Developers often need to break down large PDF files into smaller, more manageable sections. With the GroupDocs.Merger Cloud SDK for Node.JS, splitting a PDF into multiple parts becomes straightforward, as the cloud service handles the heavy lifting while you concentrate on your application logic. This guide provides a full working example, shows how to perform the same task via cURL, and explains the configuration options that let you fine‑tune the split operation.

Split PDF Into Multiple PDF in Node.JS - Complete Code Example

This example demonstrates how to split a PDF into multiple PDF files using GroupDocs.Merger Cloud SDK for Node.JS.

const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');
const GroupDocsMergerCloud = require('@groupdocs/merger-cloud');

// ---------- Set up API credentials ----------
const client = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.ApiClient();
client.appSid = 'YOUR_APP_SID';
client.appKey = 'YOUR_APP_KEY';

// ---------- Initialize API instances ----------
const mergerApi = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.MergerApi(client);
const storageApi = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.StorageApi(client);

// ---------- Helper to upload a local file to cloud storage ----------
async function uploadFile(localPath, cloudPath) {
    const fileData = fs.readFileSync(localPath);
    const uploadRequest = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.UploadFileRequest({
        path: cloudPath,
        file: fileData
    });
    await storageApi.uploadFile(uploadRequest);
}

// ---------- Helper to download a cloud file to local storage ----------
async function downloadFile(cloudPath, localPath) {
    const downloadRequest = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.DownloadFileRequest({ path: cloudPath });
    const response = await storageApi.downloadFile(downloadRequest);
    fs.writeFileSync(localPath, response);
}

// ---------- Main execution ----------
(async () => {
    try {
        // 1. Upload source PDF to cloud storage
        const localInputPdf = path.resolve(__dirname, 'input.pdf');          // local source PDF
        const cloudInputPdf = 'input/input.pdf';                            // cloud path
        await uploadFile(localInputPdf, cloudInputPdf);
        console.log('Uploaded PDF to cloud storage.');

        // 2. Configure split options (example: split into two parts: pages 1‑2 and 3‑5)
        const splitOptions = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.SplitOptions({
            pages: ['1-2', '3-5']                                            // page ranges to split
        });

        // 3. Build split request
        const splitRequest = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.SplitDocumentRequest({
            fileInfo: new GroupDocsMergerCloud.FileInfo({ filePath: cloudInputPdf }),
            options: splitOptions
        });

        // 4. Execute split operation
        const splitResult = await mergerApi.splitDocument(splitRequest);
        console.log(`Split operation completed. ${splitResult.length} parts generated.`);

        // 5. Download each split part and save locally
        for (let i = 0; i < splitResult.length; i++) {
            const partInfo = splitResult[i];
            const localOutputPath = path.resolve(__dirname, `output_part_${i + 1}.pdf`);
            await downloadFile(partInfo.path, localOutputPath);
            console.log(`Saved split part ${i + 1} to ${localOutputPath}`);
        }

        // 6. (Optional) Clean up cloud storage – delete uploaded source file
        const deleteRequest = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.DeleteFileRequest({ path: cloudInputPdf });
        await storageApi.deleteFile(deleteRequest);
        console.log('Cleaned up source file from cloud storage.');
    } catch (error) {
        console.error('Error during PDF split process:', error);
    }
})();

Note: This code example demonstrates the core functionality. Before using it in your project, make sure to update any file paths and configuration values to match your actual environment, verify that all required dependencies are properly installed, and test thoroughly in your development environment. If you encounter any issues, please refer to the official documentation or reach out to the support team for assistance.

Split PDF Using REST API with cURL

If you prefer a pure REST approach, the same split operation can be performed with cURL commands. The steps below show how to obtain an access token, upload the source PDF, run the split, and download each part.

# 1. Get an access token (replace YOUR_CLIENT_ID and YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET)
curl -X POST "https://api.groupdocs.cloud/v2.0/oauth2/token" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
     -d "grant_type=client_credentials&client_id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID&client_secret=YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET"

# 2. Upload the source PDF (replace YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN and adjust paths)
curl -X PUT "https://api.groupdocs.cloud/v2.0/storage/file/input.pdf" \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
     --data-binary @./input.pdf

# 3. Execute the split operation (pages 1-2 and 3-5)
curl -X POST "https://api.groupdocs.cloud/v2.0/merger/split" \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{
           "fileInfo": { "filePath": "input.pdf" },
           "options": { "pages": ["1-2","3-5"] }
         }'

# 4. Download each generated part (example for part 1)
curl -X GET "https://api.groupdocs.cloud/v2.0/storage/file/output_part_1.pdf" \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
     -o ./output_part_1.pdf

For a complete list of endpoints and parameters, see the official API documentation.

How Split PDF Into Multiple PDF in Node.JS Works

Understanding the flow helps you adapt the code to more complex scenarios.

  1. Initialize the API client - new GroupDocsMergerCloud.ApiClient() creates a client that holds your App SID and App Key.

    const client = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.ApiClient();
client.appSid = 'YOUR_APP_SID';
client.appKey = 'YOUR_APP_KEY';

  2. Upload the source file - The helper uploadFile reads the local PDF and sends it to cloud storage using storageApi.uploadFile.

    await uploadFile(localInputPdf, cloudInputPdf);

  3. Configure split options - new GroupDocsMergerCloud.SplitOptions({ pages: ['1-2', '3-5'] }) tells the service which page ranges to extract.

    const splitOptions = new GroupDocsMergerCloud.SplitOptions({
    pages: ['1-2', '3-5']
});

  4. Send the split request - mergerApi.splitDocument(splitRequest) posts the request and returns an array with information about each generated part.

    const splitResult = await mergerApi.splitDocument(splitRequest);

  5. Download the results - The loop iterates over splitResult, calling downloadFile for each part and saving it locally.

    for (let i = 0; i < splitResult.length; i++) {
    const partInfo = splitResult[i];
    await downloadFile(partInfo.path, localOutputPath);
}

For deeper details on each class and method, refer to the API reference.

Prerequisites and Setup

Before you start, ensure you have the following:

  • Node.js 14 or later installed.
  • A GroupDocs Cloud account with valid App SID and App Key.
  • Access to the internet for API calls.

Install the SDK via npm and download the latest package:

npm install groupdocs-merger-cloud

You can also fetch the binaries directly from the download page.

Fine-Tuning Split Options

The SplitOptions object offers several properties you can adjust:

  • pages - An array of page ranges (e.g., ['1-2','3-5']). This is the core setting used in the example.
  • outputPath - Optional folder where the split files will be stored in cloud storage.
  • preserveMetadata - When set to true, original document metadata is copied to each part. See the API reference for more options.

Adjusting these values lets you control the size, naming, and metadata of each resulting PDF.

Conclusion

Splitting PDF into multiple PDF in Node.JS becomes straightforward with the GroupDocs.Merger Cloud SDK for Node.JS. The SDK handles file upload, page‑range selection, and result retrieval, letting you focus on integrating the output into your workflow. Remember to secure your App SID and App Key, and consider using a commercial license for production deployments. Pricing details are available on the product page, and you can obtain a temporary license from the temporary license page. With the code, cURL examples, and configuration tips in this guide, you’re ready to implement robust PDF splitting in your Node.JS applications.

FAQs

  • How do I split PDF into multiple PDF in Node.JS using custom page ranges?
    Use the pages property of SplitOptions to define any range you need, such as ['1-3','4-6']. The SDK will generate a separate PDF for each range.

  • Can I split a PDF without storing it permanently in cloud storage?
    Yes. After uploading the source file and completing the split, you can delete the original file with storageApi.deleteFile as shown in the example.

  • Do I need a paid license to use the split feature in production?
    A commercial license is required for production use. Visit the product page for pricing and obtain a temporary license from the temporary license page for evaluation.

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