Yesterday, I took advantage of a free offer of some Digital Dowloads
from the National Archives (TNA) here in the UK:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7595053

The first one (above) consisted of 142 files and they took forever to
collect and save.

They will now take even longer for me to remove the cover page in each
file and to assemble them into larger chunks.

Please tell me if scripting would help in the above processes. And if
so which scripting language? And how best to learn it?

The files are all in pdf format and I do have Acrobat Pro.

Thank you!

Bryan

Print them out and do it by hand

Kemlo

You need to be more specific.
I went to given link and tried to understand what you are wanting to
do but I cannot figure it out.

Hi leamas

First, you need to 'order' the images on ref KV 2/2387 (which are
freely available at present), following which you will get an email
with a link that will allow you to download all 143 files (or as few
as you wish).

Each file (pdf) then has to be downloaded individually and each can be
opened and saved.

Using Acrobat Pro, I then Delete the cover (the first page)
[Shift+Ctrl+d] and Confirm; I then Save each modified file [Ctrl+w]
and Confirm.

Later, (again using Acrobat Pro) I assemble say 30 of the modified
files into a larger bundle, and so on.

There is also another set of images in KV 2/2388 that are also freely
available until the end of September.

I would like to automate: 

1: the downloading so that all 143 files can be actioned from one command; and also

2: the page deletions and saving.

I am quite happy with the current process for assembling the files
into larger chunks.

Your ideas will be appreciated.

Many thanks!

Bryan

Bryan, why not try software already available?

Well, some of this is not inexpensive:
http://www.artspdf.com/arts_split_and_merge.asp

But others seem to be freeware, e.g. "PDF Split & Merge":
http://www.bureausoft.com/products.html

I haven't tried these myself. So I'm unable to give you any additional
information.

Many thanks Freddy for a good idea.

I'll check them out!

Bryan