Page Comparison

ACCESSIBLE

Y

N

N/A

Checks if the file is invalid (such as a PDF Portfolio), corrupt, or password protected.

REJECTION

Determine whether the PDF can be opened by Adobe Reader and confirm it is not a PDF Portfolio.

If the PDF cannot be opened, create a new PDF from the source program. Remove password protection, if applicable.

FILENAME

Y

N

Filename Special Characters

Checks if filename contains: !, *, ', \, ;, :, @, &, =, +, $, , (comma), /, ?, %, #, [, ], ", <, >, |  characters. Characters cannot be edited.

REJECTION

Remove any restricted characters from the filename and re-upload the file.

SIZE

Y

Y

Minimum/Maximum PDF size (in bytes)

Documents must not exceed 400 MB (419430400 bytes). This configuration can be increased above 400 MB, but the recommended maximum size is 2 GB.

REJECTION

Return to the source program and create a new file that is below the file size limitation, if possible. Alternatively, break up a large PDF into multiple smaller PDF files.

Optimizing a PDF may also reduce its file size.

The Agency can also choose to increase the acceptable limit within stated range.

PAGE COUNT

Y

Y

Maximum page count

Checks the PDF page count based on the configured maximum page count. The default is set to 500 pages but can be increased up to a recommended maximum of 1200 pages.

REJECTION

Split files with too many pages into smaller subsets and submit files separately.

The Agency can also choose to increase the maximum page count up to a max of 1200.

TEXT CONTENT

N

Y

N/A

Checks whether PDF text and fonts are present and legible.

N/A

Properly embed or substitute missing fonts. Using true type fonts is recommended.

VERSION

Y

N

N/A

Checks PDF version.

If PDF version older than 1.4 is detected, the file will be rejected. (Version 1.4 was released prior to 2001.) This can be changed but any version prior to 1.3 is not recommended.

Warning

Return to the source program and create a new file using a newer PDF version.

PAGE ACCESS

Y

Y

N/A

The inspector tries to read each page in the document.

If a page is not readable, the file will be rejected.

REJECTION

File pages or page data may be damaged or in need of repair.

Recreate the PDF from the source document using Adobe Pro, Nitro Pro, or another full-featured PDF editor.

ANNOTATION

Y

Y

Can be configured to ignore annotations and accept PDF file.

Checks for annotations that appear in the pdf reader ‘Comment’ panel, such as SHX Text generated by AutoCAD.

REJECTION

Remove annotations from the PDF, if possible. This can be done by reprinting the file to a new PDF using a PDF editor.

Otherwise, return to the source program and generate a new PDF without annotations from the start.

METADATA

Y

Y

N/A

Check hidden content and unexpected metadata like embedded Flash, other PDFs, etc.

Warning

Remove hidden content by following the instructions listed in the EPR Wiki document “How To Remove Metadata from PDF”.

SIGNATURE

Y

Y

N/A

Checks for the presence of a digital signature in the PDF, but cannot validate the source’s authenticity.

Warning

Add a digital signature to the PDF if one is required before submitting.

ATTACHMENT

Y

Y

N/A

Checks if any attachments exist in the PDF.

REJECTION

Return to the source program and create a new file without any attachments or reprint the PDF as new to remove attachments using a PDF editor.

RESOLUTION

Y

Y

Minimum/Maximum pixel count

Checks pages for low resolution (in pixels) based on page dimensions.

Warning

Return to the source program/scanner and create/scan a new PDF with a higher resolution.

ROTATION

Y

Y

N/A

Checks if a document has mixed page orientations based on the orientation of the first page. Scout does not look at page content so it cannot determine if pages are upside-down, for example.

Warning

Manually check that pages within the PDF are not rotated incorrectly (upside-down or sideways) is recommended.

Individual page rotation can also be corrected within EPR.