Merge PDF files but keep custom Meta data

DEVONthink
1

hi,

is there a way of merging a page to a PDF without loosing the metadata of that PDF?

/ I add insurance feedback to a PDF containing all previous receipts and communication regarding one issue. this PDF is tagged and has some custom Meta data. I don’t want to re enter all that info. but I’d like a way of quickly appending new communication
I do not want to make groups as that becomes to messy in my view.

thanks!

2

Merging uses all selected items, retaining the custom metadata would be only possible for common values. One workaround might be to open the first document, open the Tools > Inspector > Contents > Thumbnails inspector and finally drag & drop the second document to the inspector to insert it.

3

maybe it would be possible to have this in a future update as an “append” feature. i´d use that probably 20 times a day :slight_smile:

i do use preview now, open both files, open thumbnail view, dragging the pages over, closing all files. its a tedious workflow that cant really be automated … having an option to append a file with a keystroke would really be a timesaver.
Merge is working now in Devonthink really well and i love the function. But having found the custom meta as an amazing way of enhancing the integration of all the info I have is now putting me back to manual mode …

Ideas of how it could work:

  • Drag and Drop a file onto another with holding down option for example.
  • Or first selected file is “main”, second gets appended.
  • Or rightclick “append file” - then select the file in a file browser window…

i don´t know if thats an option to think about if others would like that functionality as well? Or is everyone else just using a group? I like to have it in a file, because i am able to fix the way pages are sorted - and the files are never separate - not in search, not in smart-groups etc. …

thanks for taking note! its really amazing how active you are with your product.

4

This could also be scripted:

tell application id "DNtp"
	set theSelection to selected records
	if theSelection is not {} then
		set theMergedRecord to merge records theSelection
		set custom meta data of theMergedRecord to custom meta data of item 1 of theSelection
	end if
end tell

Well, theoretically… due to a typo in the AppleScript suite of version 3.8 the merge command isn’t available. The next release will fix this of course.

5

:star_struck: awesome … thank you sooo much!!! (any estimate when this will be released? :slight_smile: )

6

We don’t announce release dates, I’m sorry.