How to get internal structure of the PDF file?

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Hi,

the structures inside PDF (directories, arrays, objects) are at most no xml. Only some parts (XMP, XFA) are XML. To investigate a PDF is rather complicated, because the structure is only in generell tree-like. On the other hand it is possible (and saves resources) to have more than one relation to objects form different places in the PDF.  So the first idea, to represent a PDF-structure by a tree is not showing the reality. In truth it is a graph and therefore it is not possible without transforming (doubling/inherit parts) the structure to get it in xml. 

So I think, there is no such tool, as you want it - without you make it. It would be possible with QuickPDF (GetPageContent..., GetObject...), but it is more than a half-hour-job, depending on how deep you want to look inside.

To see internals there is a dialog based tool for free, the enfocus-browser:
quotation from http://www.enfocus.com/product.php?id=4530:
To the knowledgeable user, the Enfocus Browser offers functionality to 
get information on all types of objects (Dictionaries, Arrays, Streams, 
...) in the PDF. Starting with the "Info" and "Root" dictionaries, the 
application resolves all indirect object references while you dig deeper
 into the data structure. If enabled, relevant parts of the data from a 
PDF file can even be altered, offering very low-level editing 
capabilities.

Another program gives you a look inside the PDF (but with a different goal) is there to find: http://blog.zeltser.com/post/3235995383/pdf-stream-dumper-malicious-file-analysis . It is made to look deeper in, but in dialog too.

In hope it helps,

Werner

Edited by edvoigt - 10 Jan 12 at 9:09AM

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edvoigt Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 26 Mar 11 Location: Berlin, Germany Status: Offline Points: 111	Post Options Post Reply Quote edvoigt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: How to get internal structure of the PDF file? Posted: 10 Jan 12 at 9:08AM
	Hi, the structures inside PDF (directories, arrays, objects) are at most no xml. Only some parts (XMP, XFA) are XML. To investigate a PDF is rather complicated, because the structure is only in generell tree-like. On the other hand it is possible (and saves resources) to have more than one relation to objects form different places in the PDF. So the first idea, to represent a PDF-structure by a tree is not showing the reality. In truth it is a graph and therefore it is not possible without transforming (doubling/inherit parts) the structure to get it in xml. So I think, there is no such tool, as you want it - without you make it. It would be possible with QuickPDF (GetPageContent..., GetObject...), but it is more than a half-hour-job, depending on how deep you want to look inside. To see internals there is a dialog based tool for free, the enfocus-browser: quotation from http://www.enfocus.com/product.php?id=4530: To the knowledgeable user, the Enfocus Browser offers functionality to get information on all types of objects (Dictionaries, Arrays, Streams, ...) in the PDF. Starting with the "Info" and "Root" dictionaries, the application resolves all indirect object references while you dig deeper into the data structure. If enabled, relevant parts of the data from a PDF file can even be altered, offering very low-level editing capabilities. Another program gives you a look inside the PDF (but with a different goal) is there to find: http://blog.zeltser.com/post/3235995383/pdf-stream-dumper-malicious-file-analysis . It is made to look deeper in, but in dialog too. In hope it helps, Werner Edited by edvoigt - 10 Jan 12 at 9:09AM

Ingo Members Profile Find Members Posts Moderator Group Joined: 29 Oct 05 Status: Offline Points: 3524	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ingo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Jan 12 at 7:46AM
	Hi! You can create such a tool WITH QuickPDF but QP doesn't offer a ready made functionality for this purpose. You should try PDFCosEdit: http://www.pdftron.com/pdfcosedit/ The demo mode already allows to browse through the pdf-objects. Please keep in mind that pdf is for presentation and so the objects are one after the other and not well structured. Cheers and welcome here, Ingo

saravanan6 Members Profile Find Members Posts Beginner Joined: 10 Jan 12 Location: India Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote saravanan6 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Jan 12 at 5:36AM
	Hi All, I would like to know if there is any tool available for getting internal structure(XML BASED) of the PDF file likewise Open XML representation for MS-OFFICE 2007? Please enlighten me on this...? Thanks & Regards, P.SARAVANAN