Is there a preference setting to remove the metadata area from the save as PDF dialog?

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Level 1

131 points

Is there a preference setting to remove the metadata area from the save as PDF dialog?

Note that I am NOT asking about removing metadata in a file.

What I want to remove is the stuff at the bottom of the save as PDF dialog that allows you to set the metadata. It was not there in previous OS versions (or if was by default available, I had presumably removed it somehow). It greatly restricts the part of the dialog above that, the file and folder list, and I want to get back that part because that's what I use. I've tried hovering over the horizontal divider bar, hoping to see a double arrow that I could drag down to hide that stuff, but no luck.

I've strolled through the prefs but can't find anything that helps. Anyone know how to do what I want?

Thanks

iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.1

Posted on Dec 29, 2020 11:44 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,458 points

Dec 29, 2020 12:25 PM in response to Rob Stevenson

If you are referring to Preview in Big Sur, Apple has these fields in the Save As, and Export… dialogs for a PDF:

and there is no means of removing them. These are not PDF metadata fields anyway.

What has happened is that in Big Sur 11.1, Apple has set a ridiculously small frame size for the overall Save/Save As/Open panels that restricts the file viewing window. You can grab a corner of the dialog and drag away to expand the window each time it is encountered, because it is not a true Finder window, and the application will not remember the resize.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,458 points

Dec 31, 2020 11:36 AM in response to Rob Stevenson

Apple does make some bewildering design choices, but at present, the owning applications of these dialogs cannot remember the user resizing — unless they are true Finder windows under its auspices.

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Answer 3

Rob Stevenson Author

Level 1

131 points

Dec 31, 2020 11:30 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for the note. I can see Apple wanting to make its UI a certain way. What I can't understand is why they don't allow users to modify slightly to suit their own preferences. Either of two approaches could work for me. One, as you suggest, is to drag the dialog box (is it a 'sheet' now?) to make it larger. But it should then stay larger from that point on. Another would be to give users the up.down arrow thingy to adjust the placement of that horizontal pane divider. But nope, can't do that either.

Oh well, we must all bow to the mother ship.

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Is there a preference setting to remove the metadata area from the save as PDF dialog?

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