---
name: "pdf123-split"
description: "Divide a PDF into separate files. Runs the PDF123 \"Split PDF\" tool (pdf123.xyz) over its REST API with curl, no account needed. Use when the user wants this done to their file. Also known as: 拆分 PDF, Dividir PDF, PDF बाँटें, تقسيم PDF, Pisahkan PDF, Diviser le PDF, Разделить PDF, PDFの分割, PDF teilen, PDF 분할, Tách PDF, PDF böl, 分割 PDF, Dividi PDF, แยก PDF, Podziel PDF, Розрізати PDF, PDF splitsen, Asingkan PDF, Dela PDF, Διαχωρισμός PDF, Разделяне на PDF, Parteix PDF, Gawanya PDF."
compatibility: "Needs curl 7.76+ and outbound HTTPS to pdf123.xyz, or PDFX_API_BASE pointing at a self-hosted pdfx-server."
---

# Split PDF (PDF123)

Divide a PDF into separate files.

Web version: https://pdf123.xyz/split · All tools: https://pdf123.xyz/skills/pdf123.md

## When to use

- Break an overnight scanner tray into one PDF per job
- Cut a combined exhibit PDF into the attachments a court portal expects
- Turn a book PDF into chapter files at known page breaks

## Run it

Replace the sample file names and values with the user's, then run:

```bash
API="${PDFX_API_BASE:-https://pdf123.xyz}"
curl -sS --fail-with-body -X POST "$API/api/v1/general/split-pages" \
  -F "fileInput=@input.pdf" \
  -F "pageNumbers=1" \
  --output-dir "pdf123-output/$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" --create-dirs -OJ -w '%{filename_effective} %{content_type}\n'
```

## Inputs

Everything is `multipart/form-data`. The command above already sends each field with its default; keep them all and change only the values the user asked for, since some endpoints reject a missing optional field.

| Field | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `fileInput` | file | yes | | .pdf (one file) |
| `pageNumbers` | text | yes | `1` | Split after page(s). 1-based page list: `1,3-5`, open range `7-`, `all`, or an `n` expression such as `2n` for even pages |

## Result

curl saves the result in a new `pdf123-output/<timestamp>/` directory under the server's file name and prints its path and content type. Several output files come back as one ZIP. Tell the user where the file is.

## Limits

- Cut points must be valid 1-based page numbers; one past the last page is an error
- Password-protected files need the password; API callers run Unlock first
- Does not detect chapters from bookmarks (that is Split by Chapters)
- Upload limit on this website: 500 MB per file, sent in chunks above about 95 MB. A single direct API request body is capped at 100 MB.

## Errors

- A non-zero curl exit means the request failed. The saved file then holds `application/problem+json`; read it and report its `detail` to the user instead of retrying blindly.
- `413`: the upload exceeds 100 MiB. `429`: wait for `Retry-After` seconds, then retry once.
- Send `X-API-KEY: $PDFX_API_KEY` only if the user has a PDF123 API key; anonymous calls work without it.

## Privacy

Files are uploaded to the API host, processed, and deleted once the response is sent. For confidential files, ask before uploading, or use a self-hosted server via `PDFX_API_BASE`.