How to Add File Names or Paths to PDF Footers in Acrobat DC
Question details
The user wants to retain and display the original source file name or file path in the footer area when merging multiple text files into a single PDF document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Combining multiple separate text files into a unified PDF document while trying to preserve their original file names for reference.
- Observed behavior
- Unlike Acrobat X, Acrobat Pro DC does not automatically generate or append the original source-file name to the footer when text files are combined.
Ensure you have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC installed and that all your source text files are organized in a single folder before starting the conversion process.
Convert Text Files to PDFs Before Combining
Since Acrobat DC handles file combination differently than older versions, you must first convert the text files into individual PDFs, which preserves their properties, and then merge them.
By converting text files to multiple individual PDFs first, Acrobat Pro DC has a better chance of retaining the source file metadata before the final combination takes place.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and select 'Tools' from the top menu, then click on 'Create PDF'.
Choose 'Multiple Files' from the options on the left, then select 'Create Multiple PDF Files' to convert your text files individually without merging them yet.
Once the individual text files are converted to PDFs, navigate to 'Tools' > 'Combine Files', select your newly created PDFs, and merge them into a single document.
Go to 'Tools' > 'Edit PDF', click 'Header & Footer' in the top toolbar, and select 'Add' to manually insert the file name or path into the footer area.
Automate with Action Wizard
If you frequently need to combine text files and add file paths, creating a batch script using the Action Wizard saves time and automates the footer insertion.
Easily Combine PDFs and Add Custom Footers with WPS PDF
Use WPS Office to quickly merge multiple documents into a single PDF and easily customize your pages by inserting specific file names or paths using the built-in Header and Footer tool.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the WPS PDF tool from the main dashboard.
- 2. Merge Your Files: Navigate to the 'Page' tab and select 'Merge PDF' to easily combine your source documents into a single PDF file.
- 3. Access the Header and Footer Tool: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click on 'Header and Footer', then select 'Add Header and Footer'.
- 4. Insert the File Path: Type the required source file name or path into the appropriate footer text box, adjust the font and margins, and click 'OK' to apply it to your merged document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Acrobat X add file names automatically, but Acrobat DC doesn't?
Adobe updated the PDF combination engine in Acrobat DC. This changed how individual text file properties are handled during a direct merge. You now need to convert text files to individual PDFs first to retain those specific file properties.
Can I add file paths to footers for a whole batch of PDFs at once?
Yes, you can use the Action Wizard in Acrobat Pro DC to create a batch action. This lets you apply a consistent header or footer, including file names or paths, to multiple PDFs within a folder simultaneously.
How do I remove an incorrect footer from a merged PDF in Acrobat?
To remove a footer in Acrobat DC, navigate to 'Tools', select 'Edit PDF', click on 'Header & Footer' in the secondary toolbar, and choose 'Remove' from the drop-down menu to delete the existing footer completely.
