Where to Find Acrobat Distiller Batch Job-Control Files in Acrobat Pro DC
Question details
The user is looking for the modern equivalent of PostScript job-control files used in older versions of Acrobat Distiller to batch process multiple files from various locations.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Recreating a legacy batch-processing workflow for multiple PostScript files using modern PDF software.
- Observed behavior
- Needs the specific location of the RUNDIREX.TXT file or equivalent batch control documentation within the Acrobat DC installation folders.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer, as you will need to navigate through system and application installation directories where Adobe Acrobat DC is stored.
Locate RUNDIREX.TXT in the Acrobat Installation Folder
Find the legacy batch-processing documentation file included within your Acrobat DC installation directory to recreate your workflow.
In modern versions of Acrobat Pro DC, the older PostScript job-control workflow has been largely replaced by Actions, but Adobe still includes documentation on the legacy Distiller batch-processing approach.
Launch File Explorer on Windows or Finder on a Mac to begin searching your local drives.
Go to your main program files. On Windows, this is typically located at 'C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat DC\' or 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\'.
Open the 'Acrobat' or 'Xtras' folders within the main installation directory.
Look for the file named 'RUNDIREX.TXT'. You can open this file with Notepad or any basic text editor to review the instructions for configuring PostScript batch jobs.
Batch Process PDF Files Easily with WPS Office
Instead of relying on complex PostScript job-control files and legacy Distiller scripts, you can use the built-in PDF tools in WPS Office to merge, convert, and manage multiple files with a few clicks.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the main dashboard to access the PDF toolkit.
- 2. Select a Batch Tool: Click on 'Batch Process', 'Merge PDF', or 'PDF to Word' from the toolkit menu depending on the specific task you want to perform.
- 3. Add Your Documents: Click 'Add Files' to import all the documents you wish to process from various folders on your hard drive.
- 4. Execute the Batch Job: Choose your desired output folder location and click 'Start' to process the entire queue of files automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PostScript job-control file used for?
In older versions of Adobe Acrobat Distiller, a PostScript job-control file is a script that automates the process of converting multiple PostScript (.ps) files into PDFs sequentially without manual intervention.
Can I batch process PDFs without using Acrobat Distiller?
Yes, modern PDF editors like WPS Office and Acrobat Pro DC feature built-in batch processing tools that allow you to convert, compress, and merge multiple PDFs using visual menus rather than legacy text scripts.
Why can't I find RUNDIREX.TXT in my Acrobat folder?
If you cannot find the RUNDIREX.TXT file, it may be due to using a newer, simplified deployment of Acrobat that omits legacy Distiller extras. Try searching your entire 'C:' drive for 'RUNDIREX.TXT' using the Windows search bar.
