How to merge PDF files in the correct order
By PDFEditor.ae · Published
Write the order down first
Files with similar names are easy to mix up, and some systems sort "file10" before "file2". Before merging, list the documents in the order the reader should see them — for example: cover letter, application form, ID copy, certificate, references.
Steps
- Rename working copies with numbers: "01-cover-letter.pdf", "02-application.pdf" and so on.
- Open Merge PDF and add the files in that order — files are joined in the order you add them.
- Merge (up to 20 files) and download.
- Check every boundary: the last page of each document and the first page of the next.
Fixing the order afterwards
If a section landed in the wrong place, use Reorder Pages and type the full new sequence. Include every page number — pages left out of the sequence are dropped.
Practical example
A pack with a cover, an application and three supporting files should have five boundaries to check. Compare the page count with the sum of the originals, then look at each boundary; that is where mistakes show.