The Multi-Invoice PDF Splitter lets you divide a single PDF containing multiple vendor invoices into separate bills directly inside ZoneCapture, so each invoice is captured and processed correctly through the OCR pipeline without any external file preparation.
Note: Clicking on the images within this guide will enlarge them for better viewing.
Important: PDF splitting is currently available through Manual Upload only. It is not yet supported via Email Capture or other entry points.
When to use this feature
Use the Manual PDF Splitter when:
- You have a single PDF file that bundles 2 or more vendor invoices.
- You want full control over exactly where the split happens.
💡 Preference Tip: If you prefer a guided experience, follow the video above. For specific navigation paths, refer to the text instructions and screenshots below.
How to access the PDF Splitter
- Navigate to the Zone Control Center and open the Manual Upload page in ZoneCapture.
- Select the Manual Split - this PDF contains multiple invoices checkbox.
- Note: When this checkbox is selected, any values entered in the Vendor and Subsidiary fields will not be applied. Because a multi-invoice PDF may contain invoices from different vendors across different subsidiaries, vendor and subsidiary are determined per invoice once each Bill to Process record is created and processed through OCR.
- Click Upload PDF Files.
- Select the PDF file from your local drive. Note the following requirements: PDF format only, a maximum size of 10 MB, and 1 file at a time.
- Click Process. ZoneCapture redirects you to the Multi-Invoice PDF Splitter page.
Splitting your PDF, step by step
Once the PDF Splitter is open, all pages load as a single segment by default. A segment is highlighted with a distinct color code, making it easy to identify which pages belong to which invoice at a glance.
There are 2 ways to split a PDF:
Option A: Split every page
Use this option if you know that every page in the PDF is a separate invoice (for example, a vendor that always sends 1 invoice per page):
- Click Split Every Page. ZoneCapture automatically creates 1 segment per page.
- Review the segments.
- If you discover that some consecutive pages actually belong to the same invoice, click Remove split after page x on the dividing page to merge the segments back together.
Option B: Manual page-by-page splitting
Use this option if you need to review the PDF and decide where each invoice boundary falls:
- Review the PDF in the embedded viewer.
- Navigate to the page where a new invoice begins.
- Click the scissors icon labeled Split after page x to mark that page as the start of a new segment.
- Confirm that the page range list on the right updates to reflect the split and that a new color is assigned to the new segment.
- Repeat for each invoice boundary in the document.
- To merge 2 segments back together, click Remove split after page x on the dividing page.
Undoing a split
If you make a mistake or change your mind, click Undo Split to reverse your most recent split action. Undo Split works step by step, so each click removes only the last split you applied.
Tip: Use Undo Split when you want to backtrack through your changes one at a time, rather than manually locating and removing each split point individually.
Skipping blank pages
If your PDF was scanned double-sided, you may have blank pages between invoices. To exclude a page from processing entirely, deselect the checkbox for that page. Excluded pages are not submitted and do not appear in any Bill to Process record.
Tip: The PDF Splitter also works well for PDFs that contain invoices from different vendors, such as a batch PDF from your accounts payable team or a scanned pile of invoices from multiple suppliers. Use Option B (manual review) rather than Split Every Page: flip through the pages and look for changes in invoice number, vendor name, or layout to identify where one vendor's invoice ends and the next begins, then mark a split point at each boundary. Each resulting segment is processed as a separate Bill to Process record, so each vendor's invoice goes through OCR independently.
Submitting
- Review the summary, including the number of bills and page ranges for each segment. Use the color coding on the page list to visually confirm which pages belong to each segment.
- Click Submit and Process.
ZoneCapture splits the PDF in your browser, creates a child Bill to Process record for each segment, and sends each one to OCR for extraction. You are redirected to the Incoming Bill to Process list when complete.
Note on document capture charges:
Each segment created by the PDF Splitter is processed as a separate Bill to Process record and counts as an individual captured document. For example, if you split 1 PDF into 10 segments, you will be charged for the capture of 10 documents. Review your segment count before clicking Submit and Process if you want to confirm the number of billable captures.
If you are on a Pay As You Go (PAYG) plan, charges are calculated per page rather than per document, so splitting a PDF does not change your costs — you will be charged for the same total number of pages regardless of how many segments you create.
Limits and requirements
| Constraint | Detail |
|---|---|
| File type | PDF only |
| File size | Maximum 10 MB |
| Files per upload | 1 at a time (Manual Upload entry point) |
| Maximum segments | Up to 25 active segments per split |
Viewing split results
After submission, each split invoice appears as a Bill to Process record in the Incoming queue.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload multiple PDFs at once for splitting?
No. The Manual Upload entry point supports 1 file at a time when using the PDF Splitter.
What happens to the original PDF after splitting?
The original file is retained as a parent record for reference and is not deleted.
Is there a limit to how many invoices I can split from 1 PDF?
Yes. You can define up to 25 segments per split.
Does this feature work for non-PDF files?
No. Only PDF files are supported.
Will this work if my PDF contains invoices from different vendors?
Yes. Use the manual review approach (Option B) to flip through pages and mark split points wherever the vendor changes. Each segment is processed independently, so each vendor's invoice is captured separately.
Why are Vendor and Subsidiary not applied when using the PDF Splitter?
When you select the Manual Split checkbox, any values entered in the Vendor and Subsidiary fields will not be applied. Because a single multi-invoice PDF may contain invoices from different vendors across different subsidiaries, those fields cannot be applied at the upload level. Vendor and subsidiary are determined per segment once each Bill to Process record is created and processed through OCR.
Can I undo a split if I make a mistake?
Yes. Click Undo Split to reverse your splits one at a time, in the order they were applied. Clicking it repeatedly progressively undoes each split until the PDF is restored to its original, unsegmented state.
Will I be charged for each invoice after splitting?
This depends on your plan:
Subscription/document-based plans: Each segment is submitted as a separate Bill to Process record and is charged as an individual document capture. For example, if you split 1 multi-invoice PDF into 10 segments, you will be charged for 10 document captures — not 1. We recommend reviewing your segment count in the summary before clicking Submit and Process.
Pay As You Go (PAYG) plans: Charges are calculated per page, so splitting a PDF does not affect your costs. You will be charged for the same total number of pages regardless of how many segments you create.