ExifTool Forum

ExifTool => Newbies => Topic started by: pdfhelp on April 09, 2019, 01:46:52 PM

Title: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: pdfhelp on April 09, 2019, 01:46:52 PM
Hello, super noob here.  Have just about zero understanding of computer code.  I know how to open and read the data with the application, but not remove.  I'm sure it's more simple than I think.  Just looking to remove XMP Toolkit and have the creation time the same as modification time. 

Thank you!
Title: Re: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: Phil Harvey on April 09, 2019, 01:53:53 PM
(Assuming you are on Windows...) The simplest thing to do would be to rename "exiftool(-k).exe" to "exiftool(-xmptoolkit= -P -k).exe", then drag and drop files and folders onto the app to do what you requested.

But note that ExifTool doesn't actually remove metadata from a PDF, so edits like this are reversible.  You need to run a utility such as qpdf afterwards to remove the old metadata.  See the top of the PDF tag documentation (https://exiftool.org/TagNames/PDF.html) for details.

- Phil
Title: Re: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: pdfhelp on April 09, 2019, 01:58:37 PM
Thanks for the quick reply.  And sorry again for what I assume are things you've heard 100x.  Yes, I am using Windows 10. 

I just did that and it saved the file automatically as .PDF_Origional.  How do I get that to be a PDF?
Title: Re: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: StarGeek on April 09, 2019, 02:01:22 PM
Quote from: pdfhelp on April 09, 2019, 01:58:37 PM
I just did that and it saved the file automatically as .PDF_Origional.  How do I get that to be a PDF?

That's just the backup file.  If you check the main file, you'll see that the data has been removed.  Add -overwrite_original to prevent the creation of backup files.
Title: Re: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: Phil Harvey on April 09, 2019, 02:02:55 PM
Quote from: StarGeek on April 09, 2019, 02:01:22 PM
Add -overwrite_original to prevent the creation of backup files.

ie) rename the app to "exiftool(-xmptoolkit= -P -overwrite_original -k).exe"

- Phil
Title: Re: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: pdfhelp on April 09, 2019, 02:08:24 PM
Quote from: Phil Harvey on April 09, 2019, 02:02:55 PM
Quote from: StarGeek on April 09, 2019, 02:01:22 PM
Add -overwrite_original to prevent the creation of backup files.

ie) rename the app to "exiftool(-xmptoolkit= -P -overwrite_original -k).exe"

- Phil

Ok, awesome!  That removed the XMP Toolkit, now how do I go about adding a creation date?  Was a little confused.  Again, sorry :(. 
Title: Re: How to remove metadata from PDF
Post by: Phil Harvey on April 09, 2019, 09:45:16 PM
What creation date do you want to add?  A fixed date?  From the file creation date or a date from any other tag?  The current date? It may be easier at this point to go to the command line...

- Phil