How do I remove properties from a pdf file?

[FormUser]

Here is what I did: Right-click file icon => Properties => Details => Remove Properties and Personal Information => Remove Properties

At this point there are two options (radio buttons):

=> Create a copy with all possible properties removed => OK

=> Remove the following properties from this file => Select All => OK

After going through either of the two options, right-clicking the resulting file icons => Properties => still show properties, I was expecting all blanks.

What am I doing wrong?

[George_Johnson]

What version of Acrobat are you using and what OS? Does the file have any security restrictions?

[FormUser]

George,

I use Windows 7 that purportedly allows the removal of any  computer/personal information from any  type of file - including the all important pdf files - following the procedure that I described in my original posting. The files will be publicly downloadable or emailed, and I do not want any  user of any  OS (Windows, Mac, Linux...) to see any  of my computer/personal information for security reasons.

[MichaelKazlow]

FormUser,

George asked what version of Acrobat you possess? If you do not have Acrobat we cannot help you. Acrobat has a method of removing all such information. In Acrobat XI, Protection->Sanitize should do what you wish.

[FormUser]

Michael, George,

I realize now that my Acrobat 9 does not have the 'Sanitize' feature. I have downloaded the trial version of Acrobat XI.

Thanks for the comments!

[rachel_0469]

"Remove Properties and Personal Information" in Windows does not work on "any type of file". It only works on a few file types, such as JPEG pictures. It does not work at all on PDF. The "Details" tab doesn't even show any properties that a PDF might have, such as "Author" and "Keywords". (the "Owner" and "Computer" that appears there are not embedded in the file, and will not be exposed when the file is shared)

Acrobat Pro has a "Sanitize" tool to remove properties from PDF, but it's a pricey software. If all you need is to remove properties from PDF, there are much cheaper alternatives just for the task, such as BatchPurifier. (it can also remove other types of hidden data that could include private info - XMP, comments and markups, and deleted objects)