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Split PDFs by Barcode in Make: Iterator + PDF4me Split by Barcode (Step-by-Step)

· 9 min read
Sankalp Mishra
SEO and Content Writer

When you scan a stack of documents into one PDF—batch invoices, mail with separator sheets, or reports with barcode dividers—you need each document in its own file. PDF4me’s Split by Barcode module detects barcodes, filters by text (e.g. starts with PDF4me), and splits before, after, or at the barcode page—and Make’s Iterator turns the split results into individual files you can upload to Dropbox, Google Drive, or any storage.

This guide walks you through the exact modules, fields, and values to get from one PDF to many—with each split saved as its own file.

What Do You Need?​

  • Make — Create a Make account and open a new scenario.
  • PDF4me API key — Get your API key and connect it to PDF4me.
  • Dropbox — We use it here, but any storage with download + upload works (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.).

Flow Overview (4 Modules).​

  1. Dropbox – Download a File — Downloads barcode.pdf from your folder.
  2. PDF4me – Split by Barcode — Splits the PDF using barcode text and filter settings.
  3. Iterator — Loops through the Generated Documents[] array returned by PDF4me.
  4. Dropbox – Upload a File — Uploads each split PDF file.
Make scenario: Dropbox Download a File → PDF4me Split by Barcode → Iterator → Dropbox Upload a File

Input vs. Output.​

Input: one PDF named barcode.pdf

Input file: barcode.pdf

Output: multiple files (barcode_1.pdf, barcode_2.pdf, etc.)

Output files: barcode_1.pdf, barcode_2.pdf

Step 1: Dropbox – Download a File.​

Flow so far: Download a File.

  1. Add Dropbox → Download a File.
  2. Connection — Select your Dropbox connection.
  3. Way of selecting files — Select a file.
  4. File — /Blog Data/Split By Barcode/barcode.pdf.
Dropbox Download a File: Select a file, /Blog Data/Split By Barcode/barcode.pdf

This outputs file content for the Split action.

Step 2: PDF4me – Split by Barcode.​

Flow so far: Download a File → Split by Barcode.

  1. Add PDF4me → Split by Barcode.
  2. Connection — Select your PDF4me connection.
  3. File — Map Dropbox – Download a File.
  4. Barcode Text — PDF4me
  5. Barcode Filter — Starts with
  6. Barcode Type — Any Type
  7. Split Barcode Page — Before the barcode
  8. PDF Render DPI — 150
  9. Combine pages with same barcodes — No
PDF4me Split by Barcode: Barcode Text PDF4me, Filter Starts with, Type Any, Split Before, DPI 150

Output: An array of Generated Documents[] (each is a split PDF file).

Step 3: Iterator (Flow Control).​

The PDF4me module returns Generated Documents[]. You must iterate over the array to upload each file.

Why the Iterator?

Make returns an array of split PDFs. You can’t upload the array as-is—you need to loop through it and upload each item. That’s what the Iterator does.

  1. Add Flow Control → Iterator.
  2. Array — Map 4. Generated Documents[] from the Split by Barcode module.
Iterator: Array mapped to 4. Generated Documents[]

Step 4: Dropbox – Upload a File.​

Inside the Iterator route, upload each split file.

  1. Add Dropbox → Upload a File.
  2. Folder — /Blog Data/Split By Barcode.
  3. File — Select Flow Control – Iterator (the current split file).
  4. Overwrite — No (or Yes if you want to replace).
Dropbox Upload a File: Folder /Blog Data/Split By Barcode, File from Iterator

Each iteration uploads one split PDF.

Quick Reference: Key Parameters.​

The Split by Barcode module has a few knobs worth knowing. Here’s what we used:

ParameterValueNotes
Barcode TextPDF4meOnly barcodes that match trigger a split
Barcode FilterStarts withOr Ends with, Contains, Exact—pick what fits your barcodes
Split Barcode PageBefore the barcodeSplit before, after, or remove the separator page
PDF Render DPI150Bump to 200+ if barcodes are small or blurry
Iterator ArrayGenerated Documents[]Output from Split by Barcode—this is what you loop over

Pro tip: The Iterator is the step that trips people up—Make won’t let you upload the whole array at once. You have to iterate over Generated Documents[] and upload each item. That’s what we did in Step 4.

For full parameter details, see Split by Barcode — Make.

Troubleshooting.​

"File is Empty" or no split output

Make sure you’re passing the actual file content from Dropbox, not a path. Check that your barcode text and filter match what’s in the PDF—if nothing matches, you’ll get one output (the whole file). See Zapier and Power Automate Tips for file handling.

Try the API Interactively.​

Want to test without building a scenario? Upload a PDF and see the response:

Next Steps.​

You’re set.
  • Drop a test PDF with barcodes into your folder and run the scenario—you should see split files in the output folder.
  • Tweak Barcode Text and Barcode Filter (Contains, Exact, etc.) to match how your documents are structured.
  • Swap Download a File for Watch Files (Dropbox) to run automatically when new PDFs land in the folder.
PDF4me on MakeGet API KeySplit by Barcode (Make docs)API Tester