Scanning Multiple Pages into a File: Methods and Tools
Scanning Multiple Pages into a File - Is it Possible?
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n short, yes, you can scan multiple pages of a document into a file. There are many different methods of doing this. Reasons you might be scanning multiple pages into a file include wanting to distribute the multiple-page document to a number of readers, keep multiple related documents together, or refer back to documents for research purposes later. Whatever your reasons for scanning multiple pages into a single document, there is a multitude of ways to go about doing it.
The methods for scanning pages into a single file include scanning the files, inserting them into a Word document, and saving as a PDF, using a scanner that has software that automatically compiles the multiple pages into a single document, and by using Adobe Acrobat or another PDF file creation software program to compile multiple images into a single document.
1. Using a Word Processing Document to Compile the Files
The first option for compiling a group of pages you have scanned into a single file is inserting the image files into Microsoft Word and then saving the document as a PDF file. In order to do this, first, you will scan your images and save them in a folder (this will make it easier for you to find the images you wish to import into one file). Be careful when scanning the images to try to make sure the document you are scanning from is square with the scanner.
Once you’ve scanned all of the pages, you can then import the pages into your word processing document. If you are using Microsoft Word, you can select “Insert Image” from the ribbon. Select the first page, and insert it onto the first page of your Word document. repeat the steps until you have inserted all of the pages into one document. Now, save the document. Choose “Save as PDF.” Your scanned pages will now appear in one document.
While this method is quite time consuming, if you do not have software that will compile pages for you, it is a viable option.
2. Using Your Scanner’s Software to Compile the Files
Many scanners come with software that will compile files so long as you do not break between scans. If you have a top-loading scanner, for instance, you will find that as it feeds the paper through, it will continue to add pages to a single file so long as you do not stop scanning. Purchasing a scanner that allows for continuous feed scanning can be a lifesaver - especially if you have an office filled with documents that you want to archive digitally or you are compiling documents for distribution to your class over a system such as Blackboard. There are many great all-in-one scanners that come with software that allows you to select “add page to file” from their driver software when scanning.
3. Using PDF Software to Compile the Files
Finally, if you want to have a searchable document, you may wish to use PDF software such as Adobe Acrobat to compile the scans into one file. You’ll want to look into OCR software, there are free options available, that will scan through your documents once you’ve imported them into your computer, and it will index the text in the document so that it will be searchable in Acrobat. Once you’ve done that, then with Adobe Acrobat (or your PDF creating software) you’ll import each of the pages into a single document.
References
Adobe Acrobat https://www.adobe.com/acrobat
Planet PDF https://www.planetpdf.com/
Image courtesy of sxc.hu/gallery/stocker
