Get PDF page size

[tauruzian]

Hi Gurus,

I'm a newbie in AutoIT. Is there any where I can get PDF properties values. I need to take PDF page size in properties. Please advice.

Thanks 

[orbs]

with earlier versions of PDF that was indeed very easy, but with the latest versions you can't just read the file and look for the string. you will need to find a command-line tool that can query PDF and extract the details you need, then call it from AutoIt by RunWait().

there are several such tools, a quick google shows for example these: (I can't determine if they are free or limited)

http://www.pdflabs.com/tools/pdftk-server/

http://www.verypdf.com/app/advanced-pdf-tools/advanced-pdf-tools-command-line-guide.html

[water]

Adobe Reader comes with an API. It's a bit complex for a newbie but you should find a lot of examples on the Web for Visual Basic. They can then easily be translated to Autoit.

[orbs]

@tauruzian, I hope you know what you're doing... because what you ask is a slippery slope when it comes to usable information. i'll explain:

here's a very simple way to do what you need (portable executable, Acrobat Reader is not needed):

1) download the xpdf package from here (GPL): http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/download.html

2) extract it and find the file pdfinfo.exe

3) launch it with your PDF file as a parameter (you can redirect the output to a text file).

observe the output:

Producer:       Foxit Reader PDF Printer Version 6.0.1.0405

CreationDate:   10/25/13 11:20:17

ModDate:        10/25/13 11:20:17

Tagged:         no

Form:           none

Pages:          1

Encrypted:      no

Page size:      595.276 x 841.89 pts (A4)

File size:      15009 bytes

Optimized:      no

PDF version:    1.7

 

note the line in bold. simple, right?

 

wrong.

this is a simple example of a file consists of one A4 page. now observe the output of another file - that is an invoice i received by email:

Creator:        Inspire Designer 8.0.63.0

Producer:       PDF

CreationDate:   09/11/13 11:26:35

ModDate:        09/15/13 22:23:24

Tagged:         no

Form:           AcroForm

Pages:          2

Encrypted:      no

Page size:      555.591 x 864 pts

File size:      314856 bytes

Optimized:      no

PDF version:    1.4

 

now, what the heck is 555.591 x 864 pts ? 

as far as i can determine, this is a custom size, not standard. at least it prints well on A4...

I did not try, for example, A3 landscape to see what size is it...

 

you get the point? you need to foresee many sizes, and yet you may find yourself with data you won't know how to handle.

 

so it all depends on what you want to do with the data you get.