Intro
A PDF separator can perform many different functions beyond the obvious one of separating PDF pages. The tool is not always a dedicated one, meaning that users have to find unique ways to split PDFs that are not as simple as dragging or dropping a file or uploading it to a specific program browser. While PDF editing programs and software have dedicated merging and splitting functions, there are other ways to separate or split a PDF file using non-PDF related programs like web browsers. There are four ways to use a variety of programs to split PDFs, which will be detailed here.
Using Google Chrome
In Google Chrome, users can:
- Open the PDF file with Google Chrome
- Click the Print icon
- Choose the Save as PDF option in the Destination prompt
- Select the page range of the pages you want to extract
- Click Save and Name the new PDF file
Once users click Save, Chrome will extract the pages you entered in the Pages bar and create a new PDF file from those pages.
Using CutePDF
CutePDF is a downloadable PDF editing program that also offers users the ability to split and extract pages from a PDF. If users have already installed CutePDF on their computer or device, they can do the following to split a PDF file, including:
- Open the PDF file you want to split
- Select the Print option and choose CutePDF as the destination
- Select the page range of the pages you want to extract
- Click the Print or Save button to begin the extraction process
Before “printing” the new PDF file from the page range you entered, you will also be asked to name the new file and choose its eventual destination.
Using Preview
Preview is a program that comes with all macOS computers and devices. The program is also capable of helping users split PDF files by doing the following:
- Open the PDF file with Preview
- When opened, select the View option and then click Thumbnail
- A sidebar will open showing all the individual pages of the file
- Using the Command and Shift buttons, select the pages you want to extract
- When all the pages are selected, simply drag and drop the pages onto your desktop
When moved to the desktop, the pages will automatically be combined into a new PDF file that users can save, share, or download.
Using Adobe Acrobat DC Pro
Adobe Acrobat DC Pro is the gold standard of PDF editing software, but it has the drawback of being expensive and difficult to use. For users who do have Adobe Acrobat installed on their computers and laptops, the process of splitting a document requires the following:
- Open the PDF file you want to split
- Click on the Tools button
- Select the Organize Pages button
- From the drop-down menu select the Split option
- Select how you want to Split the document (pages, file size)
- Choose the Output Options (where you want the file to go)
- Click Split when you are done
The program will extract the selected pages and save them as a new PDF file in the destination folder that you selected.