Combine two stamp collections + importing multiple stamps "from file"

[MedBooster]

What is the best way of combining two stamp collections without adding each item manually?

Inserting the pages of one stamp collection into another? Will this retain the names of the stamps inserted ("imported") into another stamp collection?

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello MedBooster,

I am afraid that there isn't really a quick and easy way.

Technically the stamp collections are also PDF files, however trying to copy the pages of one collection into the other might break the collection you are merging into, so while you can try (after backing up the original collections!!!) - I can not guarantee that it would work.

You will also need to take those collections our of the
%Appdata%\Tracker Software\PDFXEditor\3.0\Stamps folder and e.g. place them on your desktop before you can try to move pages between them.

Kind regards,
Stefan

[MedBooster]

I guess (like PHK explained) New Stamp from Active Document, selecting the pages you want to be Stamps. is an option too.
Previously I thought this could only be done with one stamp at a time. If you make a backup of the collection you want to import, and it's not opened in PDF-XCE...

[PHK]

...
Technically the stamp collections are also PDF files, however trying to copy the pages of one collection into the other might break the collection you are merging into, so while you can try (after backing up the original collections!!!) - I can not guarantee that it would work.
...

So, if two (or more) 'stamp collections' are separate PDF files, you can use the Combine Files tool to combine the PDF files and then use the New Stamp from Active Document,

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opting to create stamps from all pages (proto-stamps) or the fewer the user selects. It's not too technically challenging. The user then has a great deal of flexibility in organizing the actual created stamps in the user's stamp library.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi, PHK

it will not work I am afraid. Stamp collections are PDFs but there is special internal data that will break when using the merge tool.

[MedBooster]

Something that would help with this would be;

if you were able to at least import multiple stamps from file into a collection simultaneously

It seems that you have to import one by one

image.png

Would you consider allowing us to import whole folders?
As of now if you try and import a folder it just extracts this folder icon

image(1).png

[MedBooster]

image.png

Is it right that this method removes the dynamic properties of the stamp imported?
Seems so...

image(1).png

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello MedBooster,

Dynamic elements of a stamp would usually be done with some JS code, and when you copy the stamp with the steps from your shots - that copies only the visual part of the stamp. You would then need to copy the code manually yourself.
(Or import the statis stamps in the collection already containing the dynamic ones.)

Kind regards,
Stefan

[PHK]

Hi, PHK

it will not work I am afraid. Stamp collections are PDFs but there is special internal data that will break when using the merge tool.

Sorry, but I don't know what your "it" is referring to nor do I understand your reference to the "merge tool." Could you please elaborate?

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, PHK

"It", refers to the ability to merge two Stamp PDF documents manually. I have essentially summarized the answer to this thread in my reply to one of Medboosters posts here:

To my knowledge, it is not possible in any way to merge two disparate Dynamic-Stamp PDF files. The process of creating the stamps, and why it is so important to extract and directly utilize the originally created Stamp file is because there is document specific metadata included in the stamp document that is not present in a normal PDF.
By Extension, it should be noted that any modification/insertion of the pages, page positions, etc, should NEVER be done in a Stamp file, as it could damage that metadata, and render your stamps unusable. This data cannot be carried over or modified through normal PDF editing processes. As such, you will need to manually add the non-dynamic content to the stamp.
This process would include:

1. Create stamp from file > Choose the collection you plan to move into another, note that the dynamic content WILL be removed.
2. Choose the target collection you wish for those pages to be added to.
3. Proceed with normal dynamic stamp editing processed, copying the dynamic content items from the original stamp, into the new one.
   **IMPORTANT - If any of your stamps used a Stamp ID to limit when its JS runs, you WILL need to update that, as the stamp ID has changed in this process. If you simply copy/paste the field without editing the JS to use the new ID, your JS will not execute.

Kind regards,