How to split a PDF of invoices into separate files
Many systems export all of the month’s invoices, payslips or statements as a single PDF. Then you have to separate them one by one to send or file them — and each invoice can have a different number of pages.
Shinobi.pdf’s “Text” mode solves this: it looks for a text that appears at the top of every invoice (for example “Invoice No.”) and starts a new file on every page where it finds it.
Step by step
Open the PDF with all the invoices
Drop it onto Shinobi.pdf, use “Choose file” or right-click it in File Explorer → “Split with Shinobi.pdf”.
Choose the “Text” mode
Type the text that marks the start of each invoice, exactly as it appears in the PDF: “Invoice No.”, “Receipt”, “Statement”…
Name each file after the matching line
Turn on “Name each file after the matching line” and every PDF gets a name like “Invoice No. 0001-00012345”.
Check the preview
The thumbnails show where each file starts. If there is a cover page before the first invoice, you can keep it as its own file.
Click “Split PDF”
Choose the folder and you’re done: one file per invoice, with its number in the name.
Tips
- Use a text that appears only once per invoice, on its first page. The invoice number or the document title usually work better than the company name.
- If one invoice says “INVOICE” and another “Invoice”, leave case sensitivity turned off.
- If the PDF is scanned (a picture of the invoice), it has no text to search. Use “Every N” if they all have the same number of pages, or “Ranges”.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work for payslips?
Yes. Search for a text on the first page of each payslip, like “Pay statement” or the employee ID, and turn on automatic naming.
What if the text isn’t found?
You’ll be told it wasn’t found on any page. Check it’s written exactly as in the PDF; scanned PDFs have no text to search.
Can I do several PDFs at once?
Yes, with “Batch”: the same settings are applied to every PDF you pick.
