Split Large PDF Documents into Smaller Sections using Python
PDF documents can sometimes be quite large, making it difficult to share, store, or even view them. In this post, we’ll explore how to split large PDF documents into smaller sections using Python. We’ll use the PyPDF2 and fitz libraries to accomplish this task.
The Problem
Imagine you have a large PDF document containing hundreds of pages. You want to send it to a colleague, but the file is too large to email. You also don’t want to compress the document, as the quality might suffer. In this scenario, splitting the PDF into smaller sections becomes a necessary task.
The Solution
Our solution involves using Python and the PyPDF2 library to read the PDF document, extract the pages, and then write each section to a new PDF file. We’ll also use the fitz library to create text-based bookmarks in the resulting PDF files.
import fitz
from PyPDF2 import PdfFileReader
# Open the large PDF document
with open('large_pdf_document.pdf', 'rb') as f:
pdf = fitz.open(f)
# Define the number of pages per section
pages_per_section = 10
# Initialize the section counter
section_counter = 1
# Iterate over the pages in the PDF
for page_index in range(len(pdf)):
# Check if we're at the start of a new section
if page_index % pages_per_section == 0:
# Create a new PDF file for the section
section_file = open(f'section_{section_counter}.pdf', 'wb')
section_writer = PdfFileWriter()
# Add the title page to the section PDF
section_writer.addPage(pdf[page_index])
# Iterate over the next pages in the section
for page_index_offset in range(1, pages_per_section):
if page_index + page_index_offset >= len(pdf):
break
section_writer.addPage(pdf[page_index + page_index_offset])
# Write the section PDF to disk
section_writer.write(section_file)
section_file.close()
# Increment the section counter
section_counter += 1
# Close the original PDF file
pdf.close()
The Benefits
By splitting large PDF documents into smaller sections, you can:
- Reduce the file size, making it easier to share and store.
- Improve the readability and navigation of the document, especially if it contains a lot of pages.
- Still maintain the original quality of the document, as we’re not compressing the PDF.
Conclusion
Splitting large PDF documents into smaller sections is a simple yet effective way to make them more manageable. By using Python and the PyPDF2 and fitz libraries, you can automate this process and create a more organized and shareable document.
So, what’s the largest PDF document you’ve ever had to deal with? How did you handle it? Share your experiences in the comments below! 💬