Remove metadata when exporting PDF in Pages '09

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Level 1

8 points

Remove metadata when exporting PDF in Pages '09

Is it possible to remove the metadata created when exporting to PDF? I've changed both the document info in the inspector, and the author name in preferences, but when I export a PDF and then "get info" in finder, it still has my name under "more info".

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 8, 2010 3:52 PM

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Answer 1

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ab_ba Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 11, 2011 2:33 PM in response to ab_ba

A colleague found a simpler way, using Preview. Open the pdf whose metadata you wish to change in Preview. Then, select Print, and from the print menu, choose the "PDF" button in the lower left corner. Select "Save as PDF". The window then offers you a chance to edit the author name. If you set it to blank, then that field does not appear in the metadata (as verified by selecting "get info" in Finder, and by examining the document properties in Adobe Acrobat.)

It is unfortunate that this option is not present when you export to PDF from Pages (etc), but at least it is doable using only standard Apple programs. Though I have no way of knowing if this is as thorough as some third party programs and services.

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Answer 2

ab_ba Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 11, 2011 2:32 PM in response to ab_ba

Thank you, Peter!

I got it to work with Adobe Acrobat Pro. For the record, I opened File->Properties then under the "Description" tab I clicked on "Additional metadata..." (that last step is the non-intuitive part). Now you can edit your name, and the change appears to be reflected in the metadata.

However, this apparently needs to be done for each document - I could not find a way to hide my name in the metadata once and for all for all the documents I save from within Acrobat Pro. Even removing my name under Adobe->Preferences->Identity doesn't change the metadata.

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