How do I make sure the pages in my combined PDF are in the correct order?

After you add your files in Combine Files, you will see small pictures (thumbnails) of each file. Drag these thumbnails to change their order. The file at the top will be the first in your new PDF. Make sure the order is correct before you click 'Combine'.

What is the difference between merging PDFs and compressing PDFs?

Feature What it Does Main Goal. Combine/Merge PDFs Puts many separate PDF files into one single PDF document. To create one complete document from multiple sources. Compress PDFs Reduces the file size of a PDF document. To make the PDF smaller for easier sharing or storage.

Deliver Permit Submittal Package in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Convert the Word specs and stamped AutoCAD PDFs into one combined PDF, attach the stamped…+

Convert the Word specs and stamped AutoCAD PDFs into one combined PDF, attach the stamped drawings, add a footer with project_address project address and drawing_issue_date drawing issue date, and email the package to recipient Emma in planning by deadline Friday so the permit process can start.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before sending to [recipient=Emma in planning], make the permit package easy to accept: put the…+

Before sending to [recipient=Emma in planning], make the permit package easy to accept: put the stamped cover sheet and a one-line scope summary first, ensure page numbers and revision dates are visible, flag any outstanding consultant items, and combine everything into one searchable PDF for review.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open Adobe Acrobat.
2
Go to File > Combine Files.
3
Click Add Files and select the PDF files you want to merge.
4
Arrange the files in your desired order by dragging and dropping them within the list.
5
Click Combine to merge the selected files into a single PDF document.
6
Save the new combined PDF to your preferred location.

In the appWith the API

You can preview and reorder files before combining to ensure the final PDF is in the correct sequence.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Combine FilesAn Acrobat feature that puts multiple documents or images into a single PDF.ExampleYou use this Acrobat feature to gather several reports and images into one PDF.

ThumbnailA small picture that shows what a page or file looks like.ExampleClicking on the thumbnail of page 5 quickly displays the full content of that page.

BookmarkA link in a PDF that helps you jump to a specific part of the document.ExampleClicking the 'Exhibit A' bookmark takes you directly to the relevant court document.

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3 roles

Office AdministratorLegal AssistantAcademic Coordinator

FAQ

about this task

After you add your files in Combine Files, you will see small pictures (thumbnails) of each file.
Drag these thumbnails to change their order. The file at the top will be the first in your new PDF.
Make sure the order is correct before you click 'Combine'.

Keeping 'Preserve Bookmarks' on is important because it makes your new combined PDF easy to use. Each original file will become a top-level bookmark. This means you can quickly jump to the start of each section, which is very helpful for long documents like permit submittals.

No, if your original files already have page numbers, combining them will likely result in restarted page numbers for each new section. For example, if you combine a 5-page document and a 10-page document, the second document will start again at page 1. To get continuous page numbers across the entire combined PDF, you will need to add new page numbers after the combining process is finished.

Feature	What it Does	Main Goal
Combine/Merge PDFs	Puts many separate PDF files into one single PDF document.	To create one complete document from multiple sources.
Compress PDFs	Reduces the file size of a PDF document.	To make the PDF smaller for easier sharing or storage.

Combining files rarely makes the PDF smaller. In fact, it often keeps the same size or gets a little bigger. If your combined PDF is too large, you should compress it after you have finished combining the files. Acrobat has a separate feature for compressing PDFs that will help reduce the file size without losing too much quality.

Deliver Permit Submittal Package

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