Merge PDF Online Free: Combine PDF Files | PdfEditly

At other times, you will have many PDF documents but need to send them as one document. The report, for instance, can be in one file while graphs are in another and additional pages in another file. In such cases, sending individual files would waste a lot of time and could confuse the recipient of the information.

The process of PDF merging allows you to combine several documents into one. This means that there is no need to copy text from individual files or create a document from scratch. This allows you to combine files and keep all the pages within one document.

By merging PDF files for free online, you use an online-based application instead of standalone software installed on your PC. It can come in handy for students, office workers, lecturers, and everyone else dealing with PDF documents on a daily basis.

This guide will help you to learn what PDF merging entails, how to combine PDF files, what to look out for before combining them and how to solve common challenges when merging. You will also learn how to select the appropriate tool for merging PDF files.

What Does It Mean to Merge PDF Files?

The process of merging PDF files is a process where a user combines two or more PDF documents into one document, rather than storing the documents separately. For instance, if you have three PDF documents for the preparation of your class assignment, where one contains a cover page, another document includes notes, and the last document contains your references, then you can use the process of merging to combine all these documents into one complete document.

Similarly, this process can also help in the workplace if you have a business report, a chart, and a document containing notes. When you combine these documents into one PDF, the user will be able to access all the information in one document.

It is important to distinguish between merging and conversion. Conversion occurs when you convert a file from a Word document format to a PDF file format. Merging is when you combine several PDF documents into one PDF file. Editing is another difference, as the former is done without the need to change the information included in a document.

Before you combine your documents, make sure that the pages are in order. Your first selected file can have the beginning pages, whereas your last selected file can have the ending pages. The sequence would depend on your requirements and the capabilities of the selected software.

4 Reasons to Merge PDF Online Free

There are lots of reasons why you might want to merge PDF documents. You can collect pages that are connected without creating a new document. Four situations in which merging documents will be helpful are presented below.

1. Keep Work Documents in One File

Office workers usually work with reports, forms, minutes, and other documents that are needed for their job. Sometimes those documents can belong to the same project and yet be stored in separate PDF files.

For instance, you may have a monthly report on sales, a diagram showing the results of your sales, and an extra page with comments from your boss. You can merge all three documents and create one file to allow the reader to view the entire report.

This is also helpful if you need to prepare a set of documents for your customer. You will not send him five different attachments; instead, you will collect the main document and some extra pages into one file. Your customer will not need to open many files.

However, do not combine random documents into one file. Private staff documents and unrelated client documents must be kept separately. One document is useful only if its contents are interrelated.

2. Join School Notes and Study Materials

Often, students keep their lecture notes, class handouts, and practice questions separately in PDF format. After a couple of weeks, they might end up with quite a number of files for the same subject.

One can merge PDF files to create a single study document that covers one chapter, subject, or exam paper. For instance, you can put the teacher's notes at the beginning of the document, then add your notes and practice questions afterward. This will make it easy for you to locate your study materials when preparing for an exam since you will only open one file and not look through several different folders.

Teachers can also use this technique to prepare their lesson pack. They might incorporate the reading material, classwork, and homework in one single PDF file. Ensure that you organize the pages in a logical sequence. Also, ensure that you have the necessary permissions to use other people's content in your file.

3. Organize Bills, Receipts, and Records

Individual and corporate documentation could be scattered over a number of PDF documents. In fact, it is possible to store various pieces of data, including bills, payment confirmations, bank statements, or purchase records, at various times.

One could use a PDF merger to unite related pieces of documentation into one document. Thus, a small business owner could unite a number of invoices from suppliers into one monthly record. An individual who maintains home documentation could merge utility bills into one. It would allow you to arrange your documentation by month, year, or purpose. One could give a new name to the united document, such as October Bills, to distinguish it.

It is crucial to be careful when handling sensitive documentation. It is necessary to examine all pages to be included in the resulting document before starting to merge documents. It is also necessary to consider the fact whether the document contains any confidential information that should not be disclosed to the other party.

4. Make File Sharing Easier

Some websites, as well as educational institutions and places of work, often demand that one upload several documents into a single PDF file. For instance, an application to work in a certain firm might include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and some certificates all in one PDF file.

By keeping them separate, you will probably have to upload several files or follow some additional steps before uploading. But by merging PDF files, you create a single file that includes all necessary documents.

However, do not forget to read the requirements before doing anything else. Some websites require that every document be placed in a separate file. Others limit the size of the file and its contents, as well as impose some order of pages.

How to Merge PDF Files Online With PdfEditly

A PDF merger online allows you to merge PDF files through your web browser. Although the specific procedure varies for different tools, the general procedure is usually similar.

Step 1: Open the PDF Merger

Launch the PDF merger tool of your choice in a web browser. Look for the feature that allows you to choose/upload PDF files. Have all the necessary PDF files on your computer or mobile phone ready. It is not necessary to generate a new PDF file in the first place.

Step 2: Select Your PDF Files

Select at least two PDF files from your device. Certain tools will allow you to drag your files into an upload space. Make sure to read the names of the files you wish to select before clicking on them. In case there are many files with similar names, this can help you pick out the right ones. For instance, if you intend to merge a report, graphs, and summary, make sure to select all three. Failure to do so may result in an incomplete document.

Step 3: Arrange the Files in the Right Order

Once you have selected all the documents that you need, take time to examine their sequence. If you can reorder the documents using the software, then move each one into its proper place. Make sure that the initial document comes first, with any other documents following it.

If you are creating a report, then perhaps the report should come first, and then the graphs and additional information. Take a minute to make sure that you have them in the right order before moving on.

Step 4: Merge and Download the PDF

Once the documents have been placed in order, select the Merge option. This will merge the chosen PDFs into a single document. Upon completion of the process, download the newly created document to your computer.

The duration will depend on the size of your documents and the particular tool being used. In case the process seems to be taking a long time, wait for a while before retrying. Repeating the process many times may lead to confusion about which document is the final one.

Step 5: Open and Check the Final File

Do not assume that the job is done once the download has been completed. Open the new PDF and examine its pages. Make sure that the first page is correct, that the files are ordered correctly, and that none of the documents is missing.

Examine a few pages from each original file as well. If you detect an error, go back to the merging process and start the whole procedure again using the correct files. Keep the original PDFs until you are satisfied that the merged file is usable.

4 Things to Check Before You Merge Multiple PDFs

A little preparation can make things easier for you. There are four things to check before merging multiple PDFs.

1. Check the Order of Your Files

The order of your documents can influence how people read the final result. Placing the last page of a document before its cover may confuse the reader. Determine how people should read the content first. Add the introduction or the cover page at the beginning of the document. Then, the main content and other parts should be added in the second place.

For instance, a job application may require such parts as a cover letter, a resume, and a few certificates in that order. A company report may require a brief introduction, a report itself, and some charts. Check whether the software arranges entire documents and not pages. In case you need to change the order of pages within a PDF, you will have to use another tool.

2. Review the Pages in Each PDF

Review your original documents before starting the merging process. Be on the lookout for such things as blank pages, missing parts, duplicated pages, or pages from some other file. This is because you may have mistakenly included duplicates or an older version of some reports when creating a PDF file. If you merge all without examining the files, there will be duplicated pages or out-of-date content in your final file.

Eliminate all unnecessary pages before you start the merging process if you can. Or, use the appropriate PDF page tool to prepare the file before merging. Another thing to check is whether there are pages in one of the files facing in the wrong direction.

3. Check the Final File Size

When combining PDF documents, the output file will have content from the selected files. The size will be relatively big if there are many pages or high-quality images in the initial files. The problem occurs if the file needs to be sent through an email or a website that has restrictions regarding the maximum size of a file.

First, look at the size of your initial files. If the size of the final file is too big, there is software that can compress your PDF file. However, don't compress a file without seeing the output. Good compression will make the image quality worse. It is necessary to open the compressed file and see if the text, graphs, and images are readable.

4. Keep a Copy of Your Original Files

Do not delete the original PDFs before checking the merged PDF. In case there is a problem with your merged PDF file, such as missing pages and incorrect page order, you will be able to go back to the original PDF files and recombine them.

This precaution is particularly necessary for contracts, tax papers, invoices, class assignments, and other documents that might be hard to replace. You can put the original PDFs in another folder and rename the merged PDF document. For instance, save Report Part 1 and Report Part 2 and rename the resulting file to Complete Report.

What Should You Look for in a Free PDF Merger?

Not all PDF mergers provide the same features. Some programs will allow users only to join files and do not offer any additional page management. Therefore, you need to find out if it is suitable for your requirements.

Easy to Use

The program should not complicate the procedure. It should allow you to pick the required files, organize them, merge, and save. Clear navigation and instructions will help not to make mistakes. If you only need to merge two files, you should not need to learn the whole editor for the task.

File Limits and Available Features

Some applications can put certain restrictions in terms of maximum file size, number of pages, and selected files. Other software can charge for certain features. It is important to know about such restrictions in advance. You do not want to face a situation where your files cannot be processed.

Privacy and File Handling

Consider the types of documents that you wish to combine. Public documents may not be as important as private contracts and accounting documents. Make sure to read the privacy policy of the document merger service, and see how your files will be handled.

Some services process files on remote servers. Others work in your browser. It is important to select the merger tool that explains its file processing in understandable terms. Otherwise, do not use it for sensitive documents.