How do I make sure my combined PDF is easy to navigate?

When you combine files, keep the 'Preserve Bookmarks' option turned on. This will make each original file a top-level bookmark in your new PDF. Users can then click these bookmarks to quickly move between the different sections of your packet.

◆ Acrobat · edit

Prepare Handoff Packet

Prepare the investigation packet: combine account statements, deposit images, and teller notes into one PDF, add Bates…

2ready prompts

1real task

3roles

See the prompt↓More edit workflows

When to use it

real situations

A lawyer needs to send all court documents as one file.
A student wants to put all their research papers into one study guide.
A real estate agent has many documents for a house closing.

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Prepare the investigation packet: combine account statements, deposit images, and teller notes…+

Prepare the investigation packet: combine account statements, deposit images, and teller notes into one PDF, add Bates numbers across the set, and place the final package in the manager's investigations [folder] for handoff.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before I give the packet to the manager, make it fast to assess: create a cover [page] with…+

Before I give the packet to the manager, make it fast to assess: create a cover [page] with summary of discrepancy and key dates, ensure all documents are Bates-numbered in sequence, insert sticky-note comments at disputed lines, and save a certified [copy] for records.

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

Handoff PacketA collection of documents given to someone else to continue a task.ExampleThe project manager assembled a handoff packet for the new team member taking over the client account.

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.

Who does this

3 roles

Office AdministratorLegal AssistantAcademic Coordinator

FAQ

about this task

When you combine files, keep the 'Preserve Bookmarks' option turned on.
This will make each original file a top-level bookmark in your new PDF.
Users can then click these bookmarks to quickly move between the different sections of your packet.

The 'Combine PDF' operation is a programming tool from Adobe. It lets software developers automatically merge up to 20 different files into one PDF document. You can even choose which pages from each file to include.

No, if your source files already have page numbers, the combined PDF will show page numbers that restart for each original document. To have continuous page numbers across the whole new PDF, you will need to add new page numbers after combining the files.

It is a good idea to keep your original files for a few days after combining them. This is in case you need to combine them again. You might need to re-merge if there was a mistake, or if you need to change the order of the documents.

Merging files into one PDF usually does not make the file size smaller. In fact, it might stay the same or even get a little bigger. If you need a smaller file, you should compress the PDF after you have finished combining all the documents.

Prepare Handoff Packet

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides

When it fails