How to Extract Metadata from PDF Documents [Complete Guide]
Learn how to extract metadata from PDF to uncover its hidden properties. This guide will walk you through three easy methods, including Adobe Acrobat, a dedicated PDF metadata extractor, and even Python. Let’s dig into it.
Table of Contents:
What is PDF Metadata?
PDF metadata is like a digital identity card for PDF files. It contains information about the document, including its title, author, creation date, and more. Metadata helps organize and search for files efficiently.
- Title: The name of the document.
- Author: The person or entity that created the document.
- Subject: A brief summary or description of the document’s content.
- Keywords: Terms associated with the document for search and categorization purposes.
- Creation Date: When the document was created.
- Modification Date: When the document was last modified.
- Creator or Application: The software used to create the document.
- Producer: The software used to convert the document to its current PDF form.
- Bookmarks, Annotations, and Hyperlinks: Additional elements that might be part of the document’s structure.
Metadata is useful for organizing, categorizing, and searching documents in large databases or archives. It can also provide context or additional information about the document.
Extract Metadata from PDF with Adobe Acrobat
Step 1 – Open the PDF file.
Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF file for which you want to extract metadata.
Step 2 – Access the Document Properties.
Click on File and select Properties.
Step 3 – View Metadata.
In the Properties dialog box, go to the Description tab. Here, you can see various metadata fields such as Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords.
Step 4 – Extract PDF Metadata.
To extract any of this information, simply select and copy the text.
Step 5 – Save the Extracted Metadata.
Paste the copied metadata into a text document or note app to save it for future reference.
PDF Metadata Extractor for Windows & Mac
Step 1 – Choose a PDF Metadata Extractor
There are several dedicated software options available for both Windows and Mac. The most popular choice is SysTools PDF Extractor. It is an all-in-one tool that helps extract PDF metadata without any hassle.
Step 2 – Download and Install
Download your chosen PDF metadata extractor and install it on your computer.
Step 3 – Open the PDF
Launch the software and open the PDF file you want to extract metadata from.
Step 4 – Locate the Metadata
Go to the next windows and select the Metadata tab to extract metadata directly.
Step 5 – Extract Metadata
Choose the metadata fields you want to extract and proceed to extract them.
Step 6 – View the Extracted Metadata
The software will save the extracted metadata as a file on the computer.
Extract PDF Metadata with Python
Step 1 – Install PyPDF2.
If you haven’t already, you’ll need to install the PyPDF2 library, a Python library designed to work with PDFs.
Step 2 – Open Python.
Launch Python on your computer.
Step 3 – Write Python Script.
Write a Python script that uses PyPDF2 to open the PDF and extract metadata.
import PyPDF2
# Open the PDF file
pdf_file = open('your_pdf_file.pdf', 'rb')
# Create a PDF reader object
pdf_reader = PyPDF2.PdfFileReader(pdf_file)
# Access metadata
metadata = pdf_reader.getDocumentInfo()
# Extract metadata
title = metadata.get('/Title', 'No Title')
author = metadata.get('/Author', 'No Author')
subject = metadata.get('/Subject', 'No Subject')
keywords = metadata.get('/Keywords', 'No Keywords')
creator = metadata.get('/Creator', 'No Creator')
producer = metadata.get('/Producer', 'No Producer')
created_date = metadata.get('/CreationDate', 'No Creation Date')
modified_date = metadata.get('/ModDate', 'No Modification Date')
# Print or save metadata
print(f'Title: {title}')
print(f'Author: {author}')
print(f'Subject: {subject}')
print(f'Keywords: {keywords}')
print(f'Creator: {creator}')
print(f'Producer: {producer}')
print(f'Creation Date: {created_date}')
print(f'Modification Date: {modified_date}')
# Close the PDF file
pdf_file.close()
In this script, replace ‘your_pdf_file.pdf’ with the name of the PDF file.
Step 4 – Execute the Script.
Run your Python script, and it will display or save the metadata as you’ve programmed it.
Final Thoughts:
PDF metadata reveals essential information about your documents, making it easier to organize, search, and categorize your files. Whether you prefer using Adobe Acrobat, a dedicated PDF metadata extractor, or Python, you can extract metadata from PDF files quickly. The above guide helps you understand how each method works so you can choose the best tool for your needs.
FAQs:
Q) What is the purpose of PDF metadata?
A) PDF metadata serves as an information repository for the document. It provides details such as the title, author, creation date, and more. It aids in organizing and searching for PDF files.
Q) Can I modify PDF metadata?
A) Yes, you can modify PDF metadata using software like Adobe Acrobat. This is useful when you need to update or correct document information.