More dynamic merge tool

[nightslayer23]

I have spoken on here a little bit before about a solution for variable data merging and you pointed me to use the "duplicate" button in the merge window. that helped! but is quite a manual process when you need to duplicate one artwork 40 times and then the next one 20 times etc...

If the merge tool had an extra column whereby you could input a number of copies for that artwork in the merge, it would be huge!

[RTT]

That's a good idea! Keep the current duplicate entry functionality, for when there is the need to specify a different page selector, and add a number of copies for each of the entries, for when we just want to repeat the specific entry multiple times.
Now in the TODO list.

[nightslayer23]

  awesome! let me know if you get to this!

no other program out there that can do this.

[nightslayer23]

Hi again! will this be in he next update do you think?

[RTT]

Yes. It's already implemented and working around here.

[nightslayer23]

Yes. It's already implemented and working around here.

oh awesome! can't wait til its released   

[nightslayer23]

do we have a time frame for when the latest version will be released?

[RTT]

I hope it will be soon, but don't know yet.
Meanwhile, a script can be used to provide this "copies" functionality. How exactly will you be using it?

[nightslayer23]

Same as explained above, when you go to combine, window pops up that allows you to add number of copies per file. variable data and variable copies for each

[RTT]

Try this script:

Code: [Select]

var options = {
    params: []
};

for (var i = 0; i < pdfe.SelectedFiles.Count; i++) {
    var Filename = pdfe.SelectedFiles(i).Filename;
    var fileOpt = {
        type: 'edit',
        name: i,
        label: 'Copies of ' + Filename,
        def: 1
    };
    options.params.push(fileOpt);
}

try {
    options = JSON.parse(pdfe.DialogBox(JSON.stringify(options)));
    if (options.Canceled) {
        pdfe.echo('canceled');
        pdfe.quit();
    }
} catch (err) {
    pdfe.quit();
}

var Merger = pdfe.CreateDocumentMerger();
var ProgressBar = pdfe.ProgressBar;
ProgressBar.max = pdfe.SelectedFiles.Count;

for (var i = 0; i < pdfe.SelectedFiles.Count; i++) {
    var File = pdfe.SelectedFiles(i);
    var Filename = File.Filename;
    pdfe.echo(Filename);
    ProgressBar.position = i + 1;
    var copies = parseInt(options[i]) || 1;
    for (var n = 0; n < copies; n++)
    Merger.MergeDocument(Filename);
}

var dialog = pdfe.SaveDialog;
dialog.DefaultExt = '.pdf';
dialog.filter = 'PDF documents (*.pdf)|*.pdf';
dialog.Options = '[ofOverwritePrompt]';
dialog.Filename = Filename.substring(0, Filename.lastIndexOf('.')) + '_merged.pdf';
if (dialog.execute) {
    Merger.EndAndSaveTo(dialog.Filename);
    pdfe.echo('Done.');
}


[nightslayer23]

this didn't quite work..

it just combined and prompted for a directory to save to

[RTT]

You probably have set the "Hide output window" option for the script? That will suppress the dialog that is asking for the number of copies.

[nightslayer23]

nope, it shows, just doesn't give me an option to enter an amount of copies.

[nightslayer23]

note: it works in the debugger! when you go to settings, but it doesn't work from the context menu. cheers

[RTT]

No idea then. It's working fine here in various Windows versions.
You can run the script from the script editor/debugger, when launching from the shell context menu, by pressing the CTRL key when invoking the script.