Question How can I batch convert folders of JPG files to PDF files, so each folder becomes one PDF file?

Discussion in 'Windows - Software discussion' started by Clockface, Nov 16, 2025.

  1. Clockface

    Clockface Member

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    s there a good, preferably free, Windows program that will batch convert folders of images to separate .PDF files, please?

    I have some magazine scans in .jpg format, each issue is in a separate folder, like this:

    \Your Spectrum 01\
    \Your Spectrum 02\
    \Your Spectrum 03\
    \Your Spectrum 04\

    and I want to be able to convert each folder into it's own .PDF file, so I end up with Your Spectrum 01.pdf, Your Spectrum 02.pdf, Your Spectrum 03.pdf, Your Spectrum 04.pdf, etc.

    Thanks for any answers.
     
  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  3. Clockface

    Clockface Member

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    Here are the contents of the first folder:


    02/12/2002 00:45 169,049 ysp0100001a.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:48 200,995 ysp0100001b.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:49 264,158 ysp0100001c.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:51 245,316 ysp0100002.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:52 250,149 ysp0100003.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:53 223,319 ysp0100004.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:54 274,343 ysp0100005.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:55 274,671 ysp0100006.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:57 220,550 ysp0100007.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:58 127,400 ysp0100008.jpg
    02/12/2002 00:59 225,073 ysp0100009.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:01 201,887 ysp0100010.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:05 267,494 ysp0100011.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:06 205,121 ysp0100012.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:08 203,261 ysp0100013.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:09 282,180 ysp0100014.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:10 209,934 ysp0100015.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:19 209,096 ysp0100016.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:13 220,835 ysp0100017.jpg
    02/12/2002 01:14 184,637 ysp0100018.jpg
    04/12/2002 09:34 241,056 ysp0100019.jpg
    04/12/2002 09:35 217,188 ysp0100020.jpg
    04/12/2002 09:36 274,423 ysp0100021.jpg
    04/12/2002 09:37 302,616 ysp0100022.jpg
    07/12/2002 08:10 233,918 ysp0100023.jpg
    07/12/2002 08:14 207,232 ysp0100024.jpg
    07/12/2002 08:21 277,302 ysp0100025.jpg
    07/12/2002 08:29 187,466 ysp0100026.jpg
    07/12/2002 12:20 394,458 ysp0100027.JPG
    07/12/2002 12:41 218,040 ysp0100028.jpg
    07/12/2002 12:52 208,655 ysp0100029.jpg
    07/12/2002 13:03 262,502 ysp0100030.jpg
    07/12/2002 13:16 268,633 ysp0100031.jpg
    07/12/2002 13:28 185,845 ysp0100032.jpg
    07/12/2002 13:41 258,511 ysp0100033.jpg
    07/12/2002 13:55 158,972 ysp0100034.jpg
    07/12/2002 14:08 278,792 ysp0100035.jpg
    07/12/2002 14:21 115,976 ysp0100036.jpg
    07/12/2002 14:34 172,475 ysp0100037.jpg
    07/12/2002 14:48 243,410 ysp0100038.jpg
    08/12/2002 01:23 208,292 ysp0100039.jpg
    08/12/2002 01:42 207,735 ysp0100040.jpg
    08/12/2002 02:03 217,606 ysp0100041.jpg
    08/12/2002 02:24 212,120 ysp0100042.jpg
    08/12/2002 02:45 224,054 ysp0100043.jpg
    08/12/2002 03:06 213,880 ysp0100044.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:55 214,764 ysp0100045.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:55 243,887 ysp0100046.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:56 276,765 ysp0100047.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:56 294,718 ysp0100048.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:56 267,563 ysp0100049.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:56 295,907 ysp0100050.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:57 229,327 ysp0100051.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:57 266,653 ysp0100052.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:57 298,044 ysp0100053.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:57 255,906 ysp0100054.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:57 300,914 ysp0100055.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:57 290,700 ysp0100056.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:58 330,911 ysp0100057.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:58 318,613 ysp0100058.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:58 327,409 ysp0100059.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:58 334,523 ysp0100060.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:58 232,718 ysp0100061.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:59 330,677 ysp0100062.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:59 270,501 ysp0100063.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:59 379,029 ysp0100064.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:59 271,768 ysp0100065.jpg
    08/12/2002 06:59 344,564 ysp0100066.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:00 324,471 ysp0100067.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:09 201,004 ysp0100068.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:09 211,206 ysp0100069.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:10 286,113 ysp0100070.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:11 338,025 ysp0100071.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:11 312,024 ysp0100072.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:12 288,625 ysp0100073.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:12 292,399 ysp0100074.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:13 330,216 ysp0100075.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:13 253,549 ysp0100076.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:14 377,122 ysp0100077.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:14 342,991 ysp0100078.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:15 275,374 ysp0100079.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:16 271,609 ysp0100080.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:17 339,439 ysp0100081.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:17 322,339 ysp0100082.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:18 293,688 ysp0100083.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:18 268,805 ysp0100084.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:19 247,221 ysp0100085.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:19 258,557 ysp0100086.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:20 263,424 ysp0100087.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:20 321,932 ysp0100088.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:20 268,195 ysp0100089.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:21 264,637 ysp0100090.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:21 332,013 ysp0100091.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:22 251,591 ysp0100092.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:22 319,486 ysp0100093.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:23 372,904 ysp0100094.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:23 265,900 ysp0100095.jpg
    08/12/2002 07:24 296,118 ysp0100096.jpg
    99 File(s) 25,617,463 bytes
    2 Dir(s) 291,970,117,632 bytes free


    None of the search results seem to link to a program that will batch convert one single folder to one PDF, then automatically convert the next folder to a new PDF, then the third folder will be converted to a PDF, etc etc, until the final folder (in this case, there are twenty one folders) has been converted to it's own PDF.

    The main reason I want to do this is so that I can use a PDF reader to read these files, and when I close the PDF reader then the PDF reader remembers where I was up to when I reopen the PDF file, but if there is a graphics viewer that allows bookmarks, then I could use that to read the .jpg files (and bookmark where I am up to in a given folder of .jpg files) then I probably wouldn't go to the trouble of converting the .jpg files to a PDF file).

    The graphics viewer I use is Irfanview, which is excellent but sadly lacks a bookmark feature, so are there any suitable graphics viewers that allow you to bookmark where you are in any folders?
     
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  5. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Gimp is freeware GNU license, and it converts jpg to pdf, and there's a plugin that will allow you to batch convert.

    Gimp link: https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

    Batcher plug-in for Gimp.

    https://kamilburda.github.io/batcher/
     
  6. Clockface

    Clockface Member

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    Unfortunately, the program you mention seems to have been replaced by a commercial program whose demo only allows for a very brief number of conversions, so that's not a solution, unfortunately.




    Thanks for this, but I've never used GIMP before, and I can't find out how to batch convert folders into PDF files (I *think* I have installed the batch addon - following a post found on google, I have copied the folder \batcher-1.1.1\ into
    'C:\Program Files\GIMP 3\lib\gimp\3.0\plug-ins' but I can't find how to access and use the batch file in GIMP.

    How would I do this, please?
     
  7. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Thanks for this, but I've never used GIMP before, and I can't find out how to batch convert folders into PDF files (I *think* I have installed the batch addon - following a post found on google, I have copied the folder \batcher-1.1.1\ into
    'C:\Program Files\GIMP 3\lib\gimp\3.0\plug-ins' but I can't find how to access and use the batch file in GIMP.

    How would I do this, please?[/QUOTE]

    Did you try opening Batcher, and selecting (highlighting) all the JPG files inside the folder that you would like to convert?
     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    Clockface, which program was replaced by a commercial version?
     
  9. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Expand:


    Launch GIMP and open any image or leave it closed, as Batcher runs as a separate window.


    • Steps to batch convert JPGs to PDF
      1. Open Batcher: In GIMP, go to File > Batch Convert.
      2. Add images: In the Batcher window, click Add Images and select the JPG files or folder you want to convert.
      3. Specify settings:
        • Output Folder: Choose a new folder where the PDF files will be saved.
        • File Type: Select pdf as the output format from the drop-down menu.
        • Other options: Adjust other settings like filename changes or image edits as needed.
      4. Configure PDF export: You will likely see a pop-up for PDF-specific settings. Adjust these as necessary, such as the DPI (dots per inch) or compression options.
      5. Start the batch process: Click Apply or OK to start the conversion. A progress bar will show the status.
      6. Check your output: Once completed, find the new PDF files in the output folder you selected.
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2025
  10. Clockface

    Clockface Member

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    Where you say 'use this to convert to pdf https://icecreamapps.com/PDF-Converter/", it says ""Replaced by PDF candy desktop", unfortunately.
     
  11. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    did not know that till you pointed that out but at the time I posted the links, it did not show the 2nd was replaced with PDF candy desktop. did you download & install PDF candy desktop because I did just a few minutes ago?
     

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