Here’s How to Extract Metadata From PDF Files With or Without Acrobat

Here, we are going to educate you on how to do it by using Python programming, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Automated software. Plus, one can use this smart solution for PDF Forensics efficiently. So, look no further, just go through this entire blog thoroughly to proceed with the task hassle-free.

How to Extract Metadata From PDF? – Quick Solution

One can opt for the prominent PDF File Extractor Software to retrieve components from PDF documents. This includes metadata as well. Furthermore, it has a quite simple interface, using this tool one can even extract GIF images from PDF file. Apart from that, users can also extract Text, Comments, Hyperlinks, Bookmarks, Rich Media files, etc. Wondering to know more about its key functionalities then read the below points:

• Extract attachments: Support for extracting attachments within PDF documents.
• Extract images: Batch extraction of inline images from PDF files.
• Text extraction: Extract text from multiple PDFs with ease.
• Batch extraction option: Remove metadata from PDF file simultaneously.
• Comments/highlights extraction: Extract comments and highlights from PDF(s).
• Filter options: Filter for Attachment/Rich Media extraction by type & size.

Overall, you can take out other components from the PDF with the help of this software like attachments and portfolios, text, images, any type of rich media, bookmarks, hyperlinks, highlighted text, and comments.

Working Guidelines: How to Extract Metadata from PDF?

Step 1. Download the utility and insert PDF files using Add File(s)/ Add Folder. Click on Next.

Step 2. Here, you have to choose what you want to extract from PDF and click on the Metadata option.

Step 3. This software provides you with the option to save the extracted metadata content in PDF or DOC or DOCX file format.

Step 4. Along with this, you can apply page settings from which you want information like you can page number or page range or you can extract metadata from all odd pages or all even pages.

Step 5. Hit the Extract button to remove metadata from PDF file.

How to Extract Metadata From PDF Files Using Python?

Well, if you are a techie (even if you are not) using Python language you can take out the metadata of any PDF. All you have to do is to install the pyPDF2 package.

Let’s see how you can achieve this-

The PDF sample used here is called “reportlab-sample.pdf”.

Here’s the code:

# get_doc_info.py

from PyPDF2 import PdfFileReader

def get_info(path):
with open(path, ‘rb’) as f:
pdf = PdfFileReader(f)
info = pdf.getDocumentInfo()
number_of_pages = pdf.getNumPages()

print(info)

author = info.author
creator = info.creator
producer = info.producer
subject = info.subject
title = info.title

if __name__ == ‘__main__’:
path = ‘reportlab-sample.pdf’
get_info(path)

As you can see, we have imported the PdfFileReader class from PyPDF2. This class can read a PDF and extract data from it. Next, we create our get_info function that will take a PDF file path as its argument. Then we will open the file in read-only binary mode. Finally, we pass that file handler into “PdfFileReader” and create an instance out of it.

We can use the getDocumentInfo method for how to extract metadata from PDF. It will return an instance of PyPDF2.pdf.DocumentInformation, which will have useful attributes like author, creator, producer, subject, and title.

Also Read: Use the Best PDF Restriction Remover For Mac OS X

Can Adobe Acrobat Pro Remove Metadata from PDF File?

With Adobe Acrobat Pro(paid solution) one can retrieve metadata from PDF file, but it is quite complicated to operate for naive users. So, it is suggested to go through the mentioned instructions entirely and then execute the task wisely. Otherwise, just opt for the mentioned automated solution, if not find this reliable.

Here are the steps to get rid of the “how to extract metadata from PDF” issue:

• Upload the PDF file in the utility.
• Click on the “File” > “Properties” menu at the top-left corner.
• Under the Document Properties dialog box, you will see various options available including “Description“, “Security“, “Fonts“, etc.
• Select the “Description” tab. Here you can edit the metadata as you desire.
• Lastly, to extract the metadata, you have to manually copy the information from this tab.

Bring it All Together

Throughout this blog, we learned three methods for the most frequently asked query i.e. how to extract metadata from PDF files. First, we used automated software. It is an all-in-one software with many components from PDF files like hyperlinks, text, rich media, inline images, highlighted text, bookmarks, comments, attachments, and portfolios. It’s simple to run even for non-technical users. You can download the free version of the tool and check it yourself.

Secondly, we used Python language to take out PDF metadata for which we used the PyPDF2 package. After that, we explored a premium tool i.e. Adobe Acrobat Pro, which is also well-efficient for formatting the PDFs.

So, whichever method you are comfortable with, go ahead that way!

Commonly Asked Questions

Q1. What are the methods available to remove metadata from PDF file documents?

Those who know coding can use Python for extraction, other than this you can use Adobe Acrobat Pro or automated software that can easily take out the metadata from the PDF files.

Q2. How to extract metadata from PDF simultaneously?

Yes, the specified smart tool can get multiple metadata from several PDF files in one go.

Q3. Does it have any limitation on the number of files inserted?

No, the tool does not impose any file size limitations for the extraction process. You can add multiple PDF files at once.