Advanced Settings

2PDF has a wide range of Advanced Settings to help you customize your file conversion process. You can set custom filenames, adjust output file quality, reduce output file size, skip certain files using masks, and much more.

If you are unsure about a specific setting, it is recommended to consult our support team before making any changes.

Task processor

Timeout

Default: Response timeout: 5 min; Task processing timeout: 100 min

Set a time limit for processing each individual file. Once this time limit is reached, 2PDF will proceed to the next file. It is not recommended to modify this parameter unless you are certain or have received advice from our support service.

Memory leaks limit

Default: 512 MB

Set a limit on the random-access memory allocated for 2PDF's work. If the amount of memory leaks exceeds a certain threshold, the program engine will automatically restart without any interruption. This allows 2PDF to process any number of files per session without encountering any issues.

Restart after jobs number

Default: 4096 jobs

Automatically restart the program engine after a specific number of jobs.

Enable custom scripts

Default: Yes

Custom Python scripts can be used to modify the default behavior of the program. By default, these scripts are enabled. Disabling them will restore the program to its default state.

Display progress bar for each file

Default: Yes

By default, the program shows the status of each file being processed. Disabling this setting may enhance performance when dealing with small files, but it will remove the progress bar indicators.

Raster image engine

Default: GDIPlus

Set a raster image engine. You can choose between GDIPlus and Graphic Processor. Please do not modify this parameter unless advised by our support service.

Rebex MHT to PDF engine

Default: AsposeWords

Select the main component for converting MHT to PDF. Please do not change this parameter unless instructed by our support service.

Extract email attachments engine

Default: Rebex

Set the main component for extracting email attachment(s). You can choose between Rebex and Outlook. Do not modify this setting unless instructed by our customer service.

Get file list from Excel file engine

Default: Excel

Set the primary component to retrieve a list of files from an XLS/XLSX/CSV file. Choose between Excel or AsposeCells. Do not modify this setting unless instructed by our customer service.

OCR engine

Default: PatagamesOCR

Set the primary component for OCR processing. You can select Acrobat as an OCR component if you have Adobe Acrobat installed.

Disabled helpers

Default: Acrobat

Disable specific components that are used by the program to process certain types of files. It is not recommended to modify this parameter unless you are certain or have received advice from our support service.

Kill hanging processes

Default: Yes

The program may use the API of Microsoft Office applications during its operation. When this option is enabled, it will terminate background processes that were started by third-party software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and others, if they are no longer needed.

Use internal engines whenever possible

Default: No

Enabling this option will prompt the program to prioritize its internal (built-in) engines for file processing. If that is not possible, external components will be utilized.

Files and folders

Keep source files available for editing

Default: No

Enabling this setting will allow you to open and edit the source files while they are being processed by the program.

Temp folder

Default: %TEMP%

Change the folder where temporary files created by 2PDF are located. By default, it is "C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Temp".

Password list

Default: none

Enter the password for the source file(s) to batch convert password-protected documents. If you have more than one file secured with passwords, input several passwords, each on a separate line.

Restore subfolders

Default: Yes

Keep the same subfolder structure as in the input folder (if a folder is specified as the source).

Recurse subfolders

Default: Disabled

Enable or disable subfolder recursion. When enabled, the program will process files from subdirectories as well. To exclude specific subdirectories, you can optionally enter their paths in the Exclude certain subfolders field.

Existing file action

Default: Create new file

Define what the program should do if the output folder already has a file with the same filename: Create new file, Overwrite, Skip.

Destination file password

Default: none

Enter a password to protect the converted files. The password protection will be applied to all successfully processed files.

Keep output files on any error

Default: Yes

Define the program's behavior when it encounters an error, such as when a watermark file is missing. If set to No, the program will not save files in the output folder if an error occurs.

Output filename template

Default: {*SrcFilename}{*WorksheetName}{*SrcFileMPageNo}.{*DstFileExt}

Modify the output file name template using macros and/or arbitrary text. The default output name is: {*SrcFilename}{*WorksheetName}{*SrcFileMPageNo}.{*DstFileExt}.

• {*srcfilename} – source file name;
• {*worksheetname} – worksheet file name (for Excel or CAD files);
• {*srcfilempageno} – source file page number ("M" stands for multiple pages, this macro does not add page number "1" to single-page files);
• {*dstfileext} – destination file extension.

Click the {=} icon to add other built-in macros, such as regular expression of source file name, date/time, source file's number of pages, and more.

You can combine macros with your own text, including spaces and dots. For example: 

Item {*listitemno} {*srcfilename}.{*dstfileext} | Created: {*date(dd.mm.yyyy)}

Note: macro names are not case-sensitive. That means, both {*dstfileext} and {*DstFileExt} will work the same way.

Keep source files' original date/time

Default: No

With this option enabled, you can save the source files' properties and keep them in the converted files' properties: last write (last modified) time and date.

Exclude files by mask

Default: ~$*.*, *.db, desktop.ini

Exclude certain types of files that are not wanted for processing. To exclude files with a specific file extension, add them to the dropdown list, each on a separate line (after ~$*.*, *.db, and desktop.ini). File extensions should be added in the following format: *.[file extension]

Page layout

Rasterization resolution

Default: 300 dpi

Set the DPI (Dots Per Inch) to define the output image resolution. The resolution can be set within the range of 54 to 16384.

A DPI of 300 is suitable for standard quality, such as text documents. For high-quality images or photos, a DPI of 600 or higher is recommended. It is generally not recommended to set it lower than 300 (as the output file may have low quality) or higher than 1200 (as processing time may increase).

Use rasterization anti-aliasing

Default: Yes

Use a rasterization algorithm with anti-aliasing to improve the quality of the image. Anti-aliasing helps to smooth the edges of an image, making the transition more gradual and reducing the appearance of jagged pixels.

Attachments

Convert attachments

Default: Separate

Specify how the program should handle files with attachments, such as PDF Portfolios or Outlook email message files:

Option	Effect
Ignore	Skip attachment(s) and convert only the main document
Separate	Save each attachment and the main document as separate files
Combine (attachments after main doc)	Convert the main document and append its attachment(s) after it
Convert attachments only	Skip the main document and process only attachment(s)
Combine (attachments before main doc)	Convert the main document and prepend its attachment(s) at the beginning

Sort attachments

Default: Name

Select how file attachments should be sorted in the output folder: 

Attachments of unknown types action

Default: Ignore

Specify the action to take for unrecognized attachments. When this setting is set to Ignore, the program will skip file attachments if their format is not supported or cannot be recognized. You can change it to Replace with placeholder (refer to the next setting Attachments placeholder template to define its appearance) or Try to process.

Attachments placeholder template

Default: Filename

Configure placeholder(s) that should be inserted instead of unknown attachments (refer to the previous setting). Attachments will be replaced with a blank-page file with the original filename (Filename). You can choose your own file (Browse for file) or create a custom template (-Open Cover page designer-) as an alternative.

Include attachments by file mask

Default: *.*

Use an expression that allows converting only certain attachments by mask. For example, type *.pdf to convert PDF attachments only. Or enter attachment.* to convert only files containing the word "attachment" in the filename. You can add one or several masks at the same time (each on a separate line).

Exclude attachments by file mask

Default: none

Use an expression that restricts processing of certain attachments by mask. You can add one or several masks at the same time (each on a separate line). For example: *.docx

Document converting settings

Page range

Default: All pages

Set page range by selecting all pages or a specific page range.

To choose certain pages or a specific page range, type in the desired page numbers and/or ranges separated by commas. For example: 1,3,5-10,25. To select pages from the end of the document, use the syntax last (last1 for penultimate page, etc.). For example: last2,last1,last

Skip repeated pages

Default: No

This feature helps you avoid converting the same page multiple times. For example, if you specified overlapping page ranges.

Save metadata

Default: No

Save metadata from the source files such as EXIF, IPTC, XMP and keep it in the output files.

Save ICC profile

Default: No

Save the ICC color profile in the output file if it exists in the source image file.

Grayscale

Default: No

Set the color mode in the output file to grayscale (in shades of gray).

Convert engine(s)

Default: none

Enter the name(s) of the specific file conversion engines to change their priority. Do not modify this setting unless instructed by our customer service.

OCR

OCR languages

Default: none

This setting is used for OCR (Optical Character Recognition). Select the language or languages that are present in your source files. To achieve better results, only select the languages that are actually used in your source files.

Post processing

Successfully processed files

Default: None

Choose an action to perform on the successfully converted files:

• Copy to folder
• Move to folder
• Delete files
• None

Files that failed to process

Default: None

Select an action to be performed with files that failed to convert for some reason:

• Copy to folder
• Move to folder
• Delete files
• None

Output formats

PDF

Minimize file size

Default: No

Reduce the size of output PDF files. Enabling this feature can result in a compression level of approximately 30% (depending on the contents of the document).

Make searchable (OCR)

Default: No

Apply OCR processing to make the resultant PDF documents searchable. The output files will contain text that can be copied, edited, and used elsewhere.

Please refer to the OCR languages setting to select the language of your source documents.

Multipage

Default: As in original file

Set the multipage option to control the structure of the output PDF files:

• As in original file
• Split into single pages
• Merge into one file

The Split into single pages option creates a separate file for each page, regardless of whether the source files are multi-page or single-page. The Merge into one file option combines all files from the source into one multipage document. 

If you choose the Merge into one file option, you can refer to the Combined file setting to specify the filename for the output PDF file.

If you choose Split into single pages option, you can refer to the Split multipage PDF by setting to change the "split step".

Page index to insert

Default: -1

When using Multipage: Merge into one file, the program adds new files to the end of an existing document. However, you can also add them to the beginning (0) or insert them somewhere in between the document (e.g., 5 – to place new files after page 5). The default value is "-1".

Combined file

Default: Combined.pdf

Set filename of the resultant multipage output file when Multipage: Merge into one file option is used. Default name: "Combined.pdf"

Split multipage PDF by

Default: 1 page(s) per file

Multipage PDFs, TIFFs, and other documents can be easily split into single pages. You can choose to split them into single pages by default or specify the desired number of pages per file. For example: Split multipage PDF by: 5 pages per file. This setting is used together with Multipage: Split into single pages.

File version

Default: v13

Select the version of the PDF format from the range of v13 - v17.

PDF/A

Default: No

Switch to PDF/A instead of a regular PDF.

Note: Converting to PDF/A is only possible from Word documents.

PDF/A is a file format used for the long-term archiving of electronic documents. It is based on the PDF format but includes additional restrictions to ensure that the file can be reliably stored and retrieved in the future.

Text to curves

Default: No

Convert text characters into curves. Enabling this setting may prevent editing of documents containing sensitive data (the resulting PDF will not be searchable).

Page creation width

Default: -1

Modify the width of PDF pages. "-1" stands for the default value.

Page creation height

Default: -1

Modify the height of PDF pages. "-1" stands for the default value.

Keep bookmarks

Default: Yes

Keep bookmarks if they are present in the source files. For example, if your Word files have bookmarks, the program will retain them when converting to PDF.

New file bookmarks title template

Default: Yes

Use the filenames of source files as bookmarks. So if you combine several files to a single PDF using Merge into one file option and want to create bookmarks using filenames of source files – you can do it using a special template. Customize the bookmarks using built-in macros by clicking the {=} button.

List of Documents settings

Unique content in file list

Default: No

To enable adding the same file to the processing queue multiple times for conversion, you can change the default setting for unique content. By default, unique content is disabled. If you want to add the same file only once, change the setting to Yes.

File loading settings

The File loading settings section includes settings that control pre-processing, specifically what 2PDF does with the source files before converting them.

CAD

Worksheet name

Default: *all*

Define which worksheets should be processed. You can set it to:

• *all* – convert all worksheets contained in a file
• *default* – convert the default (active) worksheet only
• My worksheet 1 – use the actual worksheet name to specify which sheets to convert

Split worksheets

Default: No

Check this option to split multi-sheet CAD drawings into separate worksheets. As a result, each worksheet will be saved as a separate file.

Skip model view

Default: No

Skip model view of a CAD drawing. If set to "Yes", the "Model" tab will be ignored and the contents of the "Layout" tab(s) will be converted.

Disable "Not to Plot" layers

Default: No

DWG and DXF drawings may have the "Plot" property turned off. These are "non-printable" layers that are not meant to be printed. The program can recognize this parameter and prevent such layers from being processed, too.

Fonts to bold

Default: No

Try making fonts bold to make the text look thicker.

Default line weight

Default: -1

Change how the lines should look on a processed CAD drawing. You can make them thinner or thicker by changing this value.

Display line weight

Default: As in document

• "Yes" means that the program uses line weights as in DWG or DXF drawing it processes;
• "No" means that the program uses the same standard thickness without applying any special size;
• "As in document" means that the program gets the line weight value from the DWG or DXF file header. 

Paper size limit

Default: A3

Set the maximum paper format (page size) for CAD drawings. You can select either a Standard or Custom page size in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.

Try to use SHX fonts

Default: Yes

Use SHX fonts if they are contained in your drawings. Consider adding them if the text is too thin or hard to read. Set a path to a folder with SHX fonts if you have them (see the setting SHX font folders). 

Grayscale

Default: No

Make CAD drawings grayscale (in shades of gray).

SHX font folders

Default: none

Browse for folder(s) where SHX fonts are located, so that the program can use them. Use it together with Try to use SHX fonts: Yes.

Page margins

Default: 0, 0, 0, 0

Specify custom page margins for CAD drawings, in points: left, right, top, and bottom margin.

E-mail message format

Page size

Default: *all*

Set page size for email files, such as EML, MSG, OST, PST, P7M. You can select:

• Default – use the standard local paper size based on your computer's system locale; e.g., A4 in Europe and Letter in the U.S.;
• Standard – select a pre-defined format;
• Custom – set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.

Excel

Split worksheets

Default: No

Split multi-sheet spreadsheets and create a separate file from each sheet.

Hide main window

Default: Yes

Hide the main window of Excel (or Excel alternative) during the file conversion process. 

Export scale mode

Default: Original

Scale mode defines page sizing and scaling of Excel sheets. Available options: 

• Original – keeps the original size of Excel sheets
• Fit – scales small pages up and shrinks large pages down to fit the output file page format

Worksheet names

Default: *all*

Define which worksheets should be processed. You can set it to:

• *all* – convert all worksheets contained in a file
• *default* – convert the default (active) worksheet only
• My worksheet 1 – add actual worksheet names in the dropdown list

Keep headings

Default: No

Enable or disable adding headings (row 1, 2, 3… and column numbers A, B, C…) to the output files.

Keep comments

Default: At the end of sheet

Define how comments in Excel files should be processed: At the end of sheet, As displayed on sheet, Without comments.

PowerPoint

Slide layout

Default: Output slides

Select how many PowerPoint slides per page you want to arrange (this setting is similar to the one in PowerPoint: Handout Master > Slides Per Page) .

• Output slides – keep the original slide layout ("as is")
• Output 2-slide handouts – place 2 slides per page
• Output 3-slide handouts – place 3 slides per page (with lines for taking notes)
• Output 6-slide handouts – place 6 slides per page
• Output notes pages – place 1 slide per page with outline
• Output outline – keep text from slides only
• Output 4-slide handouts – place 4 slides per page
• Output 9-slide handouts – place 9 slides per page
• Output 1-slide handouts – place 1 slide per page

HTML

Code page

Default: Default

Select character encoding for HTML files, e.g., Unicode or ASCII.

Page size

Default: Default

Set page size for HTML files. Available options:

• Default – use the standard local paper size based on your computer's system locale; e.g., A4 in Europe and Letter in the U.S.;
• Standard – select a pre-defined format;
• Custom – set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.

Page margins

Default: 0, 0, 0, 0

Specify custom page margins for HTML files, in points. 

Zoom level

Default: 0

Scale up or down the size of HTML pages, in percent. 

Auto fit X

Default: Shrink to fit

Set scaling by X-axis: None, Shink to fit, Scale to fit.

Auto fit Y

Default: None

Set scaling by Y-axis: None, Shink to fit, Scale to fit.

Allow proprietary media formats

Default: Yes

HTML files may contain multimedia files, such as videos, embedded within them. This setting enables the display of these files, allowing to show previews of videos. Disabling this setting may improve processing speed.

Raster images

Color profile action

Default: Apply embedded profile

Define what to do if the source image has an embedded or if you have an external color profile for it. By using the image's embedded or external color profile, you can achieve more accurate printing with the reproduction of actual colors. Here are the possible options:

• Ignore — do not use profiles, any color profile is ignored
• Apply embedded profile — use image's embedded color profile (if it exists)
• Apply external profile — use an ICC profile that can be specified via the ICC profile filepath setting
• Apply embedded profile (if it is not RGB) — use image's embedded profile if it's not RGB (may increase processing speed)

ICC profile filepath

Default: None

Set path to an ICC file containing an external color profile. Use together with Color profile action: Apply external profile (see previous setting).

PDF

Draw annotations

Default: Yes

Enable annotations and pop-up comments in PDF files. By default, they are displayed. 

Portfolio files pre-sorting

Default: Unsorted

Enable sorting By index for PDF Portfolio attachments.

Image to PDF embedding

Load image as JPEG

Default: No

When the program converts images (any image type except for JPEG), you have the option to set the image loading as JPEG. This usually reduces the output file size, resulting in faster processing speed.

JPEG quality

Default: 75%

Set JPEG image quality within 25-100% when the Load image as JPEG setting is enabled.

TEXT

Code page

Default: Default

Select character encoding for plain text files, e.g., Unicode or ASCII.  

Font

Default: "Consolas" 11

Set font style, size, and character set. 

Line spacing

Default: 0.15

Define a custom spacing between lines of text, in points. 

Paper size

Default: A4

Select paper size (page format), e.g., A4 or Legal.

• Standard – select a pre-defined format;
• Custom – set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.

Page margins

Default: 10, 8, 10, 8

Specify custom page margins for text files, in points: left, right, top, and bottom margin.

Word

Update fields

Default: No

Automatically update dynamic fields in Microsoft Word files (e.g. [Date], [Time], [Name]). As a result, the up-to-date values of Microsoft Word's built-in dynamic fields will be displayed in the output documents after processing.

Hide revisions

Default: No

Enable this setting to process Word documents with hidden revision marks (e.g., inserted and deleted text, formatting changes, moved paragraphs).

Skip comments

Default: No

Enable this setting to disable Word document's comments if they were made inside a document.

Markup mode

Default: As is

Select Markup mode and which revisions should be kept:

• Balloon revisions
• Inline revisions
• Mixed revisions
• As is

Keep bookmarks

Default: In-text bookmarks

Select bookmarks which should be displayed on a processed document:

• Without bookmarks
• Heading bookmarks
• In-text bookmarks

Enable macros

Default: No

Enable or disable macros when converting a macro-enabled Word document.

PCL

Lines per page

Default: -1

Set the number of lines per page. "-1" stands for the default value.

Detect .PLT file dimension

Default: Yes

Detects PLT file format which is a vector-based plotter file that contains information for a certain CAD file.

ZPL

Dpmm

Default: 8

Set print density for ZPL files. We recommend choosing one of the following values:

• 6 dpmm (152 DPI);
• 8 dpmm (203 DPI);
• 12 dpmm (300 DPI);
• 24 dpmm (600 DPI).

Width

Default: 4

Set width for ZPL files, in inches. 

Height

Default: 6

Set height for ZPL files, in inches. 

Proxy host

Default: none

Configure ZPL proxy host settings. You can change it to the needed value.

Proxy port

Default: 0

Configure ZPL proxy port settings. You can change it to the needed value.

Max labels per request

Default: 30

Configure the maximum number of labels per request. You can set any number as needed.

Log

Verbosity

Default: Verbose

Select the type of log created by the program. You can select between Verbose, Regular, Laconic, and Trace.

Create new log file after

Default: File size limit exceeds

Choose when a new log file should be created (and the previous log file replaced). You can select between File size limit exceeds and Every day.

File size limit

Default: 16 MB

Set a limit for the size of a log file. 

Keep log history

Default: 32 file(s)

Set the number of files that keep the log history.  

Log file folder

Default: %TEMP%

Set path to a folder for log files. By default, it is C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Temp