Interleave PDF Pages
If you scanned a double sided stack in two passes, choose the file of the fronts and the file of the backs. Pages are woven together one from each, and the backs can be reversed if they came out last page first.
The pages that were scanned first (the fronts)
The pages that were scanned second (the backs)
Worked examples
Three sheets, backs in reverse
Fronts 1 to 3, backs scanned last page first
Front 1, back 1, front 2, back 2, front 3, back 3
The second scan lists the backs as 3, 2, 1, and the tool turns them round.
About Interleave PDF Pages
If your scanner can only scan one side at a time, a double sided document takes two passes: scan the stack, turn it over and scan again. That leaves two PDFs, one of fronts and one of backs, and the backs often come out in reverse, with the last page first. This tool weaves the two files together into one document in the right order.
It takes page 1 of the fronts, then the matching back, then page 2 of the fronts, then the next back, and so on. If the backs came out last page first, tick the reverse option, which is on by default because it is the common case. If the two files have different numbers of pages, the extra pages are put on the end and you are warned, because a missed page in a scan is the usual cause. The pages are copied as they are, with their text and links.
How to use Interleave PDF Pages
- Choose the PDF of the fronts.
- Choose the PDF of the backs.
- Leave the reverse box ticked if the backs are in reverse order, or untick it if they are not.
- Press Join the pages, check the page count and download the result.
Common uses
- Scanning a double sided document on a single sided scanner
- Combining odd and even pages from two scans
- Rebuilding a document from separate front and back files
- Fixing a scan where the backs were scanned in reverse
Frequently asked questions
Why are the backs in reverse order?
When you turn the stack over, the last page is on top, so the second scan begins with the back of the last page. That is why the reverse option is ticked by default.
What if my files have different page counts?
The extra pages from the longer file are added at the end and you are warned. Check the scans, because a skipped sheet is the most likely cause.
What if the order looks wrong?
Untick the reverse box and try again. If you scanned the backs from the first page to the last, they are not in reverse order.
Does it change the pages?
No. They are copied as they are, in the new order, so text, links and pictures are kept.
Can it fix a single scan with odd and even pages mixed?
No. It needs two files. For a single file that needs reordering, use the Reorder and Delete PDF Pages tool.