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

When combining, keep 'Preserve Bookmarks' turned on. This makes each original file a top-level bookmark in the new PDF. Your combined document will then have a table of contents you can click.

Can I combine many different types of files, like Word, Excel, and images, into one PDF?

Yes, the Combine Files feature in Acrobat is designed for this. You can add Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, images, web pages, and existing PDFs. All these different types will be converted and merged into a single PDF document.

Compile Budgets And Maps in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Assemble the full [package=grant package] with budgets and maps into one combined PDF, add a…+

Assemble the full [package=grant package] with budgets and maps into one combined PDF, add a viewing [security=password], and lock the file before submission to prevent accidental edits by reviewers.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before locking and submitting, insert a final [cover sheet] listing included documents and…+

Before locking and submitting, insert a final [cover sheet] listing included documents and version numbers, ensure map layers are flattened to prevent hidden edits, and share the [security=password] separately with only the [contact=grant officer] to maintain confidentiality.

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 the Tools tab and select Combine Files.
3
Click Add Files and select the PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and image files you want to combine.
Best practiceYou can select multiple files at once by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) while clicking.
4
Arrange the files in your desired order by dragging and dropping them within the Combine Files window.
Best practiceReorder files before combining to control the sequence of pages in the final PDF.
5
If you want to include only certain pages from a file, click the file's thumbnail and select the specific pages.
6
Click Combine to merge all selected files into a single PDF.
7
Save the new combined PDF to your desired location.

In the appWith the API

You can drag and drop files of different types directly into the Combine Files window to add them quickly.

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.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Assemble the full grant package with budgets and maps and lock it down before submission to prevent accidental edits.

FAQ

about this task

When combining, keep 'Preserve Bookmarks' turned on.
This makes each original file a top-level bookmark in the new PDF.
Your combined document will then have a table of contents you can click.

This can happen if the source files have old or broken internal structures. To fix it, try re-saving each original file using 'Save As' to refresh its structure. If that doesn't work, add the files one by one to the combine list, or use Acrobat's 'Help > Repair Installation' option.

If your original files already have page numbers, they will likely restart with each new document you add to the combined PDF. To have continuous page numbers across the whole new document, you will need to add new page numbers after combining the files.

Yes, the Combine Files feature in Acrobat is designed for this.
You can add Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, images, web pages, and existing PDFs.
All these different types will be converted and merged into a single PDF document.

No, combining files rarely makes the new PDF smaller. Usually, the combined file will be about the same size as all the original files put together, or even a little larger. If you need a smaller file, you should compress the combined PDF after you have finished merging it.

Compile Budgets And Maps

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