I typed page 12 as printed in the report, but the tool extracted a different page. Why?

Every page has two numbers

Each page in a PDF has a physical position: first, second, third, in the order it sits in the file. It may also carry a number printed in its footer by whoever designed the report. That printed number is page content like any other text, and the designer can start it anywhere. Annual reports, catalogs and company profiles usually begin numbering after the cover, dedication and contents, or give front pages a different style of number.

The split tool ignores printed numbers and works only with physical position. That is also what PDF readers use in their page box, and it matches the page count the tool shows when you open the file.

Working out the right number

1. Count the pages that come before printed page 1. In this example, two: the cover and the contents page.
2. Add that to the printed number: 12 + 2 = 14.
3. Open Split PDF, choose the report, pick “Extract to one PDF” and type 14.
4. Open the output, report-pages-14.pdf, and check that the number printed at its foot is 12.

Often quicker: open the report in a PDF reader, go to the page you want and look at the page box in the toolbar. Some readers show both numbers, such as 14 of 40; the position is what you type into the tool.

Cases that widen or change the gap

• Blank pages added so each chapter starts on a right-hand page in print; each one adds one to the gap.
• A file merged from several reports, where printed numbering restarts at 1 in each part.
• A scanned file where a sheet went through twice or one was skipped.

In those cases do not rely on arithmetic; check the position in your PDF reader for every page you want. And if the printed numbering itself will confuse the reader, stamp fresh numbers starting at 1 on the extracted file with PDF page numbering.