Reading Custom Properties from PDFs in .NET

Introduction

In the world of .NET development, efficiently managing metadata within documents is essential for organizing information and extracting valuable insights. GroupDocs.Metadata for .NET is a comprehensive library that empowers developers to access and manipulate document metadata seamlessly. This tutorial will guide you through the process of extracting custom properties from PDF files using C#.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A fundamental understanding of the C# programming language.
  • Visual Studio installed on your system.
  • The GroupDocs.Metadata for .NET library installed. You can download it here.
  • A PDF file containing custom properties for testing.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Project

Start by creating a new C# project in Visual Studio. After setting up the project, you need to import the necessary namespaces. Include the following at the top of your C# file:

using System;
using Formats.Document;
using Tagging;

Step 2: Load the PDF Document

Next, you’ll load the PDF document that contains the custom properties. Use the following code snippet to accomplish this:

using (Metadata metadata = new Metadata("YourInputFile.pdf"))
{
    var root = metadata.GetRootPackage<PdfRootPackage>();
    // Code for retrieving custom properties will go here.
}

Note: Replace "YourInputFile.pdf" with the path of your PDF file.

Step 3: Retrieve and Display Custom Properties

Now that you have loaded the PDF, it’s time to retrieve and display its custom properties. Use the following code block:

var customProperties = root.DocumentProperties.FindProperties(p => !p.Tags.Contains(Tags.Document.BuiltIn));
foreach (var property in customProperties)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{property.Name} = {property.Value}");
}

In this code:

  • We filter out built-in properties, focusing only on custom ones.
  • Each custom property’s name and value are printed to the console, making it easy to view the metadata contained within the PDF.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we demonstrated how to utilize GroupDocs.Metadata for .NET to read custom properties from PDF documents using C#. These steps allow you to efficiently incorporate metadata management capabilities into your .NET applications, enhancing your document processing workflow.

Now, with a solid understanding of how to access custom metadata, you can explore further functionalities offered by the GroupDocs.Metadata library, such as editing and managing metadata.

FAQ’s

Can I modify custom properties using GroupDocs.Metadata?

Yes, the library provides functionalities to edit, add, or remove custom properties across various document formats.

Does GroupDocs.Metadata support other file formats besides PDF?

Indeed, GroupDocs.Metadata supports a wide array of file formats, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, images, and more.

Where can I find further documentation and support for GroupDocs.Metadata?

For comprehensive information, you can refer to the GroupDocs.Metadata documentation. For additional assistance, visit the GroupDocs.Metadata forum.

Is there a free trial available for GroupDocs.Metadata?

Yes, you can access a free trial to explore the features of GroupDocs.Metadata.

How can I purchase a license for GroupDocs.Metadata?

To acquire a license, please visit the purchase page. Temporary licenses are also available here.

Reading Built-In Properties from PDFs in .NET