The PDFInfo Guide outlines how to quickly extract and view a PDF’s hidden metadata using the command-line tool pdfinfo, standard desktop software, or online viewers. PDF properties contain crucial background information—such as the author, creation date, security permissions, and file dimensions—that is hidden from the main page view. Key Properties Extracted
When you inspect a PDF, the guide highlights several core attributes stored in the document’s internal “Info” dictionary:
Basic Metadata: Document title, author name, subject, and assigned keywords.
System Metrics: Total page count, precise page size (in points or inches), and file size.
Creation Details: The creation date, modification date, content authoring application (Creator), and the conversion software (Producer).
Security Status: Encryption status, password protection, and specific printing or copying permissions. How to View PDF Properties 1. Command Line: The pdfinfo Utility
For automated workflows or quick technical checks, the command-line tool pdfinfo (part of the poppler-utils or Xpdf suites) is the most efficient choice.
Command: Simply open your terminal and run: pdfinfo document.pdf.
Output: Instantly prints a text summary of all basic metadata, structural flags, and PDF version details directly in the console. 2. Desktop Software (Adobe Acrobat & Others)
If you prefer a graphic interface, standard readers make it easy to view and alter this data: View information about PDFs and images in Preview on Mac
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