How to append output file name using input file name without extention while using ghostscript? - windows

Question

I'm using GS to "compress" PDF with 2 clicks. I've added a context menu in windows register with abovementioned code.
For instance if I use it on test.pdf the output file will be test.pdf-compressed.pdf. It works, but I would like to get rid of extention in the filename. Is there any way to do so?
I've tryied to use cmd arguments, but it does not seem to work with the postscript.
C:\Program Files\gs\gs9.27\bin\gswin64c.exe -q -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dPDFSETTINGS=/ebook -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 -sOutputFile=%1%-compressed.pdf -c .setpdfwrite -f %1

Answer 1

This isn't a Ghostscript question. If you get the arguments correct then the parameters passed to Ghostscript will be correct and the output file will be what you want.
You haven't said what you've tried, so that makes it pretty hard to make suggestions. However you should be able to use %~dp1 and/or %~n1 instead of simply %1 to expand to just a path or file. There are other variations, typing "help for" at the Windows command line will give you more details.
Note as always that Ghostscript does not compress PDF files, by using -dPDFSETTINSG=/ebook you are producing a brand-new PDF file which has altered the content from the original (image will be downsampled for example).
Also the sequence -c .setpdfwrite -f has been redundant for years, you don't need it.
[EDIT]
This batch file demonstrates the use of the command shell variable expansion in a batch file
#ECHO OFF
ECHO Input file is %1
ECHO Input directory is %~dp1
\ghostpdl\debugbin\gswin32c -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=%~dp1\new.pdf %1
When saved as test.bat and then test d:\temp\input.ps the following output is generated:
Input file is d:\temp\input.ps
Input directory is d:\temp\
GPL Ghostscript GIT PRERELEASE 9.28 (2019-04-04)
Copyright (C) 2019 Artifex Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
This software is supplied under the GNU AGPLv3 and comes with NO WARRANTY:
see the file COPYING for details.
And a file new.pdf is created in the directory d:\temp
So the variable expansion works as expected, because it happens before the command line is executed.
If it still doesn't work for you, then you're going to have to provide more information. In your place I would start by removing the -dNOPAUSE and -dBATCH switches from the command line, at least that way you'll be able to see if Ghostscript is trying to tell you something.

Answer 2

I've clearly stumbled upon this posting a bit late.
However, I wanted to post my answer in case someone comes looking for a solution to a similar issue, in the future.
I started by creating a new Folder on my Desktop, titled "PDF", in which I placed the "test.pdf" File.
I then created a .BAT File, titled "CompressPDF.bat", to which I added the Script below.
This Script will Loop through and Compress Any/All .PDF Files, that are placed in the "PDF" Folder.
It then correctly appends the "-compressed.pdf" string to the File Name, thereby saving the "test.pdf" File as "test-compressed.pdf", per the request of the OP.
As you will Notice, I have Added the "PAUSE" Command at the very end of the Script.
This will keep the Window from Automatically Closing until you Press Any Key, which will allow you to review any Errors that may have arisen, during the compression process.
#echo off
cd "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\PDF"
for %%f in (*.pdf) do (
gswin64c.exe -q -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile="%%~nf-compressed.pdf" "%%f"
)
PAUSE
I hope this post is able to help others, who may be looking for an answer to a similar issue.
Please, feel free to response or to reach out to me, if anyone has any questions, as I am always happy to help.