How to shuffle PDF pages in Automator?

It seems that the usual method of shuffling pages in Automator no longer works due to updates from Apple breaking some functionality...

Previously I was using:

Get Specified Finder Items
Combine PDF Pages / Shuffling Pages
Move Finder Items / to specific folder
Rename Finder Items / append "_SHUFFLED"

But now that saved workflow returns an error:

The operation couldn't be completed. Command line tool returned error 127.: 127

What other options are there for shuffling PDF pages through Automator or AppleScript?

iMac 27″, macOS 12.6

Posted on May 26, 2023 07:54 AM

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

122,082 points

Posted on May 26, 2023 09:10 AM

I have a folder named PDF on my Desktop. I choose several multi-page PDFs from another location, and the following workflow on Ventura 13.4 produces a shuffled PDF.

The Combine PDF action worked on Monterey until Apple removed the Python 2 distribution from Monterey 12.3, thus breaking that Python scripting dependency in this Automator action. It was never fixed in subsequent updates of Monterey, there is no alternative solution, and you would need to upgrade to Ventura 13.4 to have this functionality restored in Automator. Apple replaced the Python 2 dependent functionality with a compiled Swift application in Ventura.

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How to shuffle PDF pages in Automator?

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