How to Adjust Properties, Tags, and More for a PDF Created with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)

Post Processing Defined

What I call working with an AEM-Generated PDF to manually bridge the gap to cover feature gaps and run Accessibility reports.

Several steps are required to "unlock" the file for post processing.

Determine if Extensions have been enabled

You may have a situation where you are working with files which have extensions. Extensions restrict certain actions and allow other actions such as form completion and saving.

Extensions must be removed before you can begin to work with a PDF created using AEM.

In Adobe Acrobat Professional, select the File menu. Check the drop-down menu for the option, Save a copy. If the option, Save a copy, is present in the drop-down list, the file has extensions enabled.

How to Remove Extensions

1. In Adobe Acrobat Professional, select File from the menu line.

2. In the File drop-down, select the Save a copy option.

3. In the Save As dialog box, navigate to the desired folder location and provide the appropriate file name.

4. Save the file.

5. In Adobe Acrobat Professional, close the file you have open. [KEY STEP]

6. Open the new fil you have just saved. This is the file you can perform post processing.

Security Workaround - Releases the XML Lock

The security workaround temporarily releases the XML lock on the file. Remember, Extensions must be removed first to activate the security workaround.

IMPORTANT: do NOT skip any steps or perform them out of order.

Activating the Security Workaround

1. In Adobe Acrobat Professional, from the File menu, select Properties. The Document Properties dialog box displays.

2. In the Document Properties dialog box, select the Security tab.

3. From the Security method drop-down, select Password Security.

4. In the Password Security - Settings dialog box, in the Permissions section:

   1. Select the Restrict editing and print of the document checkbox.

   2. In the Change Permissions Password field, enter, 123456.

   3. Select OK.

   4. When a dialog box prompts you to confirm your actyion, select the checkbox for, "Do not show this anymore" and select the OK button. You will perform this step the first time only, after selecting it once, the dialog box for this will not appear again.

   5. In the Confirm Permissions Password field, enter, 123456.

   6. Select OK. The document Properties dialog box, Security tab displays.

5. Select the Change Settings button. [KEY STEP]

6. In the Password Security - Settings dialog box, select the Cancel button. [KEY STEP]. The document Properties dialog box displays.

7. From the Security Method drop-down, select No Security.

8. Select OK. [KEY STEP]

9. Select OK to close the Properties dialog box. [KEY STEP]

With the security workaround activated, you can perform PDF remediation for: Document properties, Tag Tree, Content Panel, Bookmarks, and use the Acrobat Accessibility Checker.

Note: After each file save, you will need to activate the security workaround to continue with PDF remediation. The XML lock activates with each file save.