Preview keeps altering my PDF's data and duplicating documents to override others

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Level 1

4 points

Preview keeps altering my PDF's data and duplicating documents to override others

Hey Everyone,

So I frequently use preview to compile a lot of PDF files together into one big file.

Normally these documents are a bunch of start paperwork or timecards from my employees.

These documents are all the same information except for a few different fillable fields that my employees have filled out to their personal specifications.

The issue I'm having is when i compile all of these individual PDFs together, often times when I save the document is altered.

For instance, now instead of having Leslie's paperwork, Alex's paperwork, and John's paperwork. The document now shows 2 of Leslie's paperwork and 1 of Johns paperwork, leaving Alex's missing.

Has anyone encountered this issue before?

I have this same issue with Adobe Acrobat and this is why I've switched to using Preview.

Often times I'm compiling documents that are a total of 250 pages.

Thanks,

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.6

Posted on Jun 13, 2024 11:59 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,214 points

Jun 13, 2024 12:21 PM in response to zendena

As a test, why not try my Apple Shortcuts solution that allows you to select multiple PDFs in the Finder (in the order you want them combined). It will then prompt you for the basename of the combined PDF and write the combined PDF to the same filesystem location as the first PDF selection. No PDF is changed in this process.

You can click on this link and you will be prompted to install the Shortcut. From the Finder, and using the ⌘-key, select multiple PDFs and then right-click on the first selected PDF and choose Quick Actions > Select and combine PDFs. Let me know if the combination is correct via Quick Look or Preview.

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Answer 2

zendena Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 13, 2024 2:18 PM in response to VikingOSX

Hey VikingOSX,

This worked!

I wanted to add a note incase someone has this same issue.

Before you can do Quick Actions> "Select and combine PDFs"

You must first go to Quick Actions> Customize... and then enable the shortcut to show in finder.

Alternatively it seems as though, if order of documents doesn't matter to you, you could select all and quick action Create PDF.

Quick Actions> Create PDF (not Select and combine PDFS)

Thanks VikingOSX

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Preview keeps altering my PDF's data and duplicating documents to override others

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