Shortcut Compressing a PDF File

[JoelBC]

Curious whether anyone has created a Shortcuts routine to compress a PDF file.

If yes can you please share the Shortcuts routine / steps?

If not, would appreciate assistance with this.

Thanks.

 

[NoBoMac]

Have not done this, but pretty simple.

 

[JoelBC]

Have not done this, but pretty simple.

View attachment 2523906

Apologies, I should have been clear, I do not ant a zip file but a smaller PDF file using Preview > Quartz Filter > Reduce size PDF file of Adobe Acrobat > Compress File Size Pdf file.

Thanks.

 

[JoelBC]

Alright a little progress...

I tried this....

...and have two problems:

1. What do I ask to select the save location and file name (sorry, new to Shortcuts); and

2. Why is the optimized file size bigger that the original file size (i.e., I am going in the wrong direction)!

Thanks.

 

[NoBoMac]

From my experience, Rename only works on an existing file, not a transient version of it. For example, a bit of code I have to create an HTML file from RTF text. Plus you did not provide any name there: can set it to "Ask Each Time" via right-click.



Never done the PDF optimization thing. Probably getting one big PDF due to multiple PDFs. Will need to do a "Repeat with each" on Shortcut Input to process each file passed.

Have noticed that PDF generation, in general, from MacOS generates big PDFs. For example, can export PDF from Chrome and that will generate a smaller PDF than anything an Apple app will do.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Shortcuts might be able to do what I know you can do with Automator…run "Apple Quartz Filter to PDF Documents" choosing "Reduce File Size" as the filter.

If you original is already reduced by this or any similar process then you're not going to get much out of it.

 

[bogdanw]

I know you can do with Automator…run "Apple Quartz Filter to PDF Documents" choosing "Reduce File Size" as the filter.

In advanced options, Quality can be set

 

[JoelBC]

@NoBoMac appreciated!

@BrianBaughn and @bogdanw appreciated. Exactly what I was looking for. I also found more information on this here . I will add that also had to play with the Image Sampling setting to get sufficient compression. Problem solved, thank you!