Merge, split, compress, convert or protect a PDF

The Drime PDF editor can split a PDF, merge several PDFs, make a PDF smaller, convert it, flatten it into images or protect it with a password. Everything runs in your browser.

#Before you start

1. Above the file list, click Edit PDF, select the PDF in Choose a PDF to edit, then click Choose.

   

2. If you have changed the PDF, click Save first.

Split and Merge are in the Pages menu of the toolbar. Convert, Compress, Raster PDF and Protect (password) are in the Export menu. On a narrow window, the tools that do not fit move under More tools.

#Split a PDF into several files

1. Click Pages > Split.

   Split PDF opens: Click between pages to add a split point.

   

2. Click between two pages to split the PDF there.

   Add as many split points as you need.

   • Select all adds a split point between every page: you get one file per page.

   • Reset removes the split points.

   • To keep a single page as its own PDF, use Extract on that page. For a file named report.pdf, page 2 is saved as report - page 2.pdf.

   • Each page also has Left, Right, Rotate, Duplicate and Delete, inside the dialog.

3. Click Split.

   For report.pdf, the parts are named report - part 01.pdf, report - part 02.pdf, and so on. In Save split files, save them to Drime or download them.

The original PDF does not change.

#Merge PDFs

1. Click Pages > Merge.

   Merge files opens: Drag and drop files or click "Add file" to merge. The PDF open in the editor is marked Current.

   

2. Click Add file and choose a PDF on your computer, or drag PDFs into the dialog.

3. Drag the files into the order you want, then click Merge files.

4. Click Save to keep the merged PDF.

   The editor opens the merged PDF. Nothing reaches your Drive until you save.

You can only add PDFs from your computer, not from your Drive.

#Make a PDF smaller

1. Click Export > Compress.

   Choose compression level opens.

   

2. Choose a level: Smallest file size, Balanced (Recommended, chosen by default) or Better quality.

   The size shown under each level is an estimate. Advanced options (Resolution, image quality and grayscale) lets you set the resolution from 72 to 300 DPI, the image quality, and turn on grayscale.

3. Click Compress and save, then save the file (see Save the result).

   For report.pdf, the file is named report (compressed).pdf. Your original PDF stays as it is.

#Convert a PDF

1. Click Export > Convert.

   Convert PDF to… opens.

   

2. Choose a format.

   Group	Formats
   Documents	DOCX (Word), XLSX (Excel), TXT, CSV
   Images	JPG, PNG

   DOCX, XLSX and CSV keep the text only, one line per paragraph or row: the layout, images and tables are not kept. For a PDF with several pages, JPG and PNG give One image per page, in a ZIP.

3. Click the button, for example Convert to DOCX, then save the file (see Save the result).

#Flatten a PDF into images

1. Click Export > Raster PDF.

   Every page is flattened into a single image: the layout is frozen exactly as displayed and text is no longer selectable or editable.

2. Choose the Resolution (96, 150, 200 or 300 DPI), the format (JPEG or PNG), and Grayscale if you want.

3. Click Rasterize and save, then save the file.

   For report.pdf, the file is named report (raster).pdf.

#Protect a PDF with a password

1. Click Export > Protect (password).

   Protect PDF opens: The document is encrypted with AES-256. The password will be required to open it and cannot be recovered if lost.

   

2. Type the password twice, in Password and Confirm password.

3. Under Permissions, choose what people who open the PDF can do.

   Allow printing and Allow copying text and images are on by default, Allow editing and annotations is off.

   In Advanced options, you can add an Owner password (optional).

4. Click Protect and save, then save the file.

   For report.pdf, the file is named report (protected).pdf. The original PDF is not protected.

#Save the result

After Convert, Compress, Raster PDF or Protect, Save output shows that the file is ready.

• Save to Drime: Pick a folder in your drive to keep the file. In Save file to Drime, choose the folder, then click Upload file. The file keeps the name Drime gave it.

• Download to PC: Save the file to your computer without touching Drime.

#If it doesn't work

#Next steps

• Rotate, reorder, add or delete PDF pages

• Edit a PDF