Create one PDF file from many Documents

[timitfc]

Hi all,

I have been scratching my head about the best way of doing this for a few weeks now and just wondered if any one who is clever than I can assist!

I have a folder with multiple files in, some .doc, .pdf , .msg, .jpg and I was wondering if there was anyway of producing a single pdf file of all of these. It would have to be automated and I will be doing this multiple times.

I have managed to get the list of filenames into Access and into a table (thanks to Allen Browne!).

I think there are two ways of doing this.

1. Create a PDF of each file in the folder and then merge them together

The problem i see with doing it this way is how do you create a pdf of a file that isn't open(aka the .doc)? Or create pdf of a jpg from within Access?

2. Create one file, no merging, of each of the files.

The other way I thought of would be to create a Report showing each of the files in their entirety one after another and then create the pdf.

I have tried using the MODI Viewer but have failed to get this to display anything!

Using Access 2003 on both XP and Windows 7 Machine.

Many Thanks!

 

[timitfc]

Stephen Lebans wrote something years ago, to enable printing to PDF via the Snapshot format. There is another part of the code that merges those PDFs into a single file if required.
So... print the files to PDF using whatever method you have.
Then merge the files. If this is of inerest to you I'll see if I can dig up what I did with it.

Denis

Definitely sounds interesting.

I can produce pdf's from reports in VBA no problem. The bit which I am finding tricky (and am starting to think is impossible...!) is to print a PDF of a .doc, or .xls from Access without opening the file.

I want to client to be able to choose the files they want to print, click Print and for them to come out as one PDF without lots of different applications popping up.

If I can't get it to do this hidden, then my next train of thought it that I will set up a print server which sits there. When a user chooses which files they want to print, their local Computer sends the Server computer the list of files and the server prints them out, i.e. taking out the visual side of processing for the user.

If I can't get the files to open hidden, what's the easiest way of commanding a file (.doc, .xls, .jpg) to print from VBA?

Thanks guys!