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

When you combine files, make sure the 'Preserve Bookmarks' option is on. This will create a bookmark for each original file in your new PDF. You can then click these bookmarks to quickly jump to different sections of your combined document.

What is the difference between combining files in Acrobat and just attaching them in an email?

Feature Combine Files in Acrobat Attach Files in Email. Result One single PDF document. Many separate files. Navigation Easy to scroll through, often with bookmarks. Need to open each file separately. Organization Files are in a set order, making one packet. Files are separate, order can be lost. Sharing Send one file, easier for recipient. Send many files, can be messy.

Prepare Referral Packet in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Prepare a referral packet for Special Investigations Unit on suspicious claim [claim=2025-090]…+

Prepare a referral packet for Special Investigations Unit on suspicious claim [claim=2025-090] by combining redacted claim forms, photos, and payment history into one PDF and add a two-paragraph summary of why I suspect fraud.

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 send claim [claim=2025-090] to SIU, make it easy to triage: open with a one-line fraud…+

Before I send claim [claim=2025-090] to SIU, make it easy to triage: open with a one-line fraud concern, list the three documents that most support suspicion, mark timestamps and payments that look inconsistent, and attach the two items I couldn't obtain so investigators know next steps.

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.

Who does this

3 roles

Office AdministratorLegal AssistantAcademic Coordinator

FAQ

about this task

When you combine files, make sure the 'Preserve Bookmarks' option is on.
This will create a bookmark for each original file in your new PDF.
You can then click these bookmarks to quickly jump to different sections of your combined document.

Combining files into one PDF helps you organize many documents into a single, easy-to-share file. This is useful for sending reports, packets, or collections of information, making it simpler for others to review everything at once.

No, if your original files already have page numbers, they will restart with each new file in the combined PDF. To have continuous page numbers across the entire document, you will need to add new page numbers to the combined PDF after you merge the files.

Combining files rarely makes the PDF smaller because it brings all the data from different files into one. It does not automatically compress the content. If you need a smaller file size, you should compress the combined PDF after you finish merging the documents.

Feature	Combine Files in Acrobat	Attach Files in Email
Result	One single PDF document.	Many separate files.
Navigation	Easy to scroll through, often with bookmarks.	Need to open each file separately.
Organization	Files are in a set order, making one packet.	Files are separate, order can be lost.
Sharing	Send one file, easier for recipient.	Send many files, can be messy.

Prepare Referral 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