Merging a collection of files into one book and record

[nicknefarious]

I added a bunch of files that I thought were individual books but turns out they were all each a .pdf file of a single page of one book. However there were atleast three books in this form. So I have a whole bunch of .pdf files (more than 1,000) that when searching by title I can separate from the rest of the library but there are no metadata searches I can do to separate the three books into their correct groupings. They all only have the filename as an identifier, nothing else. Every single one of the filenames is unique, there is no common string that I can search within the filename to group the files for each of these books together. Can someone tell me how I can do this?

Secondly, how can I, after sorting them into their correct book groupings, merge all of the files and records (each a .pdf file for one single page of the book) into one .pdf file and book record in the database?

I have attached a screenshot of the search window to try to give a clear idea of what I am trying to do.

Many thanks for any help.

Cheers,

NN

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by nicknefarious

I added a bunch of files that I thought were individual books but turns out they were all each a .pdf file of a single page of one book. However there were atleast three books in this form. So I have a whole bunch of .pdf files (more than 1,000) that when searching by title I can separate from the rest of the library but there are no metadata searches I can do to separate the three books into their correct groupings. They all only have the filename as an identifier, nothing else. Every single one of the filenames is unique, there is no common string that I can search within the filename to group the files for each of these books together. Can someone tell me how I can do this?

Secondly, how can I, after sorting them into their correct book groupings, merge all of the files and records (each a .pdf file for one single page of the book) into one .pdf file and book record in the database?

For the first part, I can't think of a way to do in calibre. If there was a way to separate them before adding them to calibre, I would do it there: Separate them outside of calibre, add one book (set of PDFs) at a time and set the metadata so you can group them in calibre.

For the second part, I can only think of one way to do this. In calibre, convert all these PDFs to ePubs. Then use the Epub Merge plugin to merge them into one book. After that, you might want to do some editing in Sigil to get it looking better.

Neither of these is going to be pretty. I don't envy you the task.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by davidfor

For the second part, I can only think of one way to do this. In calibre, convert all these PDFs to ePubs. Then use the Epub Merge plugin to merge them into one book. After that, you might want to do some editing in Sigil to get it looking better.

+1

Neither of these is going to be pretty. I don't envy you the task.

+1

[AnotherCat]

Dunno an easy way to work out which file belongs in each book but if that solved then you could merge all the PDF files for each book together so's you end up with just one PDF file for each book. I have done this on occasion using PDFCreator or PrimoPDF (both free and turn up on top if googled).

You may find it easier and less boring to do it in stages, say if 300 PDF files for one book then maybe have to merge so as got 3 files with 100 merged into each and then merge those 3 files into 1 being the final complete book.

There may be better applications than those to do the same thing as with both I have mentioned one has to add the stack of files for bulk processing one at a time (PDFCreator sometimes works with a SHIFT key selection of multiple files but mostly not - dunno why?) and with 1,000 files I don't envy you the task.

[jackie_w]

In case it's helpful, there is a free utility called PDF Split & Merge which will let you drag-and-drop multiple pdfs to be merged

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

In case it's helpful, there is a free utility called PDF Split & Merge which will let you drag-and-drop multiple pdfs to be merged

That looks very interesting and will be giving it a try, myself. Thanks.

Splitting for me has been with Photoshop to get individual pages as a starting point so has been a bit tiresome.

John

[Polarpenguin]

Ouch!! I feel your pain.

I can offer up PDFill Free PDF Tools. Contains lots of useful PDF tools, inc Merge(can drag & Drop). Can also reorder PDF's if needed.