PDF Workflow
Inspect first
Record size, page count, version, encryption, permissions, signatures, page boxes/rotation, text-layer quality, fonts, images, attachments, forms, annotations, and whether pages are scanned. Use installed tools such as a PDF parser, renderer, OCR engine, or office converter; do not install dependencies implicitly.
Route by task
- Read/summarize: extract text by page and visually inspect pages containing figures, tables, formulas, or suspicious extraction.
- Tables: compare text extraction with rendered layout; do not treat a visually aligned table as reliable rows until validated.
- Scans/OCR: preserve the original image, record language and OCR settings, and mark uncertain text.
- Merge/split/rotate: preserve page order, boxes, bookmarks, metadata, links, and forms when supported.
- Create: use a layout engine appropriate to the source, embed or license fonts correctly, and add document metadata/accessibility structure where supported.
- Forms: detect AcroForm versus XFA, preserve field names and appearances, and flatten only when requested.
- Redaction: remove underlying text/images and metadata, then verify by extraction and object inspection. Drawing a black rectangle is not secure redaction.
Safety
- Write to a new output path and keep a backup.
- Do not bypass passwords or permissions without authority.
- Warn before an edit that invalidates a digital signature.
- Do not execute JavaScript, launch actions, attachments, or embedded content.
- Remove hidden metadata/attachments only when requested; they may be evidentiary.
- Do not send private PDFs to external OCR or conversion services without explicit authorization.
Validation
Reopen the output, verify page count/order/rotation, render all affected pages, inspect text and form fields, check links/bookmarks/attachments, and confirm no corruption. For secure redaction, search extracted text, inspect content streams where possible, and test copy/paste. Report exact pages changed and any unsupported feature.
1---2name: pdf3description: Inspect, extract, create, combine, split, rotate, redact, OCR, or fill PDF files with provenance and visual validation. Use whenever PDF is the main input or deliverable; preserve originals, distinguish visual redaction from secure removal, and never break signatures or protections silently.4license: MIT5---67# PDF Workflow89## Inspect first1011Record size, page count, version, encryption, permissions, signatures, page boxes/rotation, text-layer quality, fonts, images, attachments, forms, annotations, and whether pages are scanned. Use installed tools such as a PDF parser, renderer, OCR engine, or office converter; do not install dependencies implicitly.1213## Route by task1415- **Read/summarize:** extract text by page and visually inspect pages containing figures, tables, formulas, or suspicious extraction.16- **Tables:** compare text extraction with rendered layout; do not treat a visually aligned table as reliable rows until validated.17- **Scans/OCR:** preserve the original image, record language and OCR settings, and mark uncertain text.18- **Merge/split/rotate:** preserve page order, boxes, bookmarks, metadata, links, and forms when supported.19- **Create:** use a layout engine appropriate to the source, embed or license fonts correctly, and add document metadata/accessibility structure where supported.20- **Forms:** detect AcroForm versus XFA, preserve field names and appearances, and flatten only when requested.21- **Redaction:** remove underlying text/images and metadata, then verify by extraction and object inspection. Drawing a black rectangle is not secure redaction.2223## Safety2425- Write to a new output path and keep a backup.26- Do not bypass passwords or permissions without authority.27- Warn before an edit that invalidates a digital signature.28- Do not execute JavaScript, launch actions, attachments, or embedded content.29- Remove hidden metadata/attachments only when requested; they may be evidentiary.30- Do not send private PDFs to external OCR or conversion services without explicit authorization.3132## Validation3334Reopen the output, verify page count/order/rotation, render all affected pages, inspect text and form fields, check links/bookmarks/attachments, and confirm no corruption. For secure redaction, search extracted text, inspect content streams where possible, and test copy/paste. Report exact pages changed and any unsupported feature.
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