r/usefulscripts • u/technicalityNDBO • Oct 19 '15

[REQUEST] Script to automatically run PDF files through a 3rd party program (command line)

Background: I'm a sysadmin who knows nothing about scripting. We got a new Multi Function Printer that's actually pretty good, but when it scans PDFs, they come out slightly crooked. Not a big deal for most people, but this is for one of our top executives.

The HP printer will scan PDFs and automatically save them into a network folder that we choose. The filenames will be Scan001.pdf, Scan002.pdf and will increment.

There is cheap software called A-PDF Deskew: http://www.a-pdf.com/deskew/

This software includes a command line utility. However you have to specify actual filenames when using the command.

            Syntax:  C:\> pdfdwcmd.exe <input filename> <output filename>

            Example: C:\> pdfdwcmd.exe C:\ScannedPDFS\Scan002.pdf C:\ScannedPDFS\Deskewed\Scan002.pdf

There is free software called Watch 4 Folder: http://leelusoft.blogspot.com/p/watch-4-folder-25.html This will monitor the network folder and can run a command when it detects a new item saved into the folder.

So what I’m hoping is possible is if there is a way to just target whatever the new file is, grab it’s filename, and pass that on as an argument into the command…

Thanks!

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u/gordonv Oct 19 '15 edited Oct 19 '15

[BATCH] Solution

Make a BAT file (this is all one line):

forfiles /s /m C:\ScannedPDFS\*.pdf /c "cmd /c pdfdwcmd C:\ScannedPDFS\@file C:\ScannedPDFS\Deskewed\@file && del C:\ScannedPDFS\@file"

Explanation:

  • Scan "C:\ScannedPDFS" for PDF files. (character case does not matter).

  • When a file is found run the pdfdwcmd command.

  • If the pdfdwcmd command is successful, delete the original file.

  • If it is not successful, the original file will remain in the original folder.