ePDFMerge Version 0.6.5
=======================

0. What is this?
----------------

This is a tool to concatenate multiple PDF or PS files into a single 
PDF file and eventually insert one or more empty pages.

In addition you may split PDF files into single page .PS files an reorder
them according to your needs (requires XPDF package).

Please note, as the version number below 1.0.0 indicates, this program 
is neither feature complete nor completely tested, so be aware of the 
fact that there are still quite a number of bugs (and/or omissions) to 
be discovered yet.

In my humble opinion it just happens to be useful already.

See file "changes" for recent additions. 

1. License
----------

This is provided "AS IS". There is no warranty that this program will 
fulfill any particular purpose. Use it entirely at your own risk.

You are not allowed to think nasty about the author.

In addition you are only allowed to use this program legally if you
accept the fact that it is perfectly acceptable to post eComStation
related issues in OS/2 newsgroups and/or mailing lists.
Yes, there is no valid license for FUDsters.


2. Requirements
---------------

This program can be considered a companion to Frank Wochatz's ePDF.

ePDF must be installed and properly configured in order to use
PDFMerge.

PDFMerge.EXE must reside in the same directory as ePDF, as it 
relies upon distiller settings defined in ePDF.

Make sure VROBJ.DLL is somewhere in your LIBPATH.

The file Empty.PDF, which is an empty page in PDF format must reside 
in the same directory as PDFMerge.EXE.

If you intend to use the context menu items "Info" and "Split into pages"
you also need the binaries from XPDF 3.00 somewhere in your PATH.

Get XPDF 3.00 from hobbes:
http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/convert/xpdf-3.00.zip

3. Operation
------------

The GUI should be pretty self explanatory. 
Read the hints at the bottom lines.

Most simple szenario:

1. Add multiple PDF files to the list box using the "Add PDF" button. 
   A valid target filename is created automatically (this behaviour 
   can be turned off by using the target filenames entry field context 
   menu or by pressing the "Pick target filename" button and choosing 
   a filename manually).
2. Press "Merge".
3. The freshly created PDF file will be launched immediately.
4. Eventually press "Erase source PDF files" in order to erase the 
   source files from disk. 
   NOTE: The "Remove PDF" button only removes the source PDF/PS files 
         from the list but not from disk.

In addition you might want to add empty pages in between.
The source PDF/PS files list also has a context menu.


Splitting PDF files into single page PS files
=============================================

This only works if PDFINFO.EXE and PDFTOPS.EXE are found somewhere in 
your PATH. PDFMerge automatically disables these functions if it cannot
find these executables.

1. Select a PDF file.
2. Right click on it, the context menu appears.
3. Select "Split into pages".
   Now the entry of the PDF file is replaced by a list of PS files
   representing the single pages of the PDF file. The PDF file itself is 
   removed from the listbox (but nor erased from disk!).
4. Now you can reorder the pages (or remove some of them) just as you like.
5. As soon as you are ready press "Merge" and you end up with a new PDF
   files composed only of those pages and document you left in the listbox.

Tag/untag files
===============

In order to merge only certain files from the listbox a new option was
introduced in Version 0.6.5.

Right click on a selected file and choose "Tag/untag selected file".
A + (plus) sign will be added at the left side of the file.

If you set the option "Merge tagged files only", only files with a +
on their left side will be merged into a new PDF file.

Experimental printing functionality:
====================================

Ever wanted to print a bunch of PDF files at once?

Well, here is an (experimental) answer to this problem.
If you enable the debug mode, an additional button
for printing will appear.

Choose some .PDF files as you would to concatenate them
and press the new printing button.

A dialogue will appear that lets you choose the output
device for GhostScript, press ok, after that an additional
dialogue will appear to input a valid OS/2 printer
queue, press ok and all the .PDF (or .PS) files should
be printed.

Please note: This functionality is very experimental!

4. Restrictions:
----------------

None known at this time.

5. Author:
----------
Herwig Bauernfeind, 17-01-2006
email: herwig.bauernfeind@aon.at
