Remove password : multiple PDFs (Action wizard) - Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

[Marrluxia]

Hello I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

I have created an action converting multiple PDFs to txt files.

However, some PDFs are locked. 

I can unlock a pdf, but I has to be one by one manually, and it is not convenient for me (~over 2 000 pdfs).

Is there a way to add a "step" in my already-existing action ?

I am open to solutions/suggestions already existing in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC or a programming one (i.e. Javascript since we can import scripts)

Thank you in advance

[Marrluxia]

EDIT: If there's no way to achieve that directly via Adobe Proc DC, is there a way, at least, to ignore automatically this type of pop-up messages ? 

[try67]

No. That would defeat the entire purpose of having a security password, wouldn't it?

[Marrluxia]

It's absurd though that I can remove the password (without knowing it) one by one via Adobe Acrobat Pro but cannot this to an action in order to apply it to multiple files...

[try67]

You can't remove the password in Acrobat without knowing it.

[Marrluxia]

Advanced Options > Remove Security  and it works perfectly cf. images bellow 

[Marrluxia]

I can also send you the pdf in case you want to try it yourself. 

[try67]

Is this after you already opened the file using the file-edit password? If so, of course it allows you to do that, because it confirmed already that you know it...

[Marrluxia]

Downloaded the pdf, opened it locally via APD and clicked on Protect>Advanced Options >Remove Security saved the file and launched the convertion action with no problems. 

Whereas, if I opened another pdf  (not secured), clicked on action wizard and then added all the files in the a specific folder and then run the convertion action, the pop up message posted here appears + next to the pdf name a parenthesis :  (SECURED) appears. 

Thank you in advance!

[Marrluxia]

In the first senario (opening locally the files, and removing security from pdfs one by one), APD never demanded for a password not even during OCR. 

[try67]

Then the file is not secured in the first place.

[Marrluxia]

Then what could be causing the pop up message ? Is there a way to get a log file to better understand the processes ? 

It is weird as well, because the pop up message won't close as well. I have to either click many times or stop the action. 

[try67]

I'm sorry, I'm not really following... What pop-up message? Maybe you can share the file with us?

[Marrluxia]

The pop up message :     

Sure the pdf is available here :  wormhole  

Thank you again for your time. 

[try67]

OK, I see what you mean now. The application that applied the security to this file did a very bad job of it. This is not normal behavior. Basically, it just appears to be secured, when in fact it's not at all.

[Marrluxia]

Ok I see. Thank you.

So, given the fact that it's not secured and that I can ""unsecure"" it one by one, is there a way to do this for multiple pdfs ?

[try67]

You can try. Create a new Action under Tools - Action Wizard with an Encrypt command and a Save command. Then change the settings for the former and set the Security Method to None. Make sure to also untick the "Prompt User" check-box for this step, and run it on your files.

[Marrluxia]

Thank you, this is what I ws trying to do :

a. but I haven't added a save command after the encrypt 

b. In case I add an extra save command right after the encrypt one, will adobe proceed the new saved files, or the ones opened initialy (i.e secured)? 

I am trying to have only one action, but if it has to be done with 2 separates ones, I am ok with that as well. 

[try67]

I think it should work with just the one Action, but give it a try!

[Marrluxia]

Sure. Thank you again for your help and your time. I will give a feedback during the day.

[Marrluxia]

Unfortunately, with the encrypt option (and setting it to none) the pop up message still appears. Thank you again for your time. 

If anyone else has a solution/suggestion, feel free to share it! 

[Bernd Alheit]

How does you convert PDF to text?

[Marrluxia]

Recognising text using OCR and then changed the output of save (action already exists in action wizard list, just modified the output)

[Bernd Alheit]

For the use of OCR you must enter the permission password.

[Marrluxia]

Thank you for your reply!

In most of the cases, I don't know the password and I cannot find it elsewhere. Is there a way to just bypass the pop up message?