diff --git a/examples/qpdf-job.cc b/examples/qpdf-job.cc
index 3e6e99bd..c2952ee5 100644
--- a/examples/qpdf-job.cc
+++ b/examples/qpdf-job.cc
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
             ->inputFile("in.pdf")
             ->outputFile("out1.pdf")
             ->pages()
-            ->pageSpec(".", "1")
+            // Prior to qpdf 11.9.0, call ->pageSpec(file, range, password)
+            ->file(".")
+            ->range("1")
             ->endPages()
             ->linearize()
             ->staticId()           // for testing only
diff --git a/include/qpdf/QPDFJob.hh b/include/qpdf/QPDFJob.hh
index 4626c264..443fa75c 100644
--- a/include/qpdf/QPDFJob.hh
+++ b/include/qpdf/QPDFJob.hh
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ class QPDFJob
       public:
         QPDF_DLL
         Config* endPages();
+        // From qpdf 11.9.0, you can call file(), range(), and password(). Each call to file()
+        // starts a new page spec.
         QPDF_DLL
         PagesConfig* pageSpec(
             std::string const& filename, std::string const& range, char const* password = nullptr);
diff --git a/include/qpdf/auto_job_c_pages.hh b/include/qpdf/auto_job_c_pages.hh
index b816d29d..75b0ae53 100644
--- a/include/qpdf/auto_job_c_pages.hh
+++ b/include/qpdf/auto_job_c_pages.hh
@@ -5,3 +5,6 @@
 //
 // clang-format off
 //
+QPDF_DLL PagesConfig* file(std::string const& parameter);
+QPDF_DLL PagesConfig* range(std::string const& parameter);
+QPDF_DLL PagesConfig* password(std::string const& parameter);
diff --git a/job.sums b/job.sums
index 713d4379..26bbcac8 100644
--- a/job.sums
+++ b/job.sums
@@ -5,16 +5,16 @@ include/qpdf/auto_job_c_att.hh 4c2b171ea00531db54720bf49a43f8b34481586ae7fb6cbf2
 include/qpdf/auto_job_c_copy_att.hh 50609012bff14fd82f0649185940d617d05d530cdc522185c7f3920a561ccb42
 include/qpdf/auto_job_c_enc.hh 28446f3c32153a52afa239ea40503e6cc8ac2c026813526a349e0cd4ae17ddd5
 include/qpdf/auto_job_c_main.hh dbfc221d1533120d1aa9c361d8d2483dea5fcb1c0fd95144d98d305e64ed32a6
-include/qpdf/auto_job_c_pages.hh b3cc0f21029f6d89efa043dcdbfa183cb59325b6506001c18911614fe8e568ec
+include/qpdf/auto_job_c_pages.hh 09ca15649cc94fdaf6d9bdae28a20723f2a66616bf15aa86d83df31051d82506
 include/qpdf/auto_job_c_uo.hh ae21b69a1efa9333050f4833d465f6daff87e5b38e5106e49bbef5d4132e4ed1
-job.yml 8ad309ac41520b34692bcf22fd5c2ef4810ff69562aed606bd57df7bf589bc43
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh 1e8d73891bd1f0b5df5a5ca7405fb76d2d0fd024941b8c1b86489f1b5f9c5772
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_help.hh 8c172913920a5273e04dc4d2059f2d78fc475960ac1738271357056beb02dd27
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh ea272fd6a6a5e4d23cabd70a7b7d5ecc543b6304008c656dcba2d353d378efc2
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_decl.hh 10ffb0d0e5ca09809a5d5d78f66dee393dfd2653a23441436465fd5ace151880
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_init.hh 9c3839877ab3b15a47e92086f0b5616da33fd4970538cc423d3b0a7ff33ce66a
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_schema.hh a882939b202d48ad1c0751c094f671ad7aad0fc04c3a4446ad83675db365c8a2
+job.yml 45761edeca048c7aa3e99340fcda1b6cd8efe4cc4c8b8a6628580243a4f49b57
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh 20d6affe1e260f5a1af4f1d82a820b933835440ff03020e877382da2e8dac6c6
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_help.hh b19f8a7433c70df70b42f893a8964c801aa2bb78eecaa13cffab7add2ff81e0a
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh d74759d4999201a89dafddf6f0c855e9151bbf77ea91a92d6806510292950123
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_decl.hh 485540cde820987cfbed0aa7642a6416f2bd37164c8d4f2322f1381e73edf903
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_init.hh c8de8658daa82115b49bf084cebe1be0b8aea73f864a219d7349acc0982b56fe
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_schema.hh 3e000b87255bee62ba29b794d67b2ae97cbbdfdb78be3878c51786913564901e
 manual/_ext/qpdf.py 6add6321666031d55ed4aedf7c00e5662bba856dfcd66ccb526563bffefbb580
-manual/cli.rst 43923fab0def5f76e537f03ba2f650270a1ae858a15747e355db2a6ea396f1a0
-manual/qpdf.1 cd335812d450ca83be3c7fe165299d3454b26b4999295f671d57e6b24f6ea7a1
+manual/cli.rst 408e17dc13d37befe34badc400dd34d3c283952d17ee3bf9a9d44898af3dabc7
+manual/qpdf.1 c99d66833aee7a2294176875ca2e9ddf2531d4ab8fb282ea5c45cb82a5d028ea
 manual/qpdf.1.in 436ecc85d45c4c9e2dbd1725fb7f0177fb627179469f114561adf3cb6cbb677b
diff --git a/job.yml b/job.yml
index 3d918385..d82111ad 100644
--- a/job.yml
+++ b/job.yml
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@ options:
     config: c_pages
     prefix: Pages
     positional: true
-    manual:
-      - password
     required_parameter:
+      file: file
+      range: page-range
       password: password
   - table: encryption
     config: c_main
@@ -436,9 +436,9 @@ json:
   oi-min-width:
   optimize-images:
   pages:
-    - _file: "source for for pages"
+    - file:
       Pages.password:
-      _range: "page range"
+      range:
   remove-page-labels:
   report-memory-usage:
   rotate:
diff --git a/libqpdf/QPDFJob.cc b/libqpdf/QPDFJob.cc
index 3bdb4f39..d82d6fc9 100644
--- a/libqpdf/QPDFJob.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/QPDFJob.cc
@@ -2342,6 +2342,9 @@ QPDFJob::handlePageSpecs(QPDF& pdf, std::vector<std::unique_ptr<QPDF>>& page_hea
         if (page_spec.filename == ".") {
             page_spec.filename = m->infilename.get();
         }
+        if (page_spec.range.empty()) {
+            page_spec.range = "1-z";
+        }
     }
 
     if (!m->keep_files_open_set) {
diff --git a/libqpdf/QPDFJob_argv.cc b/libqpdf/QPDFJob_argv.cc
index 737059f0..ea35342b 100644
--- a/libqpdf/QPDFJob_argv.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/QPDFJob_argv.cc
@@ -34,9 +34,10 @@ namespace
         std::shared_ptr<QPDFJob::UOConfig> c_uo;
         std::shared_ptr<QPDFJob::EncConfig> c_enc;
         std::vector<std::string> accumulated_args;
-        std::shared_ptr<char> pages_password{nullptr};
         std::string user_password;
         std::string owner_password;
+        bool called_pages_file{false};
+        bool called_pages_range{false};
         bool used_enc_password_args{false};
         bool gave_input{false};
         bool gave_output{false};
@@ -236,82 +237,44 @@ ArgParser::argPages()
     this->ap.selectOptionTable(O_PAGES);
 }
 
-void
-ArgParser::argPagesPassword(std::string const& parameter)
-{
-    if (this->pages_password) {
-        QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob duplicated pages password");
-        usage("--password already specified for this file");
-    }
-    if (this->accumulated_args.size() != 1) {
-        QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob misplaced pages password");
-        usage("in --pages, --password must immediately follow a file name");
-    }
-    this->pages_password = QUtil::make_shared_cstr(parameter);
-}
-
 void
 ArgParser::argPagesPositional(std::string const& arg)
 {
-    if (arg.empty()) {
-        if (this->accumulated_args.empty()) {
-            return;
-        }
-    } else {
-        this->accumulated_args.push_back(arg);
+    if (!called_pages_file) {
+        c_pages->file(arg);
+        called_pages_file = true;
+        return;
     }
-
-    std::string file = this->accumulated_args.at(0);
-    char const* range_p = nullptr;
-
-    size_t n_args = this->accumulated_args.size();
-    if (n_args >= 2) {
-        // will be copied before accumulated_args is cleared
-        range_p = this->accumulated_args.at(1).c_str();
+    if (called_pages_range) {
+        c_pages->file(arg);
+        called_pages_range = false;
+        return;
     }
-
-    // See if the user omitted the range entirely, in which case we assume "1-z".
-    std::string next_file;
-    if (range_p == nullptr) {
-        if (arg.empty()) {
-            // The filename or password was the last argument
-            QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob pages range omitted at end", this->pages_password ? 0 : 1);
+    // This could be a range or a file. Try parsing.
+    try {
+        QUtil::parse_numrange(arg.c_str(), 0);
+        c_pages->range(arg);
+        called_pages_range = true;
+    } catch (std::runtime_error& e1) {
+        // The range is invalid.  Let's see if it's a file.
+        if (arg == ".") {
+            // "." means the input file.
+            QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob pages range omitted with .");
+        } else if (QUtil::file_can_be_opened(arg.c_str())) {
+            QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob pages range omitted in middle");
+            // Yup, it's a file.
         } else {
-            // We need to accumulate some more arguments
-            return;
+            // Give the range error
+            usage(e1.what());
         }
-    } else {
-        try {
-            QUtil::parse_numrange(range_p, 0);
-        } catch (std::runtime_error& e1) {
-            // The range is invalid.  Let's see if it's a file.
-            if (strcmp(range_p, ".") == 0) {
-                // "." means the input file.
-                QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob pages range omitted with .");
-            } else if (QUtil::file_can_be_opened(range_p)) {
-                QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob pages range omitted in middle");
-                // Yup, it's a file.
-            } else {
-                // Give the range error
-                usage(e1.what());
-            }
-            next_file = range_p;
-            range_p = nullptr;
-        }
-    }
-    std::string range(range_p ? range_p : "1-z");
-    this->c_pages->pageSpec(file, range, this->pages_password.get());
-    this->accumulated_args.clear();
-    this->pages_password = nullptr;
-    if (!next_file.empty()) {
-        this->accumulated_args.push_back(next_file);
+        c_pages->file(arg);
+        called_pages_range = false;
     }
 }
 
 void
 ArgParser::argEndPages()
 {
-    argPagesPositional("");
     c_pages->endPages();
     c_pages = nullptr;
 }
diff --git a/libqpdf/QPDFJob_config.cc b/libqpdf/QPDFJob_config.cc
index db6c5948..c43cc82f 100644
--- a/libqpdf/QPDFJob_config.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/QPDFJob_config.cc
@@ -968,6 +968,45 @@ QPDFJob::PagesConfig::pageSpec(
     return this;
 }
 
+QPDFJob::PagesConfig*
+QPDFJob::PagesConfig::file(std::string const& arg)
+{
+    this->config->o.m->page_specs.emplace_back(arg, nullptr, "");
+    return this;
+}
+
+QPDFJob::PagesConfig*
+QPDFJob::PagesConfig::range(std::string const& arg)
+{
+    if (config->o.m->page_specs.empty()) {
+        QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob misplaced page range");
+        usage("in --range must follow a file name");
+    }
+    auto& last = config->o.m->page_specs.back();
+    if (!last.range.empty()) {
+        QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob duplicated range");
+        usage("--range already specified for this file");
+    }
+    last.range = arg;
+    return this;
+}
+
+QPDFJob::PagesConfig*
+QPDFJob::PagesConfig::password(std::string const& arg)
+{
+    if (config->o.m->page_specs.empty()) {
+        QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob misplaced pages password");
+        usage("in --pages, --password must follow a file name");
+    }
+    auto& last = config->o.m->page_specs.back();
+    if (last.password) {
+        QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob duplicated pages password");
+        usage("--password already specified for this file");
+    }
+    last.password = QUtil::make_shared_cstr(arg);
+    return this;
+}
+
 std::shared_ptr<QPDFJob::UOConfig>
 QPDFJob::Config::overlay()
 {
diff --git a/libqpdf/QPDFJob_json.cc b/libqpdf/QPDFJob_json.cc
index 754cb81b..5565ea93 100644
--- a/libqpdf/QPDFJob_json.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/QPDFJob_json.cc
@@ -467,25 +467,17 @@ Handlers::endPagesArray()
 void
 Handlers::beginPages(JSON j)
 {
-    std::string file;
-    std::string range("1-z");
-    std::string password;
     bool file_seen = false;
-    bool password_seen = false;
-    j.forEachDictItem([&](std::string const& key, JSON value) {
+    j.forEachDictItem([&](std::string const& key, JSON const& value) {
         if (key == "file") {
-            file_seen = value.getString(file);
-        } else if (key == "range") {
-            value.getString(range);
-        } else if (key == "password") {
-            password_seen = value.getString(password);
+            std::string v;
+            file_seen = value.getString(v);
         }
     });
     if (!file_seen) {
         QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFJob json pages no file");
         usage("file is required in page specification");
     }
-    this->c_pages->pageSpec(file, range, password_seen ? password.c_str() : nullptr);
 }
 
 void
@@ -494,25 +486,10 @@ Handlers::endPages()
     // nothing needed
 }
 
-void
-Handlers::setupPagesFile()
-{
-    // handled in beginPages
-    ignoreItem();
-}
-
 void
 Handlers::setupPagesPassword()
 {
-    // handled in beginPages
-    ignoreItem();
-}
-
-void
-Handlers::setupPagesRange()
-{
-    // handled in beginPages
-    ignoreItem();
+    addParameter([this](char const* p) { c_pages->password(p); });
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh
index 38f7cb32..d70af259 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ void argReplaceInput();
 void argSetPageLabels();
 void argUnderlay();
 void argPagesPositional(std::string const&);
-void argPagesPassword(std::string const&);
 void argEndPages();
 void argEncPositional(std::string const&);
 void argEncUserPassword(std::string const&);
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_help.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_help.hh
index 35c1a0d2..a3572aed 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_help.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_help.hh
@@ -311,10 +311,24 @@ static void add_help_4(QPDFArgParser& ap)
 ap.addHelpTopic("modification", "change parts of the PDF", R"(Modification options make systematic changes to certain parts of
 the PDF, causing the PDF to render differently from the original.
 )");
-ap.addOptionHelp("--pages", "modification", "begin page selection", R"(--pages file [--password=password] [page-range] [...] --
+ap.addOptionHelp("--pages", "modification", "begin page selection", R"(--pages [--file=]file [options] [...] --
 
 Run qpdf --help=page-selection for details.
 )");
+ap.addOptionHelp("--file", "modification", "source for pages", R"(--file=file
+
+Specify the file for the current page operation. This is used
+with --pages, --overlay, and --underlay and appears between the
+option and the terminating --. Run qpdf --help=page-selection
+for details.
+)");
+ap.addOptionHelp("--range", "modification", "page range", R"(--range=numeric-range
+
+Specify the page range for the current page operation with
+--pages. If omitted, all pages are selected. This is used
+with --pages and appears between --pages and --. Run
+qpdf --help=page-selection for details.
+)");
 ap.addOptionHelp("--collate", "modification", "collate with --pages", R"(--collate[=n[,m,...]]
 
 Collate rather than concatenate pages specified with --pages.
@@ -437,6 +451,9 @@ iv, then the remaining pages with Arabic numerals starting with
 1 and continuing sequentially until the end of the document. For
 additional examples, please consult the manual.
 )");
+}
+static void add_help_5(QPDFArgParser& ap)
+{
 ap.addHelpTopic("encryption", "create encrypted files", R"(Create encrypted files. Usage:
 
 --encrypt \
@@ -520,9 +537,6 @@ ap.addOptionHelp("--user-password", "encryption", "specify user password", R"(--
 
 Set the user password of the encrypted file.
 )");
-}
-static void add_help_5(QPDFArgParser& ap)
-{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--owner-password", "encryption", "specify owner password", R"(--owner-password=owner-password
 
 Set the owner password of the encrypted file.
@@ -620,12 +634,24 @@ should not be used except for compatibility testing.
 )");
 ap.addHelpTopic("page-selection", "select pages from one or more files", R"(Use the --pages option to select pages from multiple files. Usage:
 
+qpdf in.pdf --pages --file=input-file \
+    [--range=page-range] [--password=password] [...] -- out.pdf
+
+OR
+
 qpdf in.pdf --pages input-file [--password=password] [page-range] \
     [...] -- out.pdf
 
 Between --pages and the -- that terminates pages option, repeat
 the following:
 
+--file=filename [--range=page-range] [--password=password] [options]
+
+For compatibility, the file and range can be specified
+positionally. qpdf versions prior to 11.9.0
+require --password=password to immediately follow the filename. In
+the older syntax, repeat the following:
+
 filename [--password=password] [page-range]
 
 Document-level information, such as outlines, tags, etc., is taken
@@ -654,7 +680,7 @@ Examples:
   information from in.pdf is retained. Note the use of "." to refer
   to in.pdf.
 
-  qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf:even -- out.pdf
+  qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf 1-z:even -- out.pdf
 
 - Take all the pages from a.pdf, all the pages from b.pdf in
   reverse, and only pages 3 and 6 from c.pdf and write the result
@@ -687,6 +713,9 @@ those pages to be repeated after the original pages are exhausted.
 
 Run qpdf --help=page-ranges for help with page ranges.
 )");
+}
+static void add_help_6(QPDFArgParser& ap)
+{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--to", "overlay-underlay", "destination pages for underlay/overlay", R"(--to=page-range
 
 Specify the range of pages in the primary output to apply
@@ -700,9 +729,6 @@ the destination pages. See qpdf --help=page-ranges for help
 with the page range syntax. The page range may be omitted
 if --repeat is used.
 )");
-}
-static void add_help_6(QPDFArgParser& ap)
-{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--repeat", "overlay-underlay", "overlay/underlay pages to repeat", R"(--repeat=page-range
 
 Specify pages from the overlay/underlay that are repeated after
@@ -801,6 +827,9 @@ ap.addHelpTopic("inspection", "inspect PDF files", R"(These options provide tool
 the options in this section are specified, no output file may be
 given.
 )");
+}
+static void add_help_7(QPDFArgParser& ap)
+{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--is-encrypted", "inspection", "silently test whether a file is encrypted", R"(Silently exit with a code indicating the file's encryption status:
 
 0: the file is encrypted
@@ -817,9 +846,6 @@ ap.addOptionHelp("--requires-password", "inspection", "silently test a file's pa
 2: the file is not encrypted
 3: the file is encrypted, and correct password (if any) has been supplied
 )");
-}
-static void add_help_7(QPDFArgParser& ap)
-{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--check", "inspection", "partially check whether PDF is valid", R"(Check the structure of the PDF file as well as a number of other
 aspects of the file, and write information about the file to
 standard output. Note that qpdf does not perform any validation
@@ -894,6 +920,9 @@ Describe the format of the JSON output by writing to standard
 output a JSON object with the same keys and with values
 containing descriptive text.
 )");
+}
+static void add_help_8(QPDFArgParser& ap)
+{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--json-key", "json", "limit which keys are in JSON output", R"(--json-key=key
 
 This option is repeatable. If given, only the specified
@@ -907,9 +936,6 @@ This option is repeatable. If given, only specified objects will
 be shown in the "objects" key of the JSON output. Otherwise, all
 objects will be shown.
 )");
-}
-static void add_help_8(QPDFArgParser& ap)
-{
 ap.addOptionHelp("--json-stream-data", "json", "how to handle streams in json output", R"(--json-stream-data={none|inline|file}
 
 When used with --json, this option controls whether streams in
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh
index 6ac88762..401406db 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh
@@ -127,7 +127,9 @@ this->ap.addChoices("json", [this](std::string const& x){c_main->json(x);}, fals
 this->ap.addChoices("json-output", [this](std::string const& x){c_main->jsonOutput(x);}, false, json_output_choices);
 this->ap.registerOptionTable("pages", b(&ArgParser::argEndPages));
 this->ap.addPositional(p(&ArgParser::argPagesPositional));
-this->ap.addRequiredParameter("password", p(&ArgParser::argPagesPassword), "password");
+this->ap.addRequiredParameter("file", [this](std::string const& x){c_pages->file(x);}, "file");
+this->ap.addRequiredParameter("range", [this](std::string const& x){c_pages->range(x);}, "page-range");
+this->ap.addRequiredParameter("password", [this](std::string const& x){c_pages->password(x);}, "password");
 this->ap.registerOptionTable("encryption", b(&ArgParser::argEndEncryption));
 this->ap.addPositional(p(&ArgParser::argEncPositional));
 this->ap.addRequiredParameter("user-password", p(&ArgParser::argEncUserPassword), "user_password");
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_decl.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_decl.hh
index f3576494..b2ae4c1e 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_decl.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_decl.hh
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ void beginPagesArray(JSON);
 void endPagesArray();
 void beginPages(JSON);
 void endPages();
-void setupPagesFile();
 void setupPagesPassword();
-void setupPagesRange();
 void beginSetPageLabelsArray(JSON);
 void endSetPageLabelsArray();
 void setupSetPageLabels();
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_init.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_init.hh
index 22621271..fb4d93b9 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_init.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_json_init.hh
@@ -402,13 +402,13 @@ pushKey("pages");
 beginArray(bindJSON(&Handlers::beginPagesArray), bindBare(&Handlers::endPagesArray)); // .pages[]
 beginDict(bindJSON(&Handlers::beginPages), bindBare(&Handlers::endPages)); // .pages
 pushKey("file");
-setupPagesFile();
+addParameter([this](std::string const& p) { c_pages->file(p); });
 popHandler(); // key: file
 pushKey("password");
 setupPagesPassword();
 popHandler(); // key: password
 pushKey("range");
-setupPagesRange();
+addParameter([this](std::string const& p) { c_pages->range(p); });
 popHandler(); // key: range
 popHandler(); // array: .pages[]
 popHandler(); // key: pages
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_schema.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_schema.hh
index f7b8590c..bb4b04ea 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_schema.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_schema.hh
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ static constexpr char const* JOB_SCHEMA_DATA = R"({
   "optimizeImages": "use efficient compression for images",
   "pages": [
     {
-      "file": "source for for pages",
+      "file": "source for pages",
       "password": "password for encrypted file",
       "range": "page range"
     }
diff --git a/manual/cli.rst b/manual/cli.rst
index f02fd17d..70253a5f 100644
--- a/manual/cli.rst
+++ b/manual/cli.rst
@@ -1388,7 +1388,7 @@ PDF, causing the PDF to render differently from the original. See also
 Related Options
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-.. qpdf:option:: --pages file [--password=password] [page-range] [...] --
+.. qpdf:option:: --pages [--file=]file [options] [...] --
 
    .. help: begin page selection
 
@@ -1403,6 +1403,38 @@ Related Options
    See also :qpdf:ref:`--split-pages`, :qpdf:ref:`--collate`,
    :ref:`page-ranges`.
 
+.. qpdf:option:: --file=file
+
+   .. help: source for pages
+
+      Specify the file for the current page operation. This is used
+      with --pages, --overlay, and --underlay and appears between the
+      option and the terminating --. Run qpdf --help=page-selection
+      for details.
+
+   Specify the file for the current page operation. This option is
+   used with :qpdf:ref:`--pages`, :qpdf:ref:`--overlay` and
+   :qpdf:ref:`--underlay` and appears between the option and the
+   terminating ``--``.
+
+   Please see :ref:`page-selection` for additional details.
+
+.. qpdf:option:: --range=numeric-range
+
+   .. help: page range
+
+      Specify the page range for the current page operation with
+      --pages. If omitted, all pages are selected. This is used
+      with --pages and appears between --pages and --. Run
+      qpdf --help=page-selection for details.
+
+   Specify the page range for the current page operation with
+   :qpdf:ref:`--pages`. If omitted, all pages are selected. This
+   option is used with :qpdf:ref:`--pages` and appears between
+   :qpdf:ref:`--pages` and ``--``.
+
+   Please see :ref:`page-selection` for additional details.
+
 .. qpdf:option:: --collate[=n[,m,...]]
 
    .. help: collate with --pages
@@ -2424,12 +2456,24 @@ Page Selection
 
    Use the --pages option to select pages from multiple files. Usage:
 
+   qpdf in.pdf --pages --file=input-file \
+       [--range=page-range] [--password=password] [...] -- out.pdf
+
+   OR
+
    qpdf in.pdf --pages input-file [--password=password] [page-range] \
        [...] -- out.pdf
 
    Between --pages and the -- that terminates pages option, repeat
    the following:
 
+   --file=filename [--range=page-range] [--password=password] [options]
+
+   For compatibility, the file and range can be specified
+   positionally. qpdf versions prior to 11.9.0
+   require --password=password to immediately follow the filename. In
+   the older syntax, repeat the following:
+
    filename [--password=password] [page-range]
 
    Document-level information, such as outlines, tags, etc., is taken
@@ -2458,7 +2502,7 @@ Page Selection
      information from in.pdf is retained. Note the use of "." to refer
      to in.pdf.
 
-     qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf:even -- out.pdf
+     qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf 1-z:even -- out.pdf
 
    - Take all the pages from a.pdf, all the pages from b.pdf in
      reverse, and only pages 3 and 6 from c.pdf and write the result
@@ -2472,14 +2516,29 @@ Page Selection
 split and merge PDF files by selecting pages from one or more input
 files.
 
-Usage: :samp:`qpdf {in.pdf} --pages input-file [--password={password}] [{page-range}] [...] -- {out.pdf}`
+::
 
-Between ``--pages`` and the ``--`` that terminates pages option,
-repeat the following:
+    qpdf primary-input.pdf \
+      --file=input.pdf \
+      [--range=page-range] \
+      [--password=password] \
+      [...] \
+      -- output.pdf
 
-:samp:`{filename} [--password={password}] [{page-range}]`
+OR
+
+::
+
+    qpdf primary-input.pdf \
+      input.pdf [--password=password] [page-range] \
+      [...] -- output.pdf
 
 Notes:
+  - The first form, with :qpdf:ref:`--file` and :qpdf:ref:`--range`,
+    was introduced in qpdf 11.9.0. In this form, the
+    :qpdf:ref:`--range` and :qpdf:ref:`--password` options apply to
+    the most recently specified :qpdf:ref:`--file` option.
+
   - The password option is needed only for password-protected files.
     If you specify the same file more than once, you only need to supply
     the password the first time.
@@ -2518,8 +2577,7 @@ Examples
 
   ::
 
-     qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf:even -- out.pdf
-
+     qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf 1-z:even -- out.pdf
 
 - Take all the pages from :file:`a.pdf`, all the pages from
   :file:`b.pdf` in reverse, and only pages 3 and 6 from :file:`c.pdf`
@@ -2529,7 +2587,9 @@ Examples
 
   ::
 
-     qpdf --empty --pages a.pdf b.pdf --password=x z-1 c.pdf 3,6
+     qpdf --empty --pages --file=a.pdf \
+       --file=b.pdf --password=x --range=z-1 \
+       --file=c.pdf --range=3,6 -- out.pdf
 
 - Scan a document with double-sided printing by scanning the fronts
   into :file:`odd.pdf` and the backs into :file:`even.pdf`. Collate
@@ -2542,6 +2602,8 @@ Examples
      qpdf --collate odd.pdf --pages . even.pdf -- all.pdf
        OR
      qpdf --collate --empty --pages odd.pdf even.pdf -- all.pdf
+       OR
+     qpdf --collate --empty --pages --file=odd.pdf --file=even.pdf -- all.pdf
 
 - When collating, any number of files and page ranges can be
   specified. If any file has fewer pages, that file is just skipped
diff --git a/manual/qpdf.1 b/manual/qpdf.1
index d82fe416..4de6427d 100644
--- a/manual/qpdf.1
+++ b/manual/qpdf.1
@@ -409,10 +409,26 @@ the PDF, causing the PDF to render differently from the original.
 Related Options:
 .TP
 .B --pages \-\- begin page selection
---pages file [--password=password] [page-range] [...] --
+--pages [--file=]file [options] [...] --
 
 Run qpdf --help=page-selection for details.
 .TP
+.B --file \-\- source for pages
+--file=file
+
+Specify the file for the current page operation. This is used
+with --pages, --overlay, and --underlay and appears between the
+option and the terminating --. Run qpdf --help=page-selection
+for details.
+.TP
+.B --range \-\- page range
+--range=numeric-range
+
+Specify the page range for the current page operation with
+--pages. If omitted, all pages are selected. This is used
+with --pages and appears between --pages and --. Run
+qpdf --help=page-selection for details.
+.TP
 .B --collate \-\- collate with --pages
 --collate[=n[,m,...]]
 
@@ -754,12 +770,24 @@ should not be used except for compatibility testing.
 .SH PAGE-SELECTION (select pages from one or more files)
 Use the --pages option to select pages from multiple files. Usage:
 
+qpdf in.pdf --pages --file=input-file \
+    [--range=page-range] [--password=password] [...] -- out.pdf
+
+OR
+
 qpdf in.pdf --pages input-file [--password=password] [page-range] \
     [...] -- out.pdf
 
 Between --pages and the -- that terminates pages option, repeat
 the following:
 
+--file=filename [--range=page-range] [--password=password] [options]
+
+For compatibility, the file and range can be specified
+positionally. qpdf versions prior to 11.9.0
+require --password=password to immediately follow the filename. In
+the older syntax, repeat the following:
+
 filename [--password=password] [page-range]
 
 Document-level information, such as outlines, tags, etc., is taken
@@ -789,7 +817,7 @@ pages from b.pdf, and write the output to out.pdf. Document-level
 information from in.pdf is retained. Note the use of "." to refer
 to in.pdf.
 
-  qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf:even -- out.pdf
+  qpdf in.pdf --pages . a.pdf b.pdf 1-z:even -- out.pdf
 
 .IP \[bu]
 Take all the pages from a.pdf, all the pages from b.pdf in
diff --git a/qpdf/qpdf.testcov b/qpdf/qpdf.testcov
index df2555d6..8d242f43 100644
--- a/qpdf/qpdf.testcov
+++ b/qpdf/qpdf.testcov
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ QPDF not caching overridden objstm object 0
 QPDFWriter original obj non-zero gen 0
 QPDF_optimization indirect outlines 0
 QPDF xref space 2
-QPDFJob pages range omitted at end 1
 QPDFJob pages range omitted in middle 0
 QPDFJob npages 0
 QPDF already reserved object 0
@@ -690,3 +689,5 @@ QPDF skipping cache for known unchecked object 0
 QPDF fix dangling triggered xref reconstruction 0
 QPDFPageDocumentHelper flatten resources missing or invalid 0
 QPDF recover xref stream 0
+QPDFJob misplaced page range 0
+QPDFJob duplicated range 0
diff --git a/qpdf/qtest/arg-parsing.test b/qpdf/qtest/arg-parsing.test
index 297141d4..238f19cf 100644
--- a/qpdf/qtest/arg-parsing.test
+++ b/qpdf/qtest/arg-parsing.test
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ cleanup();
 
 my $td = new TestDriver('arg-parsing');
 
-my $n_tests = 24;
+my $n_tests = 25;
 
 $td->runtest("required argument",
              {$td->COMMAND => "qpdf --password minimal.pdf"},
@@ -62,14 +62,20 @@ $td->runtest("bad file detected as unclosed --pages",
              {$td->REGEXP => ".*pages options must be terminated with --.*",
                   $td->EXIT_STATUS => 2},
              $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
-$td->runtest("misplaced pages password 1",
-             {$td->COMMAND => "qpdf --pages . 1 --password=z --"},
-             {$td->REGEXP => ".*password must immediately follow a file name.*",
+$td->runtest("misplaced pages range",
+             {$td->COMMAND => "qpdf --pages --range=1 . --password=z --"},
+             {$td->REGEXP => ".*range must follow a file name.*",
                   $td->EXIT_STATUS => 2},
              $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
-$td->runtest("misplaced pages password 2",
+$td->runtest("duplicate pages range",
+             {$td->COMMAND => "qpdf --pages --file=." .
+                  " --range=1 --range=2 . --password=z --"},
+             {$td->REGEXP => ".*range already specified.*",
+                  $td->EXIT_STATUS => 2},
+             $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
+$td->runtest("misplaced pages password",
              {$td->COMMAND => "qpdf --pages --password=z . 1 --"},
-             {$td->REGEXP => ".*password must immediately follow a file name.*",
+             {$td->REGEXP => ".*password must follow a file name.*",
                   $td->EXIT_STATUS => 2},
              $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
 $td->runtest("duplicated pages password",
diff --git a/qpdf/qtest/merge-and-split.test b/qpdf/qtest/merge-and-split.test
index a0b72ead..33935e71 100644
--- a/qpdf/qtest/merge-and-split.test
+++ b/qpdf/qtest/merge-and-split.test
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ my $n_tests = 28;
 # first time.  The file 20-pages.pdf is specified with two different
 # paths to duplicate a page.
 my $pages_options = "--pages page-labels-and-outlines.pdf 1,3,5-7,z" .
-    " 20-pages.pdf --password=user z-15" .
-    " page-labels-and-outlines.pdf 12" .
-    " 20-pages.pdf 10" .
+    " --file=20-pages.pdf --range=z-15 --password=user" .
+    " page-labels-and-outlines.pdf --range=12" .
+    " --file=20-pages.pdf 10" .
     " ./20-pages.pdf --password=owner 10" .
     " minimal.pdf 1 --";