How can I get metadata from pdf document using pdf.js

Question

Is there any way to get metadata from pdf document like author or title using pdf.js?

In this example : http://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=compressed.tracemonkey-pldi-09.pdf

<div class="row">
<span data-l10n-id="document_properties_author">
    Autor:
</span>
<p id="authorField">
    -
</p>

And the authorField is empty. Is there any way to get this info?

The PDF does not have the author field populated. Display a different document, e.g. http://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/deuxdrop/pdf-docs/conversation-protocol.pdf — async5, Mar 31 '14 at 13:23

The Unknown Dev · Answer 1 · 2016-02-11T20:43:55.840

13

Using just the PDF.js library without a thirdparty viewer, you can get metadata like so, utilizing promises.

PDFJS.getDocument(url).then(function (pdfDoc_) {
        pdfDoc = pdfDoc_;   
        pdfDoc.getMetadata().then(function(stuff) {
            console.log(stuff); // Metadata object here
        }).catch(function(err) {
           console.log('Error getting meta data');
           console.log(err);
        });

       // Render the first page or whatever here
       // More code . . . 
    }).catch(function(err) {
        console.log('Error getting PDF from ' + url);
        console.log(err);
    });

I found this out after dumping the pdfDoc object to the console and looking through its functions and properties. I found the method in its prototype and decided to just give it a shot. Lo and behold it worked!

edited Feb 11 '16 at 20:43

answered Feb 11 '16 at 20:30

The Unknown Dev

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I presume that your phrase "utilizing promises" is a mistake which was introduced during spellchecking? :) – unforgettableidSupportsMonica Mar 29 '17 at 12:43
To 'view' the object contents you can: console.log(JSON.stringify(stuff,null,2)) – user2677034 Jul 15 '20 at 16:37
Where does "PDFJS" come from, its all undefined when I try to use it. – mondjunge Mar 25 '21 at 11:13
1

@mondjunge I wrote this answer over 5 years ago, unfortunately, and don't do JavaScript work anymore. It's possible the library has since been updated. Maybe check out some of the newer example code here? https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/examples/ – The Unknown Dev Mar 25 '21 at 15:22
I included pdf.js from its github page and now it works. Guess the Firefox included pdf.js has some kind of protective layer?! – mondjunge Mar 26 '21 at 16:12

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 27 '15 at 14:04

2

You can get document basic metadata info from PDFViewerApplication.documentInfo object. For eg: to get Author use PDFViewerApplication.documentInfo.Author

answered Jan 27 '15 at 14:04

user3002090

33
7

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 27 '17 at 09:16

pdfDoc.getMetadata(url).then(function(stuff) {
    var metadata = stuff.info.Title;
    if (metadata) {
        $('#element-html').text(stuff.info.Title); // Print metadata to html
    }
console.log(stuff); // Print metadata to console
}).catch(function(err) {
     console.log('Error getting meta data');
     console.log(err);
});

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 03 '21 at 09:47

0

try:

await getDocument(url).promise.then(doc => doc.getMetadata())

answered Apr 03 '21 at 09:47

HaNdTriX

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How can I get metadata from pdf document using pdf.js

4 Answers4

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