ZIP to PDF, a folder of scans in one file.

A ZIP cannot be turned into a PDF as a whole, because a ZIP is only a box of files. What people mean by "ZIP to PDF" is almost always this: a ZIP of scanned pages or photos that should become one PDF, in the right order. That is what this page does. It opens the ZIP in your browser, puts the pictures and PDFs inside in order, and writes one PDF. Nothing is uploaded, and nothing is added to the pages.

How to convert a ZIP to PDF

1. Drop the .zip file on the box, or click it to choose the file.
2. Check the list. Each row shows a preview, the file name, its folder and its size. Files that are not pictures or PDFs are named under the list.
3. Fix the order if needed. Drag a row, use the arrows on it, or press the cross to remove a file. Put back removed brings them back.
4. Choose Page size and Picture on the page. The PDF is made again after each change.
5. Type a PDF name and press Download the PDF. The line above it gives the page count and the size.

Scans in folders: the order

Scanners and phone apps number files like scan1, scan2 ... scan10. A plain A to Z sort puts scan10 before scan2. This page compares the numbers as numbers, so the order is 1, 2, 10. It is the same order a Mac shows in Finder when files are sorted by name.

The Folders choice decides what happens when the ZIP has subfolders, for example one folder per chapter or per document:

Order also has two other choices: by the date stored in the ZIP, and as the files are stored in the ZIP. Choosing an order sorts the list again, so make manual changes after you choose it.

Page size and fit

With Same as the first picture, every page has the size of the first picture, and a picture of another shape sits inside it with colour around it. Each picture its own size makes every page match its picture. Fit to A4 and Fit to US Letter put every picture on a paper page, and then Margin and Page direction apply. Fit shows the whole picture. Fill the page covers the page and crops what sticks out, which suits full-bleed pages and not documents.

PDFs found inside the ZIP are copied in page by page and keep their own page size. Page size and fit apply to pictures only.

File size and quality

With As they are, JPG pictures go into the PDF exactly as they are stored, with no new compression, so a PDF of 40 scans of 400 KB each is about 16 MB. Medium and Small file shrink every picture to at most 2400 or 1600 pixels on the longest side and save it again as JPG, which makes the PDF much smaller and the text on a scan a little softer. A PNG with see-through parts gets a white background when it is saved again.

What is left out, and common problems

• Files that are not pictures or PDFs. Text files, Word documents and so on are listed under the list and not added. Mac and Windows system files such as .DS_Store and Thumbs.db are left out and counted.
• Password-protected ZIPs. A box for the password appears. The older ZIP password method works. ZIPs locked with AES do not, and their files are named as not added.
• Locked PDFs inside the ZIP. They cannot be joined and are named as not added.
• RAR and 7z files. Turn them into a ZIP first with RAR to ZIP or 7z to ZIP. For a comic book file use CBR to PDF.
• Big ZIPs. The ZIP and the PDF are held in your browser's memory. ZIPs over 2 GB are refused, and a big one can still run out of memory on a computer with little free memory.

Already have the pictures as separate files? JPG to PDF and merge PDF take them without a ZIP.