Commands related to Document

Actions

Overlay 

pdfToolbox --overlay [--voffset=0] [--hoffset=0] [--placement=TopRight]
[--placebelow[=1|2]]
Click to copy

Purpose

Places the selected overlay content on top of (or underneath) the processed PDF.

Parameters

hoffset Optional, horizontal offset from placement (pt, in, mm, cm)
voffset Optional, vertical offset from placement (pt, in, mm, cm)
placement Optional, placement of the pages (any of TopLeft, TopCenter, TopRight, LeftCenter, Center, RightCenter, BottomLeft, BottomCenter, BottomRight)
placebelow

Optional, places the selected overlay content underneath the input PDF.

Number of pages in resulting PDF is determined from the number of pages of:

1: first argument (= overlay file)

2: input file (Default behavior of --placebelow)

If no output name is defined, the name of output file will be derived from the input file name.
overlay file Full path to PDF to put on top of the input PDF, pre-installed overlay files can be found in <Application folder>/var/Actions/Overlay

Example

pdfToolbox --overlay --voffset=10mm --hoffset=50mm <overlay file> <input PDF file>

Create EPS 

--createeps [--rect=rect] [--pagebox=pagebox] [--transparencyquality=100]
[--gradientresolution=360] [--bitmapresolution=1200]
[--applyoutputpreviewsettings]
[--simulationprofile='ISO Coated v2 (ECI)'] [--colormanagement]
[--marksweight=0.125] [--pageinformation] [--colorbars]
[--registrationmarks] [--cutmarks] [--simulateoverprint]
[--postscript=3] [--ascii] [--workingspacecmyk=<ICC-profile>]
[--workingspacergb=<ICC-profile>]
[--workingspacegray=<ICC-profile>]

Purpose

Converts all pages of the PDF into EPS. The EPS files are saved next to the input PDF file unless you use -f to define an output path.

Parameters

rect optional, define and use only part of page relative to --pagebox
<lower left x>,<lower left y>,<upper right x>,<upper right y>[<unit=pt (default), mm>]
pagebox optional, crop at page geometry box (options: MEDIABOX, CROPBOX (default), TRIMBOX, BLEEDBOX, ARTBOX)
transparencyquality optional, transparency quality in %
(default: 100)
gradientresolution optional, gradient resolution in ppi
(default: 360)
bitmapresolution optional, bitmap resolution in ppi
(default: 1200)
applyoutputpreviewsettings optional, apply output preview settings
colormanagement optional, apply host based color management
(required for the e.g. simulationprofile)
simulationprofile optional, simulation profile
(default: 'ISO Coated v2 (ECI)')
marksweight optional, line weight of cut marks in pt (default: 0.125)
pageinformation optional, add page information
colorbars optional, add color bars
registrationmarks optional, add registration marks
cutmarks optional, add cutmarks
simulateoverprint optional, simulate overprint
postscript optional, Postscript level [2|3] (default: 3)
ascii optional, Postscript is written 'Clean 7 Bit'
workingspacecmyk optional, working space profile CMYK
(default: ISO Coated v2 (ECI))
workingspacergb optional, working space profile RGB
(default: sRGB IEC61966-2.1)
workingspacegray optional, working space profile Gray
(default: Dot Gain 15%)

Example

pdfToolbox --createeps --postscript=2 --pageinformation
--colorbars --registrationmarks --cutmarks <PDF file>

Create PostScript 

--createps [--transparencyquality=100]
[--gradientresolution=360] [--bitmapresolution=1200]
[--applyoutputpreviewsettings]
[--simulationprofile='ISO Coated v2 (ECI)'] [--colormanagement]
[--marksweight=0.125] [--pageinformation] [--colorbars]
[--registrationmarks] [--cutmarks] [--simulateoverprint]
[--postscript=3] [--ascii] [--workingspacecmyk=<ICC-profile>]
[--workingspacergb=<ICC-profile>]
[--workingspacegray=<ICC-profile>]

Purpose

Converts all pages of the PDF into PostScript. The PostScript files are saved next to the input PDF file unless you use -f to define an output path.

Parameters

transparencyquality optional, transparency quality in %
(default: 100)
gradientresolution optional, gradient resolution in ppi
(default: 360)
bitmapresolution optional, bitmap resolution in ppi
(default: 1200)
applyoutputpreviewsettings optional, apply output preview settings
simulationprofile optional, simulation profile
(default: 'ISO Coated v2 (ECI)')
Not available on Unix
colormanagement optional, apply host based color
management
marksweight optional, line weight of cut marks in pt
(default: 0.125)
pageinformation optional, add page information
colorbars optional, add color bars
registrationmarks optional, add registration marks
cutmarks optional, add cutmarks
simulateoverprint optional, simulate overprint
postscript optional, Postscript level [2|3] (default: 3)
ascii optional, Postscript is written 'Clean 7 Bit
workingspacecmyk optional, working space profile CMYK
(default: ISO Coated v2 (ECI))
workingspacergb optional, working space profile RGB
(default: sRGB IEC61966-2.1)
workingspacegray optional, working space profile Gray
(default: Dot Gain 15%)'

Example

pdfToolbox --createps --postscript=2 --pageinformation
--colorbars --registrationmarks --cutmarks <PDF file>

Save as image 

--saveasimg [--parallel=parallel][--nosimulateoverprint] [--simulationprofile=<ICC profile>] 
[--smoothing=lines] [--resolution=72] [--colorspace=colorspace] 
[--jpegformat=Baseline_Standard] [--compression=JPEG_medium] 
[--imgformat=JPEG] [--pagebox=cropbox] [--rect=<left>,<bottom>,<right>,<top>[unit] [--digits=4]]

Purpose

Renders an image per page preserving the page's aspect ratio. RGB images always use sRGB as Destination ICC profile which gets embedded into the resulting image. CMYK and gray TIFF images are saved without an ICC profile, while JPEG images will contain the ICC profile.

For rendering purposes, the order in which profiles used as a working space (and in which is rendered) are determined:

  • if a simulationprofile is defined, it will be used
  • if a simulationprofile is not defined, the Output Intent is used
  • if no simulationprofile or Output Intent exists, the following profiles will be used:
    • RGB:  sRGB IEC61966-2.1;
    • CMYK:  ISO Coated v2 (ECI); 
    • Gray:  Dot Gain 15%.

The defined simulation profile will only replace the default profile for the respective colorspace.

If the destination colorspace is same as used for rendering, this ICC profile will be used. Otherwise one of the following is used:

  • RGB:  sRGB IEC61966-2.1;
  • CMYK:  ISO Coated v2 (ECI);
  • Gray:  Dot Gain 15%.

As Rendering Intent "AC_RelColorimetric" is used by default.

Starting pdfToolbox 12.3, Gray with Alpha channel(GrayA) is now supported for TIFF and PNG. "RGBA" is now also added for TIFF (only PNG up until now)

Parameters:

parallel optional;
Parallel processing for page rendering. Usage e.g.
--parallel=4 (Rendering with 4 cores)
nosimulateoverprint optional;
avoids the overprint-simulation
simulationprofile optional;
using a user-defined ICC-profile for rendering (RGB, CMYK or Gray)
smoothing optional;
None, All, Lines, Images, Text, NTLH (default: All; NTLH includes "All")
resolution optional;
resolution in ppi or width x height in pixel, e.g. 1024x800 (default: 72)
colorspace optional;
one of RGB, RGBA, CMYK, Gray, Multichannel (default: RGB)
availabilty depends on imageformat:
JPEG: RGB, Gray, CMYK (default: RGB)
PDF: RGB, Gray, CMYK (default: RGB)
TIFF: RGB, RGBA, Gray, GrayA, CMYK, Multichannel (default: RGB)
PNG: RGB, RGBA, Gray, GrayA (default: RGB)
jpegformat optional;
Baseline_Standard, Progressive_3_Scan
(default: Baseline_Standard)
compression optional;
for JPEG: JPEG_minimum, JPEG_low, JPEG_medium, JPEG_high, JPEG_maximum
(default: JPEG_medium)
for TIFF: TIFF_None, TIFF_LZW, TIFF_Flate (default: TIFF_LZW)
imgformat optional;
JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF
(default: JPEG)
pagebox optional;
using a geometry box as size for image: CROPBOX, TRIMBOX, BLEEDBOX, MEDIABOX (default: CROPBOX)
rect optional;
render only the part defined by lower left and upper right from origin geometry box (default: CROPBOX); in pt or mm (default:pt)
simulatepaper optional;
simulates paper color (by using absolute colorimetric color conversion)
not available if --nosimulateoverprint is set;
needs a defined --simulationprofile;
only available for colorspace = RGB
blackpointcompensation optional;
using blackpoint compensation (not available if --nosimulateoverprint is set)
digits Defines the number of digits for page number in file name of created image

Example

pdfToolbox --saveasimg --imgformat=PNG --resolution=800x600 <PDF file>

Extract text 

--extracttext

Purpose

Extracts the text of PDF documents to the command line or to a specified file.

Example

pdfToolbox --extracttext <PDF file>

Extract content 

--extractcontent [--words] [--wordbbox] [--wordquads]
[--chars] [--docxmp] [--docinfo] [--annots]

Purpose

Extracts the text in the form of words or characters to an XML file.

Parameters

words Include words
wordbbox
wordquads Include quad point information for word
parts
chars Include quad point information for
individual characters
docxmp Include document XMP metadata
docinfo Include document info
annots Include link annotations

Example

pdfToolbox --extractcontent [--words] [--docinfo] <PDF file>

Extract images 

--extractimages [--threshold=0] [--report=<path>]

Purpose

Extracts images from the file and creates a special XML report, which lists all extracted images with their relevant details.

Parameters

threshold Extracts only images with width and
height larger than threshold (default: 0)
report Creates a report with details about the extracted images and their former position in the PDF.

Example

pdfToolbox --extractimages --report --threshold=250 <PDF file>

This action can not be used with distributed processing.

Redistill 

--redistill [--topdf_pdfsetting=<joboptions>] <PDF file>

Purpose

Recreates the PDF via PostScript, prepares for use with older equipment (RIPs).

Parameters

topdf_pdfsetting Path to PDF settings file to be used for conversion
of PS and EPS files only, must be a Distiller .joboptions file

Example

pdfToolbox --redistill <PDF file>

Optimize PDF 

--optimizepdf <PDF file>

Purpose
Optimizes the internal structure of the PDF and saves for Fast Web View.

Example

pdfToolbox --optimizepdf <PDF file>

This action is deprecated with pdfToolbox 12 as a single action and has become a option for normal processing.
To perform a complete file optimization, just use  "--topdf" with the additional option "--optimizepdf".

To PDF 

--topdf [--topdf_pdfsetting=<path>] [--topdf_psprologue=<path>][--topdf_psepilogue=<path>] [--ignorefontembeddingproblems=<on|off>]

Purpose

Converts supported non-PDF files to PDF. Information about supported file types can be found here:

http://www.callassoftware.com/goto/tbx_ENU_topdf

Parameters

topdf_pdfsetting Full path to PDF settings file to be used for conversion of PS and EPS files only, must be a Distiller .joboptions file
topdf_psprologue Full path to a prologue file which will be prepended to the PostScript/EPS file to be converted. To be used for conversion of PS and EPS files only. Must be a valid PostScript file.
topdf_psepilogue Full path to a epilogue file which will be appended to the PostScript/EPS file to be converted. To be used for conversion of PS and EPS files only. Must be a valid PostScript file.

Note:

  • ICC profiles referenced in a PDF settings file (.joboptions) need to be copied into the operating system folder for ICC profiles, e.g.:
    • Windows:
      C:\Windows\system32\spool\drivers\color
    • MacOS:
      /MacOS HD/Library/ColorSync/Profiles
  • The application will also look into the following folders for ICC profiles: 
    • /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Color/Profiles/Recommended
    • /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Color/Profiles
    • /System/Library/ColorSync/Profiles
  • Alternatively, you can put ICC-files for PostScript to PDF in the subfolder of the application:
              .../etc/PDFPSTool/ICCProfiles
  • A Color settings file (.csf) that is referenced in the PDF settings file is not necessary for the processing.

Examples

pdfToolbox --topdf <non-PDF file>
pdfToolbox --topdf /path/to/file/mypostscript.ps
           --topdf_pdfsetting=/path/to/file/mysettings.joboptions
           --topdf_psprologue=/path/to/file/myprologue.ps
           --topdf_psepilogue=/path/to/file/myepilogue.ps

Uncertify 

--uncertify <PDF file>

Purpose

Removes a Preflight certificate if present.

Example

pdfToolbox --uncertify <PDF file>

Secure PDF 

--securepdf --password=<password>

Restrict editing and printing of the PDF. A password is needed in order to change these permission settings or to perform changes. The PDF can only be read afterwards

The entered password will be visible and may be grabbed or logged by other processes on the machine.

Parameters

password password to avoid editing or printing

Creating file packages

Some PDF standards allows the embedding of PDF- and also non-PDF-files into another PDF file. Sometime these file packages are also called collections.

Using pdfToolbox CLI it is possible to create such file packages from a complete folder or to define different ways how a file which shall be embedded is handled.

In general a file package is created with --collection This will create an index document, which lists all embedded files from the given folder. Also an existing folder structure will be respected

--collection <folder>

In general a file package is created with --collection This will create an
index document, which lists all embedded files.

--collection <file> [<file>]

Settings for file embedding 

--collection [--embedinto=[target],<file>] [--embedfile= [target,[relationship],<file>] [--embedwithlink= [area,<file>]

--embedinto

It is possible to use own templates or normal PDF for embedding files. The standard for the file where other files will be embedded can be defined using the conversion target (see below). If no file is defined, an index file is created.

--embedfile

Also for files to embed a conversion target can be defined using the conversion target. For PDF/A-3 standards also a relationship entry for each embedded file can be set.

Parameters

target A3b, A3u, A3a, A2b, A2u, A2a, A1b,
A1a or No (Default)

Using the target "No", no conversion to PDF is done. (Only available for embedded files.)

relationship Source, Data, Alternative, Supplement, Unspecified (Default)

--embedwithlink

Alternatively, files can be embedded with defining an area in the containing document, where a link to the contained file is created. No conversion will take place with the file to embed.

Parameters

Defines a rectangular area, based on the lower left corner of the page, where a link to the embedded file is inserted. Default unit is pt.

area X1,X2,Y1,Y2[pt, in, cm, mm]

Example:

--collection --embedinto=A3b,<PDF file> --embedfile=A3b,Alternative,<file> --embedfile=A2b,Source,<Office file>
--embedfile=No,Data,<file>
--collection --embedwithlink=10,10,100,100,<file> --embedwithlink=10mm,100mm,100mm,200mm,<file>

Extracting files from file packages 

--extractembeddedfiles [--plain] [--filter=filter] <PDF file>

Purpose

Extracts embedded files from a PDF.

Parameters

plain Files are extracted directly into the destination folder without restoring an existing folder structure of the embedded files.
filter RegEx based file name filter, e.g. =.*.doc

Example:

--extractembeddedfiles --plain <PDF file>

Extract dieline 

--extractdieline [--format] [--includeclippingpaths] [--pagebox=TRIMBOX] <Profile> <PDF file>

Purpose

Extract dieline(s) from PDF

Parameters

format svg, dxf, cf2
svg:fill, svg:stroke, svg:fillstroke

Default: svg (which is the same as svg:fill)
The fill, stroke, fillstroke variations specify whether from stroked PDF paths filled, stroked or filled and stroked SVG objects are created. What format should be used depends on the machinery used.
includeclippingpaths Export clipping paths as well (in addition to stroking paths)
pagebox Defines the box used for the dimension of the created dieline format
Available: MEDIABOX, CROPBOX (default), TRIMBOX, BLEEDBOX, ARTBOX

Example:

--extractdieline --format=svg:fillstroke ./dieline.kfpx <PDF file>