QUICK TIP - MacOS – Python: Merge All PDFs simply with 1 click

David K Jun 29, 2020 Last updated Jun 29, 2020

Must-Have PDF Tools | A&H Business Technology

There are plenty of apps that help you merge PDFs into a single file, but if you want something faster with a “native” feel, you can set up an OS X service to quickly merge selected PDFs simply by right-clicking them.

Setting It Up

First, open Terminal an enter this command to install the Python module that makes this possible:

sudo easy_install PyPDF2

1	sudo easy_install PyPDF2

Open Automator and choose Service

This was called “Service” in older versions of macOS

If you’re on a more recent OS, Service has been replaced with Quick Action.

Newer versions of macOS call this a “Quick Action” because you can give it an icon and sometimes use them on the touch bar, but this is essentially the same thing as “Service.”

Search for script, drag Run Shell Script over. Using the pulldown menus, choose /usr/bin/python for the Shell: and as arguments for Pass input:

Here’s how it looks in newer versions of macOS (dark mode is on here)

#!/usr/bin/env python
# ahbusinesstechnology
# Make PyPDF2 is installed: sudo easy_install PyPDF2
# 
import os
from PyPDF2 import PdfFileMerger, PdfFileReader

merger = PdfFileMerger()

# Get the folder of the first file and that's where the merged PDF will go
dirname = os.path.dirname(sys.argv[1])

for f in sys.argv[1:]:
    filename = os.path.basename(f)
    print("Appending " + filename + "...")

    # Append each page to the merger
    merger.append(PdfFileReader(file(f, 'rb')))

    # Close the file to prevent duplicate pages from being appended
    file(f).close()

# Write all the appends to a new file
merger.write(os.path.join(dirname, "merged.pdf"))

#!/usr/bin/env python

# ahbusinesstechnology

# Make PyPDF2 is installed: sudo easy_install PyPDF2

import os

from PyPDF2 import PdfFileMerger, PdfFileReader

merger = PdfFileMerger()

# Get the folder of the first file and that's where the merged PDF will go

dirname = os.path.dirname(sys.argv[1])

for f in sys.argv[1:]:

filename = os.path.basename(f)

print("Appending " + filename + "...")

# Append each page to the merger

merger.append(PdfFileReader(file(f, 'rb')))

# Close the file to prevent duplicate pages from being appended

file(f).close()

# Write all the appends to a new file

merger.write(os.path.join(dirname, "merged.pdf"))

Finally, save the workflow as Merge PDFs and it will become available in your right-click menu when using the Finder.

I have found this to be especially useful for when I need to submit a form with an attached document such as when submitting medical reimbursements or other medical requests.

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