Sending and sharing PDF files over the Internet is a breeze these days. There was a time when the only option for sending important files is through emails, and even then, file restrictions limit its usability. Now, with cloud-based files and documents, you can add the person you want to collaborate on a PDF, and they can easily view it on their end. In this article, we are focusing on extracting pages from a shared PDF file.
Extracting pages from PDF with a browser-based web application
With more and more people becoming Internet-savvy, it comes as no surprise that almost everything can be done online nowadays. Including PDF editing! And not just basic edits. With web applications like PDF Bear that have a suite of applications for specific edits, you can just upload the file you want to edit then command the application to do what it is supposed to do.
The process of how to extract pages from PDF usually is an advanced process. You are literally taking pages from a file that, for the most part, already printer-ready, creates another separate file. This commonly happens when you’re instructed to summarize a memo or turn the PDF file itself into a more bite-sized file for dissemination. The most important thing to do when you’re tasked to do this is to choose the parts of the PDF that are salient.
The new file you are creating must be a snapshot of the original file and a file that can be a standalone document that’s streamlined and understandable. To do this online, here are the steps you need to do:
Conversion
- Go to PDF Bear’s site. Once there, find the application that Extracts Pages from PDF. This is a standalone web application that singularly does the process. Once you locate that, click on it.
- You’ll be directed to an “Upload file” interface. Click on that to access the file from your documents. Note that you can only upload one PDF file at a time. There’s also the drag and drop option. This is more convenient when the file sent to you is over a messaging platform. Make sure that the file is not password-protected. If it is, you need to get it unlocked first to upload properly. The application can’t access Password-protected files, so you need to bear that in mind.
- When the uploader finishes, you are then asked to choose the pages you want to extract. As a general rule, when extracting pages, limit your new file to at most 30 percent of the original file’s length.
- There’s also an option to extract all the pages in the uploaded PDF.
- If you are extracting select pages, choose the tab beside “Extract Pages”, then highlight the pages you want to be extracted.
- Wait for the process to finish. Download the new file, then check for errors.
Extracting pages from PDF files on a PDF reader
If you have a PDF reader and editor on your desktop, the process is quite different. You need to open the PDF file through the software, find the thumbnail view, then highlight the pages you want to be extracted. Use the “Shift” button while choosing the pages to group the files into a separate one automatically. Once done, find the “Extract” option. Click on that and wait for the process to finish.
Takeaway
Extracting pages from a PDF isn’t one of the most common edits that are asked where PDF edits are concerned. Most of the time, that honor belongs to adding comments, affixing signatures, and annotating. Extracting pages can be a big ask for some, but it’s actually a simple process if you get used to it. Plus, with the instructions above, you have the best guide to follow.