PDFTK Merge Command

[mpcluever]

Run("C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe ""C:\asdf.pdf"" ""C:\qwer.pdf"" cat output ""C:\combined.pdf""")
Run("C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe ""C:\*.pdf"" cat output ""C:\combined2.pdf""")

The first line works combining 2 pdf files into one, but the second one fails combining all pdf files into one. The examples at pdftk show that it should work.

Join in1.pdf and in2.pdf into a new PDF, out1.pdf
pdftk in1.pdf in2.pdf cat output out1.pdf
or (using handles):
pdftk A=in1.pdf B=in2.pdf cat A B output out1.pdf
or (using wildcards):
pdftk *.pdf cat output combined.pdf

Any thoughts?

[wakillon]

And like this ?

Run("C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe C:\*.pdf cat output C:\combined2.pdf" )

[hannes08]

Hi mpcluever,

did you try setting the working directory?

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe" *.pdf cat output C:\combined2.pdf', "C:\")

[mpcluever]

And like this ?

Run("C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe C:\*.pdf cat output C:\combined2.pdf" )

Yes I did try that. The only thing that's changing is using a wildcard instead of listing the files. I'm trying to merge about 50 files so listing them is not really an option.

[sahsanu]

Yes I did try that. The only thing that's changing is using a wildcard instead of listing the files.

I'm pretty sure one of those pdf files has an space in its name... anyway, I've just tried it in my computer and it is mergin all files.

Run('C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe "C:\*.pdf" cat output C:\combined2.pdf')

[mpcluever]

I'm pretty sure one of those pdf files has an space in its name... anyway, I've just tried it in my computer and it is mergin all files.

Run('C:\Program Files\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe "C:\*.pdf" cat output C:\combined2.pdf')

Ya no spaces. I did dumb it down to c:, but I did create those dummy files and it still doesn't work.

[sahsanu]

Ya no spaces. I did dumb it down to c:, but I did create those dummy files and it still doesn't work.

Strange, I've used that command in my computer and that command merged all pdf files. Are you using Windows 7?, I ask because of you will need admin rights to write in C:\.

[mpcluever]

Strange, I've used that command in my computer and that command merged all pdf files. Are you using Windows 7?, I ask because of you will need admin rights to write in C:\.

It is Windows 7, but calling each file separately works, it's just when I use the wildcard that it doesn't.

[wakillon]

It is Windows 7, but calling each file separately works, it's just when I use the wildcard that it doesn't.

Try like this :

#include <Constants.au3>

Global $_StderrRead, $_StdoutRead
; pdftk *.pdf cat output combined.pdf

$_PdftkExePath = @ProgramFilesDir & '\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe'
$_PdfInputFolderPath = 'C:'
$_PdfOutputPath = 'C:\combined2.pdf'

$_Run = '"' & $_PdftkExePath & '" ' & FileGetShortName ( $_PdfInputFolderPath ) & '\*.pdf cat output "' & $_PdfOutputPath & '"'
ConsoleWrite ( '$_Run : ' & $_Run & @Crlf )
$_Pid = Run ( $_Run, '', @SW_SHOW, $STDERR_CHILD + $STDOUT_CHILD )

While ProcessExists ( $_Pid )
    $_StderrRead = StderrRead ( $_Pid )
    If Not @error And $_StderrRead <> '' Then ConsoleWrite ( "STDERR read : " & $_StderrRead & @Crlf )
    $_StdoutRead = StdoutRead ( $_Pid )
    If Not @error And $_StdoutRead <> '' Then ConsoleWrite ( "STDOUT read : " & $_StdoutRead & @Crlf )
WEnd

If it doesn't work, you will see the error message !

Edited May 13, 2011 by wakillon

[mpcluever]

Try like this :

#include <Constants.au3>

Global $_StderrRead, $_StdoutRead
; pdftk *.pdf cat output combined.pdf

$_PdftkExePath = @ProgramFilesDir & '\PDFTK Builder\pdftk.exe'
$_PdfInputFolderPath = 'C:'
$_PdfOutputPath = 'C:\combined2.pdf'

$_Run = '"' & $_PdftkExePath & '" ' & FileGetShortName ( $_PdfInputFolderPath ) & '\*.pdf cat output "' & $_PdfOutputPath & '"'
ConsoleWrite ( '$_Run : ' & $_Run & @Crlf )
$_Pid = Run ( $_Run, '', @SW_SHOW, $STDERR_CHILD + $STDOUT_CHILD )

While ProcessExists ( $_Pid )
    $_StderrRead = StderrRead ( $_Pid )
    If Not @error And $_StderrRead <> '' Then ConsoleWrite ( "STDERR read : " & $_StderrRead & @Crlf )
    $_StdoutRead = StdoutRead ( $_Pid )
    If Not @error And $_StdoutRead <> '' Then ConsoleWrite ( "STDOUT read : " & $_StdoutRead & @Crlf )
WEnd

If it doesn't work, you will see the error message !

That did it! Thanks! I have more ideas now for consolewrite.