for trying to help, but I don't think you took into account what I stated. I KNOW HOW to do that. I have done it before exactly as you describe. I gave you two files as samples to show you I accomplished it previously. IT NO LONGER WORKS for me.

It's now been confirmed that

1. It's not a problem with 10.5.7.

2. It's not a problem with the files you're working with.

So you've now got pretty good reason to assume it's a problem with your system. You can try deleting Preview's preferences, but I doubt that will help. Have you tried this in another application (say, creating a PDF from TextEdit)? another user account?

dpn48312 · Jun 3, 2009

Solved

OK, everyone. With the help of Apple support, I discovered the problem was caused by the fact that my previously installed printer driver was no longer appearing on the list as an installed printer. I don't know why it disappeared... I'll blame the OS update. And I don't know technically why it matters, since I was not actually trying to print, but only create a PDF. But when we noticed the printer driver was not shown, I connected to my printer, re-established it as the default printer, disconnected from the printer, and now it works just as it should -- I get 4 pages per sheet in my PDF just like I used to.

sushi · Jun 6, 2009

dpn48312 said:
OK, everyone. With the help of Apple support, I discovered the problem was caused by the fact that my previously installed printer driver was no longer appearing on the list as an installed printer. I don't know why it disappeared... I'll blame the OS update. And I don't know technically why it matters, since I was not actually trying to print, but only create a PDF. But when we noticed the printer driver was not shown, I connected to my printer, re-established it as the default printer, disconnected from the printer, and now it works just as it should -- I get 4 pages per sheet in my PDF just like I used to.

Glad to see it's working now.

I am not sure why it technically matters unless it needs a region to print to which the associated print driver provides.

tinassss · Dec 15, 2015

ergdegdeg said:
You can just print to PDF (File >> Print), in the Layout section, choose how many pages you want per sheet and hit the PDF button at the bottom left.

Ya this puts the exact same slide on the same page 100000 times. How do you put different slides on one page.

Converting PDF to multiple pages

macrumors regular

macrumors 6502a

Moderator emeritus

Moderator emeritus

macrumors regular

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68040

macrumors 65816

macrumors G4

macrumors newbie

macrumors 65816

macrumors newbie

Attachments

macrumors 68040

Attachments

macrumors newbie

macrumors 65816

macrumors newbie

Moderator emeritus

macrumors newbie

Our Staff