1.2 Input Ranges

An input range may be specified after each input file. This is treated differently by each operation. For instance

cpdf in.pdf 2-5 out.pdf

extracts pages two, three, four and five from in.pdf, writing the result to out.pdf, assuming that in.pdf contains at least five pages. Here are the rules for building input ranges:

• A dash (-) defines ranges, e.g. 1-5 or 6-3.
• A comma (,) allows one to specify several ranges, e.g. 1-2,4-5.
• The word end represents the last page number.
• The words odd and even can be used in place of or at the end of a page range to restrict to just the odd or even pages.
• The word reverse is the same as end-1.
• The word all is the same as 1-end.
• A range must contain no spaces.
• A tilde (~) defines a page number counting from the end of the document rather than the beginning. Page ~1 is the last page, ~2 the penultimate page etc.

For example:

cpdf in.pdf 1,2,7-end -o out.pdf

Remove pages three, four, five and six from a document.

cpdf in.pdf 1-16odd -o out.pdf

Extract the odd pages 1,3,...,13,15.

cpdf in.pdf 1,all -o out.pdf

Duplicate the front page of a document, perhaps as a fax cover sheet.

cpdf in.pdf ~3-~1 -o out.pdf

Extract the last three pages of a document, in order.