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I only want the last three pages of a PDF but I don't know how many pages it has. What range do I type?

As soon as you open the file in the tool, its page count appears, and you work the range out from that: for a 37-page file, type 35-37. There is no special word for the last page, and a number above the page count is refused with a message rather than guessed at.

Published · 2 min read

Where to find the page count

After you choose the file in Split PDF, the tool shows a summary of it including the number of pages, and the hint under the range field tells you to type page numbers from 1 to that total. You do not need to open the file in another program to find out.

The simple arithmetic

The last three pages start at the page count minus 2 and end at the page count. The last five start at the count minus 4. The rule: start = total − (pages wanted − 1).

Worked example

report.pdf has 37 pages, and you want the last three: the price appendix, the terms and the contact page.

Start: 37 − 2 = 35, so you type 35-37 in “Extract to one PDF”.

The result: report-pages-35-37.pdf with 3 pages.

Type 35-38 by mistake and you get a message that the range is not valid and must use numbers between 1 and 37, and nothing downloads.

The steps

  1. Open the tool, choose the file and read its page count.
  2. Choose “Extract to one PDF”.
  3. Work out the range and type it, such as 35-37.
  4. Check that the preview line says one PDF with 3 pages.
  5. Press “Split and download”.

When you repeat the job on files of different lengths

If you pull the closing summary page out of a different report every week, do not reuse last week's range. Last week's report had 37 pages and this week's may have 41, so the old range would hand you pages from the middle without you noticing. Read the page count each time; it is right in front of you once the file opens.

  • For the last page only, type the page count itself, such as 37.
  • For the first and last pages together, such as cover and closing page, type 1, 37.
  • For everything from page 30 to the end, type 30-37, not just 30, since a lone number means a single page.

Common questions

Does the tool accept an open range like 35- ?

No. A range needs both a start and an end. Type the last page number explicitly.

Can I type the numbers in Arabic digits?

Yes. The tool reads ٣٥-٣٧ the same as 35-37, and it accepts the Arabic comma too.