MetaServer > Help > Set PDF Properties

With MetaServer’s Set PDF Properties action, you can password-protect PDFs and set permissions for certain operations.

To add a Set PDF Properies action, select the action after which you want to insert the Set PDF Properties action and press Add -> Convert -> Set PDF Properties. The Setup window will automatically open.

You can also open the setup window of an existing Set PDF Properties action by double-clicking the action or by pressing the setup button on the right side of the action or in the ribbon, as shown below.

In our example, we will make use of the “CB – INSPECTION REPORTS” workflow. This workflow is automatically installed with CaptureBites MetaServer.

01 – Open password: this password will be required for users to open the documents. It will also allow them to change the default document’s permissions.

02 – Permission password: this password is NOT required for users to open the document. It is required for allowing users to change the default document’s permissions with the appropriate program (e.g. Adobe Acrobat).

You can enter a fixed password or select a variable field using the drop-down arrow.

NOTE: All Adobe products enforce the restrictions set by the Permissions. However, not all third-party products fully support and respect these settings. Users using such third-party products might be able to bypass some of your permission restrictions.

Printing: permissions regarding printing:

Not allowed: prohibit document printing.

Low resolution: only allow printing at low resolution. Prohibit document printing at the highest quality level.

High resolution: no printing restrictions. Permit document printing at the highest quality level.

Data extraction: permissions regarding data extraction:

Not allowed: prohibit data extraction operations (e.g. copying text, graphics extraction from the document, etc.) including access for the software that uses assistive technology.

Accessibility: only allow PDF Viewers to access document contents by using the viewer’s accessibility features.

Allowed: no data extraction restrictions. Permits data extraction operations (e.g. copying text, graphics extraction from the document, etc.) including access for the software that uses assistive technology.

Modification: permissions regarding document modification:

Not allowed: prohibit document modification and assembling (e.g. insert, rotate, delete pages, bookmark creation, etc.).

Document assembling: only allow document assembling (e.g. insert, rotate, delete pages, bookmark creation, etc.)

Allowed: no document modification and assembling restrictions.

Interactivity: permissions regarding interactive operations within the document:

Not allowed: prohibit all interactive operations in the document (e.g. add or modify text annotations, filling in interactive form fields, creating or modifying interactive form fields, etc.).

Form filling and signing: only allow filling in interactive form fields and document signing.

Allowed: no restrictions regarding interactive operations within the document.

Algorithm: permissions regarding PDF Viewer compatibility. Encrypt your PDF using one of the following algorithms:

128-bit RC4: make the document compatible with PDF viewers supporting 128-bit RC4 (e.g. Acrobat 5.0 and later)

128-bit AES: make the document compatible with PDF viewers supporting 128-bit AES (e.g. Acrobat 7.0 and later)

256-bit AES: make the document compatible with PDF viewers supporting 256-bit AES (e.g. Acrobat 9.0 and later)

TIP: you can copy the current settings and paste it in another setup window of the same type. Do this by pressing the Settings button in the bottom left of the Setup window and by selecting Copy. Then open another setup window of the same type and select Paste.

To export the documents with custom PDF properties, select “Processed PDF” as the File Source in your export action(s).

File source selection in Export to Email, if you want to attach the document with custom PDF properties to the email