Clean metadata from multiple PDF files

Note that you can remove configurable metadata (metadata that can be added or modified by an application user) using Adobe Acrobat.

When viewing an individual PDF, go to File . . . .Save As Other . . .Optimized PDF

Then in the PDF Optimizer dialog box, check off just the box for 'Discard User Data', and select the individual options for different categories of metadata to the right.

Even better, set up an Adobe Acrobat action to scrub the metadata from multiple PDF files. Under Tools . . . Action Wizard . . . Create New Action, select the option in the Protection section for 'Remove Hidden Information'. Bring it over to the right, and then after being sure to uncheck 'Prompt User' so the action doesn't make you save each PDF, click on Specify Settings. You will probably want to uncheck the options for 'Bookmarks' and 'Links' since the final version of a PDF of a court filing may need to retain these features.

The action will give you the option to add one file or an entire folder of files. Start the action to process the files.

Selectable, but unsearchable text in a PDF

Even if you have text in a PDF which can be selected with a cursor it may not actually be searchable. If you search for a term which you are sure should appear in a document, and nothing comes up, verify that the text you can select and copy to your clipboard is actually searchable ASCII text. Acrobat, or another PDF Viewer may not be able to convert the text embedded in the PDF.

If this happens, try these solutions:

1. Under Edit . . . Preferences . . . Search, click the 'Purge Cache Contents' option.

2. Under Tools . . . Protection, run 'Sanitize Document'. This utility may remove hidden text.

If neither of these steps works, you may need to write the PDF as a new image and re-OCR. The problem can stem from a corrupted Unicode map. Acrobat uses two tables to store fonts - one for the shapes on the image, and another for the Unicode text. Software can interfere with the font mapping intentionally and render the PDF unsearchable.

E-Sticker

E-Sticker is a great tool for Adobe Acrobat which can help you easily add exhibit stickers to PDFs which look just like the stickers used by deposition reporters and paralegals at trial. See: https://exhibitsticker.com/ .

A free version is available. After it's installed, it will be added with the stamp tool in the annotations for Adobe Acrobat XI.

When the sticker is selected you will be prompted to enter an exhibit number in a dialog box.

The sticker can be positioned anywhere on a page.

When you don't have a license for Trial Director or another program that can bulk sticker PDFs, even the free version of E-Sticker can come in very handy.

The paid version of E-Sticker will automatically advance to the next number, and includes an array of additional options.