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A
Anonymous
August 20, 2009
Question

Why can't I update PDF properties fields since installing Reader 9.x.x?

  • August 20, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 35295 views

I have been using software995.com products (free software) for several years to create (PDF995), edit (PDFEdit), and sign (Signature995) PDFs. PDF995 installs as a GPL GhostScript writer (printer driver) on virtually any software application.

Once I created a PDF using PDF995, I could launch Windows Explorer and navigate to the file location, right-click on the PDF file name, click on properties in the pop-up menu, and click on the PDF tab in the document properties dialogue. I could key in the editable fields called Title, Subject, Author, Keywords ,and Comments.

I had the ability to edit these document properties fields until I installed Adobe Reader 9.x.x and for certain noticed this diminshed functionality when using Adobe Reader 9.1.3. After installing Adobe Reader 9.x.x, the documents properties fields for hundreds of my PDFs no longer exist. I can use PDFEdit to repopulate the properties fields for Title, Author, and Keywords, however, it doesn't support the Subject and Comments fields (I don't know why). Besides, as you can imagine, this would take an incredibly long time to rekey the document properties for hundreds of PDFs.

I would like to know why has Adobe prevented the editing of the document properties fields in PDFs created with Adobe Acrobat or any other application capable of creating PDFs, e.g., PDF995, OpenOffice, etc.?

I would like to know if this functionality was purposely removed or is this a defect?

I would like to know if Adobe has a method (work-around) that will display these properties fields in existing PDFs.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    H
    hobojoemb14
    Participant
    December 13, 2010

    I had the same issue after I updated to Reader X.

    I isolated it down to one file. In the common files directory under adobe/reader there is a pdf???.dll file that is a property sheet dll file(don't recall the exact name but it is easy to see, only 4 files). I replaced it with the old version 9.3.3 file and it came back. You have to change the attrubutes as administrator to get access to the files to replace it. I was really disappointed when this was changed because I found it very handy. Funny thing is the minute I replaced the file it started reading the file as version 10. When I move it back out, it reads it as version 9.3.3 again. Very strange! You are going to have to find someone with that file. I don't think there was to many versions of reader that allowed the pdf tab edit. Good luck.

    ~graffiti
    ~graffiti
    Legend
    December 13, 2010

    hobojoemb14 wrote:

    I don't think there was to many versions of reader that allowed the pdf tab edit.

    Again, no version of Reader let you edit the file properties. Even if you did, you cannot save the changes but still, it was something else allowing this and not Reader.

    To be sure we are on the same page, when I mean file properties I mean the ones found in Reader after you open the file in question and go to Edit>Properties (or File>Properties on a Mac). Anywhere else is not a function of Adobe Reader.

    H
    hobojoemb14
    Participant
    December 13, 2010

    The file is c:/Program files/common files/adobe/acrobat/activex/pdfshell.dll. This was updated when I installed the new adobe reader X to version 10. When I replaced the file from the old version 9.3, the function returned and yes it does change the properties. I can now change them by right clicking the file and selecting the pdf tab. Normally it was read only. I do have acrobat 8 as well and that is it as far as pdf editors/readers. I went through the entire registry to find the pdf property sheet file that was installed with "Reader" to find the file and the change worked.

    ~graffiti
    ~graffiti
    Legend
    August 20, 2009

    If you were filling in and saving the property fields before, you were using one of the other PDF applications that you mentioned.

    Adobe Reader has never had the ability to modify these properties. In fact, unless it is a fillable form or a specially enabled PDF (enabled using Acrobat), you can't make or save ANY changes to a PDF.

    So it wasn't removed and it's not a flaw. It's that way by design.

    A
    Anonymous
    August 21, 2009

    Graffiti,

    I noted what you said in forum post http://forums.adobe.com/thread/480119?tstart=0. As a result, I printed this question I posted in the Adobe Reader Forum, using PDF995 and I added document properties fields using PDFEdit. Then I opened the PDF in Adobe Reader by right-clicking on the PDF file name, selecting properties from the pop-up window, and selecting the PDF tab. See the following screenshot. Until I updated Adobe Reader to 9.x.x, I was able to update the properties fields of PDFs created with PDF995 without using PDFEdit by editing properties fields directly in the PDF created with PDF995. I have been working with software995.com support on this very issue. Matter of fact software995.com support also said "The Adobe Reader has never permitted updating of  docinfo fields with pdfs created with pdf995." I don't know what to say to that, you both are in agreement, however, until this recent update or updates of PDF995, PDFEdit, or Singature995, I had been updating the PDF document properties fields  for months, if not years. I diligently create PDFs on a weekly basis and update the properties fields directly in the PDF file. Since the update (not sure which) I lost all of the properties field data in hundreds of PDFs.

    I guess I'm tough out of luck.

    Thanks,

    jcubed08

    ~graffiti
    ~graffiti
    Legend
    August 21, 2009

    I'm not sure what is giving you the "PDF" tab but it isn't a function of Adobe Reader.

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