#  `chop`

Chop pages into multiple smaller pieces
## Usage
> pdftl `<input>` `chop` `<spec>...` `output` `<file>` `[<option>...]`

## Details
Chops specified pages into multiple smaller pieces by splitting them
either horizontally or vertically. The output PDF contains the
resulting chopped pieces in order. Pages from the input file that are
not matched by any spec are copied to the output unmodified.  The size
of each piece may be specified using `<spec>...`; see examples.
Depending on your shell, you may need to quote a `<spec>` which uses
parentheses.

The chop operation is controlled by one or more specification strings.
A specification can apply to all pages, or be targeted to specific
pages using pageranges or even/odd keywords.

Specification syntax:

    `[<page_spec>][cols|rows][<sizes_or_pieces>]`

Examples:

   `1-10cols2`

     Apply a vertical 2-piece chop to pages 1 through 10.

   `evencols(1:2)`

     Apply a vertical 1-to-2 ratio chop to all even pages.

   `odd 4-endcols3`

     Apply a vertical 3-piece chop to odd pages from 4 to the end.

   `rows`

     Chop horizontally (creating rows).

### Specification details


`<page_spec>` is a page specification, consisting of an
optional page range (like `1-4`) followed immediately by an
optional `even` or `odd`.  If no page range is given, all
pages are assumed. See also the help topic [[`page_spec`]].


`<sizes_or_pieces>` defines the dimensions of the chopped
pieces.  This can be specified in several ways.

    If omitted, the default is 2 equal pieces.

    `<integer>`
      Chop into N equal-sized pieces.

      Example: `cols3` (Chop into 3 equal vertical columns).

    `<list>`
      comma-separated list of custom sizes. Parentheses are optional.

      Example: `rows(100, fill, 100)` or `rows100,fill,100`

   `<ratios>`
      A colon-separated list of ratios.

      Example: `cols(1:2)` (A vertical chop with the second column being
      twice as wide as the first).

Size Units (for use in `<list>` format):

    `pt` (default)

      Size in points. 1 inch = 72 points. `100` is the same as `100pt`.

    `%`

      Percentage of the total page width (for `cols`) or height (for `rows`).

    `fill`

      A keyword that expands to fill the remaining space. If used
      multiple times, the remaining space is split evenly between each
      fill .

    `d`

      Appending `d` to any size in a custom list will cause that piece
      to be discarded from the output. This is useful for trimming
      margins.
## Examples

> Chop all pages horizontally in half
```
pdftl in.pdf chop rows output out.pdf
```

> Chop pages 1-3 horizontally in half
```
pdftl in.pdf chop 1-3rows output out.pdf
```

> Chop pages 1-3 horizontally in 3 pieces
```
pdftl in.pdf chop 1-3rows(3) output out.pdf
```

> Trim 5% from the left and right margins of every page
```
pdftl in.pdf chop cols(5%,fill,5%) output out.pdf
```

> Chop pages 2-4 vertically in the ratio 1:3
```
pdftl in.pdf chop 2-4cols(25%,fill) output out.pdf
```

> Split pages into two columns in the ratio 1:2
```
pdftl in.pdf chop cols(1:2) output out.pdf
```


**Tags**: in_place, geometry

*Source: pdftl.operations.chop*

*Read online: [https://pdftl.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operations/chop.html](https://pdftl.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operations/chop.html)*

*Type: Operation*