Calguns.net  

Home My iTrader Join the NRA Donate to CGSSA Sponsors CGN Google Search
CA Semiauto Ban(AW)ID Flowchart CA Handgun Ban ID Flowchart CA Shotgun Ban ID Flowchart
Go Back   Calguns.net > GENERAL DISCUSSION > Technology and Internet
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Technology and Internet Emerging and current tech related issues. Internet, DRM, IP, and other technology related discussions.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-08-2021, 9:06 PM
beanz2's Avatar
beanz2 beanz2 is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,843
iTrader: 41 / 100%
Default Adobe Acrobat Pro alternative?

So, I have a few financially-sensitive PDF files I need to combine into one file to upload to my bank. Their portal only allows for one uploaded file and I have 7 files. I need to combine PDFs.

I thought about getting Adobe's Acrobat Pro, but it seems to only offer subscriptions. I don't like subscribing and paying them monthly even after I no longer use the app.

I'm wary of those online free apps as I must upload the documents before they combine them online. Are they safe? Do they ever mine the data within the documents I upload? The contents of these files have sensitive financial info on me and the employees.

Any suggestions for an inexpensive Adobe Acrobat Pro-like app I can buy once and not subscribe until I stop? Visions of being on hold on the phone for 45 minutes to cancel a subscription is dancing in my mind.
__________________

The wife will be pissed, but Jesus always forgives.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-08-2021, 9:41 PM
smellypenguin smellypenguin is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 9
iTrader: 4 / 100%
Default

You can still purchase a perpetual license for Acrobat, they don't make it easy to find: https://www.adobe.com/products/catal...l#category=pdf

Scroll all the way down and pick Acrobat Standard 2020 or Acrobat Pro 2020.

Few Alternatives:
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-editor/
https://www.gonitro.com/individual

You can still subscribe to Adobe and cancel online after the first month, as long as you choose the month to month option, they have made it fairly painless.

You answered your own question about the free online apps.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-09-2021, 6:25 AM
MyOdessa's Avatar
MyOdessa MyOdessa is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor - Lifetime
CGN Contributor - Lifetime
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Nor. Cal.
Posts: 2,072
iTrader: 10 / 100%
Default

PDFSam Basic - free and works great. I have been using it for years without any issues. You can upgrade for a fee to get more functionality.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-09-2021, 6:41 AM
MrRichards MrRichards is online now
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 45
iTrader: 2 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by beanz2 View Post
I don't like subscribing and paying them monthly even after I no longer use the app.
Why not subscribe for one month then cancel your subscription?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-09-2021, 7:59 AM
WoodTurner's Avatar
WoodTurner WoodTurner is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: North County SD
Posts: 278
iTrader: 3 / 100%
Default

LibreOffice
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-09-2021, 8:04 AM
1911-CV 1911-CV is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 559
iTrader: 26 / 100%
Default FoxIt

If you need a commercially supported alternative, take a look at FoxIt.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-09-2021, 8:15 AM
sigstroker sigstroker is offline
I need a LIFE!!
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: not in CA
Posts: 17,344
iTrader: 8 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1911-CV View Post
If you need a commercially supported alternative, take a look at FoxIt.
Companies I've worked for have used that.

I wouldn't use any Adobe software if you have an alternative. Adobe might have even crappier software than microshaft. One of their failed installs effed up the flash on my computer that can't be fixed, short of reformatting.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-09-2021, 7:57 PM
the86d's Avatar
the86d the86d is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The FREE STATE of Texas
Posts: 9,541
iTrader: 5 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WoodTurner View Post
LibreOffice
...and openoffice.

I can't remember which one I used to use to piss off the courts, but the downloaded versions of the same forms didn't have the barcodes they desperately wanted me to fill out with a flipping pen, or pencil...

Ef-THAT, COPY-PASTE COPY-PASTE COPY-PASTE BEE-CHEESE...
and I STILL got custody AND Child Support...

Last edited by the86d; 04-09-2021 at 8:36 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-09-2021, 9:06 PM
HecklerNKoch's Avatar
HecklerNKoch HecklerNKoch is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 428
iTrader: 11 / 100%
Default

I am late to reply.


If one is to actually pay to do to this very basic task, even more advanced than Adobe Acrobat would be Foxit Phantom Business Edition. A simplified version, more aesthetic, less convoluted would be Nitro PDF Enterprise or Business edition.


Keep in mind this is a very simple task that normally doesn't cost anything to 'merge, split, extract, combine' documents. However, in your case, given that these files are sensitive, uploading it to a free service would not be advisable.


The answer to your question is PDFsam. It is both free and open-source.


PDFsam Basic or PDF Split and Merge is a free and open-source cross-platform desktop application to split, merge, extract pages, rotate and mix PDF documents.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-09-2021, 10:34 PM
the86d's Avatar
the86d the86d is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The FREE STATE of Texas
Posts: 9,541
iTrader: 5 / 100%
Default

As I recall, if you have Acrobat pro, you could print to a PDF to combine multiple in older version... not sure about current versions, or 3rd party others...

Not sure about cost, but PDF Factory will combine also...

Maybe M$ Windows/Office combo "print to PDF" would allow combining, but I don't feel like trying.

Last edited by the86d; 04-09-2021 at 10:36 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-09-2021, 11:31 PM
kelvin232 kelvin232 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 827
iTrader: 15 / 100%
Default

BlueBeam is the industry standard in my field.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-09-2021, 11:33 PM
HecklerNKoch's Avatar
HecklerNKoch HecklerNKoch is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 428
iTrader: 11 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by the86d View Post
As I recall, if you have Acrobat pro, you could print to a PDF to combine multiple in older version... not sure about current versions, or 3rd party others...

Not sure about cost, but PDF Factory will combine also...

Maybe M$ Windows/Office combo "print to PDF" would allow combining, but I don't feel like trying.



Modern Windows comes with Microsoft Print to PDF but I think the problem OP is facing is that the files originate as PDFs. The dilemma he is facing is merging multiple PDFs, not converting to PDFs.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-09-2021, 11:49 PM
HecklerNKoch's Avatar
HecklerNKoch HecklerNKoch is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 428
iTrader: 11 / 100%
Default

Op, if you want to get crazy and do this in 30 seconds do this:


Open PowerShell, copy and past line by line change what I have in bold to match your paths.



  1. Install-Module PSWritePDF -Force
  2. Update-Module PSWritePDF
  3. $FilePath1 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_1.pdf"
  4. $FilePath2 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_2.pdf"
  5. $FilePath3 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_3.pdf
  6. $FilePath4 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_4.pdf"
  7. $FilePath5 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_5.pdf"
  8. $FilePath6 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_6.pdf"
  9. $FilePath7 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_7.pdf"
  10. $OutputFile = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\OutputDocument.pdf"
  11. Merge-PDF -InputFile $FilePath1, $FilePath2, $FilePath3, $FilePath4, $FilePath5, $FilePath5, $FilePath7 -OutputFile $OutputFile


Done. Sleep.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-09-2021, 11:56 PM
the86d's Avatar
the86d the86d is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The FREE STATE of Texas
Posts: 9,541
iTrader: 5 / 100%
Default

In the olden days (AKA: BACK IN MY HAY-DAY) a simple CLI of:
"copy file1.ext+file2.ext+file3.ext file4.ext" was MY happy place....

N-E body try it?

In Linux ("cp file1+file2+file3 file4")?


Error-body obsessed with a GUI/APP...

Last edited by the86d; 04-10-2021 at 12:07 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-10-2021, 12:29 AM
Robotron2k84's Avatar
Robotron2k84 Robotron2k84 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,013
iTrader: 2 / 100%
Default

On the Mac, assuming a folder called PDF on the desktop contains the sources:

From Terminal:

$ python “/System/Library/Automator\
/Combine PDF Pages.action/Contents\
/Resources/join.py” -o \
~/Desktop/joined.pdf ~/Desktop/PDF/*.[Pp][Dd][Ff]
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 04-10-2021, 10:26 AM
the86d's Avatar
the86d the86d is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The FREE STATE of Texas
Posts: 9,541
iTrader: 5 / 100%
Default

Linux or Linux VM:
https://net2.com/how-to-merge-or-spl...iles-on-linux/
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 04-11-2021, 8:55 PM
beanz2's Avatar
beanz2 beanz2 is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,843
iTrader: 41 / 100%
Default

Thank you, all. OP here. I downloaded Nitro on free trial basis and so far it has worked beautifully. Might end up buying it after all.
__________________

The wife will be pissed, but Jesus always forgives.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 04-11-2021, 9:17 PM
high_revs's Avatar
high_revs high_revs is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 6,584
iTrader: 12 / 100%
Default

OP.. how many pdf files and/or pages are you planning to combine? there are many free ones out there.

myself, i've been using adolix for > 5-7 yrs. there is a limit on max pages for free version. i rarely encounter it though.

this is on windows platform.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 04-11-2021, 9:33 PM
Foothills Foothills is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 910
iTrader: 2 / 100%
Default

Incidentally you can combine PDFs easily in Acrobat Standard, you don't need Pro unless you are redacting stuff.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 04-16-2021, 6:20 PM
beanz2's Avatar
beanz2 beanz2 is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,843
iTrader: 41 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by high_revs View Post
OP.. how many pdf files and/or pages are you planning to combine? there are many free ones out there.
I had about 7-8 files total after combining a myriad of smaller PDFs. Now I’m done

Thanks to all who helped, especially HecklerNKoch!
__________________

The wife will be pissed, but Jesus always forgives.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 04-16-2021, 10:11 PM
SanDiego619's Avatar
SanDiego619 SanDiego619 is online now
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Banana
Posts: 5,699
iTrader: 7 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HecklerNKoch View Post
Op, if you want to get crazy and do this in 30 seconds do this:


Open PowerShell, copy and past line by line change what I have in bold to match your paths.



  1. Install-Module PSWritePDF -Force
  2. Update-Module PSWritePDF
  3. $FilePath1 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_1.pdf"
  4. $FilePath2 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_2.pdf"
  5. $FilePath3 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_3.pdf
  6. $FilePath4 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_4.pdf"
  7. $FilePath5 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_5.pdf"
  8. $FilePath6 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_6.pdf"
  9. $FilePath7 = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\Document_7.pdf"
  10. $OutputFile = "C:\Users\beanz2\Documents\OutputDocument.pdf"
  11. Merge-PDF -InputFile $FilePath1, $FilePath2, $FilePath3, $FilePath4, $FilePath5, $FilePath5, $FilePath7 -OutputFile $OutputFile


Done. Sleep.
Nice post!
__________________
Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 4:06 AM.




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Proudly hosted by GeoVario the Premier 2A host.
Calguns.net, the 'Calguns' name and all associated variants and logos are ® Trademark and © Copyright 2002-2021, Calguns.net an Incorporated Company All Rights Reserved.
All opinions, statements and remarks made by Calguns.net on this web site and elsewhere are solely attributable to Calguns.net.



Seams2SewBySusy