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

When you combine files, keep 'Preserve Bookmarks' turned on. This makes each original file name a main bookmark in your new PDF. You can then click these bookmarks to quickly jump to different sections. Also, drag the file thumbnails into a logical order before combining. This makes the flow of information make sense.

What is the difference between 'Combine Files' and just opening multiple PDFs in Acrobat?

Feature Combine Files Opening Multiple PDFs. Result Creates one single PDF document from many files. Opens each PDF as a separate window or tab. Purpose To make one complete, unified document or packet. To view or work on individual PDF documents separately. Navigation One document with bookmarks for each original file. Switch between different open documents.

Consolidate RFI Package in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Combine all [RFIs] and supporting documents into one consolidated RFI [package PDF] and send it…+

Combine all [RFIs] and supporting documents into one consolidated RFI [package PDF] and send it to the [design team] with a requested response date so questions are answered consistently and quickly.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Organize the RFI [package] with a numbered index, put the question and proposed direction up…+

Organize the RFI [package] with a numbered index, put the question and proposed direction up front for each item, and flag any that block immediate work so the [design team] can triage and answer high-impact RFIs first.

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.

BookmarksLinks in a PDF that let you jump to different sections, like a table of contents.ExampleThe document's bookmarks allowed us to quickly navigate between different sections of the report.

APIA way for different software to talk to each other automatically.ExampleAn online store uses an API to automatically send shipping details to a delivery service.

Who does this

3 roles

Office AdministratorLegal AssistantAcademic Coordinator

FAQ

about this task

When you combine files, keep 'Preserve Bookmarks' turned on. This makes each original file name a main bookmark in your new PDF.
You can then click these bookmarks to quickly jump to different sections.
Also, drag the file thumbnails into a logical order before combining. This makes the flow of information make sense.

When you combine PDFs, 'Preserve Bookmarks' means Acrobat will use the names of your original files as main bookmarks in the new, combined PDF. This helps you and others quickly find where each original document starts within the larger file. It makes the combined file much easier to use.

Page numbers from your original files are part of each file. When you combine them, Acrobat just puts the files together. It does not change the page numbers inside each file. This means if each file started at page 1, they will all restart at page 1 in the combined PDF. To fix this, you can add new, continuous page numbers to the whole combined PDF after you merge it.

Yes, the Combine Files tool in Acrobat is designed to do exactly that. You can add many different file types, such as Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, image files, web pages, and existing PDFs. Acrobat will convert them all into a single, unified PDF document. This is very useful for creating complete packets or reports.

Feature	Combine Files	Opening Multiple PDFs
Result	Creates one single PDF document from many files.	Opens each PDF as a separate window or tab.
Purpose	To make one complete, unified document or packet.	To view or work on individual PDF documents separately.
Navigation	One document with bookmarks for each original file.	Switch between different open documents.

Consolidate RFI Package

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