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Embedding PDFs

Sometimes you need to include pages from an existing PDF file into your LaTeX document. This is common for including certifications, full-page diagrams, or merging documents.

The pdfpages Package

The standard way to insert full PDF pages is using the pdfpages package.

Basic Usage

First, add \usepackage{pdfpages} to your preamble.

Then use the \includepdf command:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{pdfpages}

\begin{document}
  \includepdf[pages=-]{myfile.pdf} % Includes all pages
\end{document}

Options for \includepdf

  • pages={1}: Include only page 1.
  • pages={1,3}: Include pages 1 and 3.
  • pages={1-5}: Include pages 1 through 5.
  • pages=-: Include all pages.
  • scale=0.9: Scale the page down to 90%.
  • landscape=true: Rotate the included page.
  • pagecommand={\thispagestyle{plain}}: Keep page numbering on the included page.

Example

We have created an example file embedding-example.tex which embeds simple-report.pdf.

Including PDFs as Images (graphicx)

If you just want to include a PDF file as a figure (like a chart generated by R or Python), treat it like an image.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{document}
  \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{chart.pdf}
    \caption{A chart from a PDF file}
  \end{figure}
\end{document}

LaTeX handles vector graphics in PDFs perfectly, maintaining high resolution.