Create a Page Statistics Report for a PDF Document
Introduction
In this tutorial, we will look at how to use the “Create Page Statistics Report” feature of the AutoBookmark plug-in. Use this tool to generate a handy report that displays accurate page information relating to the input file. The report features detailed statistical data about each individual page of the input PDF.
The data shown uses the PDF coordinate system – page width, height, as well as crop box dimensions are provided via page coordinates. Each page’s rotation angle and page labels are also specified. Page locations and layout dimensions are recorded in the report as logical values in PDF units - one PDF unit = one DTP point (1/72").
PDF Coordinate System Explained:
  • X/Y axis: the origin of each document is the bottom-left corner. The x-axis extends to the right (horizontal) and the y-axis extends upwards (vertical).
  • PDF’s don’t have a “resolution” - PDF units can be converted to physical values (such as pixels), when an external value for the resolution is provided.
  • For example, a typical (A4) PDF document may have a page width and height of 612 by 792 units. This size in inches is 8.5" by 11" (obtained by dividing the width of 612 and the height of 792 by 72).
  • An object located at point 635, 355 in the PDF has a distance of 4" by 6" from the bottom-left corner of the page (also obtained by dividing each coordinate of the location point by 72).
The PDF we'll use here to demonstrate producing a statistics report has an overall page size of 720 x 405 pt. A separate crop box within it measures 550 x 305 pt.
page coordinate system
The output statistics report presents these measurements as x,y coordinates:
sample coordinates
Prerequisites
You need a copy of Adobe® Acrobat® along with the AutoBookmark™ plug-in installed on your computer in order to use this tutorial. Both are available as trial versions.
Step 1 - Open the Tool
First, open the PDF in Acrobat that you want to create a statistics report for. Then select "Plug-Ins > Pages > Create Page Statistics Report..." from the main menu.
open the tool
Step 2 - Save the Report
Now select a folder to save the report in. It will be saved with a *.htm file extension. The default filename format is "(input document name) Page Statistics Report.htm". Optionally rename the output report and press "Save".
configure output
Step 3 - Inspect the Report
Press "OK" to open the report file in the default web browser.
open the report
Inspect the data in the output report - page statistics are presented in a table under "Page Statistics".
inspect the data
Page coordinates detected in the PDF are shown here - one record for each page:
check the statistics
Page rotation (0/90/180) is also extracted. PDF page rotation can be changed manually using the "Organize Pages" tool.
output rotation statistics
Any page annotations will also be identified and placed in the report - here, notes have been added using the "Comment" tool in Acrobat.
output annotation statistics
Page labels are also extracted - edit them in the "Page Thumbnails" panel in Acrobat, by clicking on the thumbnail options icon:
open thumbnail options
Select "Page Labels..." from the list:
edit page labels
Choose a page label style for currently selected/all pages. Press "OK" to proceed.
choose label style
PDF page labels are reflected in the report. Here, capitalized alphabetical labels are now shown in the output report:
output page labels
Bates numbers located on the pages of PDF documents will also be extracted and placed in the report. Bates numbers can be added/removed from documents via the "Organize Pages" tool ("More > Bates Numbering").
output bates numbers
You can find a list of other step-by-step bookmarking tutorials by clicking here.