Clean metadata Leave feedback

Sometimes you may need to just remove all or clean metadata properties without applying any filters. The best way to do this is to use the sanitize method.

This example demonstrates how to remove all detected metadata packages/properties.

1. Load a file to clean
2. Call the sanitize method
3. Check the actual number of removed packages/properties
4. Save the changes

basic_usage.CleanMetadata

// Constants.InputPdf is an absolute or relative path to your document. Ex: @"C:\Docs\source.pdf"
try (Metadata metadata = new Metadata(Constants.InputPdf)) {
	// Remove detected metadata packages
	int affected = metadata.sanitize();
	System.out.println(String.format("Properties removed: %s", affected));
	metadata.save(Constants.OutputPdf);
}

As a result, we get a sanitized version of the original file.

Note

Since version 26.11, sanitize() also removes annotations, attachments, bookmarks, form fields and digital signatures from PDF documents. Before 26.11 it removed annotations only. If a PDF has to keep these items, do not call sanitize() on it; remove only the properties you need instead. See 2 PDF metadata cleanup methods for Java for a comparison.

To learn more about library features and get familiar how to manage metadata and more, please refer to theadvanced usage section.

You may easily run the code above and see the feature in action in our GitHub examples:

• GroupDocs.Metadata for .NET examples

• GroupDocs.Metadata for Java examples

Along with a full featured Java library we provide simple, but powerful free Apps.

You are welcome to view and edit metadata of PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, emails, images and more with our free online Free Online Document Metadata Viewing and Editing App.