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Why use the reorder tool instead of splitting the file and merging the parts back in a new order?

Because the reorder tool rearranges the pages inside the same document, so its bookmarks, form fields and metadata stay in the file. Splitting and re-merging builds a new document from copied pages, which drops all of that, so it is only worth it when you also need to combine other files.

Published · 2 min read

Same pages, not the same file

Flicking through on screen, the results can look identical: the same pages in the order you wanted. The difference is in what the page does not show. A PDF is more than pages; it also has a document-level layer: the bookmark outline in the sidebar, the definitions of fillable form fields, and the title, author and other metadata.

What each route does inside the file

  • The reorder tool opens the document, rewrites its list of pages in the new sequence and saves that same document. Everything except the order stays put, including bookmarks, which keep pointing at their pages wherever those pages move.
  • Split then merge: Split PDF copies pages into new files, and Merge PDFs copies them again into yet another new file. Both copy pages with their content and annotations, but bookmarks, form fields and document metadata do not come along.

Example: a staff handbook with a sidebar outline

You have a 30-page handbook with a bookmark for each section, and you want to move the policies section to the front. In the reorder tool you move the pages and download, and the sidebar still works: clicking the policies bookmark takes you to its new place. Do the same by splitting and merging and you get the pages in the right order but no outline at all, so readers have to scroll to find each section.

How to do it

  1. Open Reorder PDF pages and choose the file.
  2. Move pages with their buttons, or by dragging on a computer.
  3. Check the “New order” line, then press “Download in new order”.
  4. Open the output and click a bookmark or two to confirm they lead to the right pages.

When splitting and merging is the right call

  • You want to add pages from another file, such as a quotation plus a supplier catalog, so merging is unavoidable.
  • You deliberately want a file without metadata or an outline, such as a copy going to outsiders.
  • You only want part of the file, not the whole file in a new order.

Either way, page numbers printed in the content, such as Page 3 of 10, do not change, because they are part of the page itself.

Common questions

Do form fields stay fillable after reordering?

Yes. The same document is saved in a new order, and the field definitions stay in it.

Is reordering slower than split and merge?

No. It is one step instead of two, and pages are not redrawn in either route.