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Converting PDF to multiple pages

J Radical

J Radical

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 20, 2006
112
0
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.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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?
Click to expand...


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 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.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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)

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

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).
 
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.
 

Attachments

  • a.pdf
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  • b.pdf
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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.
Click to expand...

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.
 

Attachments

  • Picture 1.png
    Picture 1.png
    156.4 KB · Views: 1,621
  • b.pdf
    106.8 KB · Views: 893
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...



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