The fastest free method to split PDF files on your PC

Everybody uses PDF files today.

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format used to present documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems.[3] Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout flat document, including the text, fonts, graphics, and other information needed to display it - Wikipedia.

The usage of PDF grew strongly and steadily during the last 13 years.

Why are PDF so used and spread across many industries? Without digging too much into details I would say that PDF is a safe format. You can share it from PC to MAC or even to LINUX systems and everybody will see it the same way.

Being a locked file is its strength but its weakness at the same time. Have you ever tried to split a PDF in sub-pages? I did many times and every time I googled for solutions there were tons of websites that offered to do so.

However, many times, you get stack in watermarks or limited functions of these websites that push you to pay for the splitting service.

Split PDF on your computer without any specific software

Let's say, for example, that I want to create an extract of my book - Lean Presentation Design. The challenge is that I need to take some pages at the beginning and then some others from the middle of the book.

Let's suppose I need from page 1 to page 15, from page 62 to 65 and then I need page 80. How can I split the PDF without even being connected to the internet?

Here it is the simple process that will make the magic:

1. Type CTRL+P on your keyboard and you'll get the Printing screen

2. Select the Microsoft Print to PDF as active printer

3. Choose the pages you want to extract from the PDF

As you can see you can select single pages or define intervals just typing [from] - [to] numbers. Make sure you'll use the comma to split the intervals

4. Save the document with a name of your choice and the new PDF will be composed by the pages you chose

Here you go, the magic happened! I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy technique. I'd love to read your comments below.

Have you ever thought to split a PDF in this way?