Metadata removal

[Scott]

Hello. Are there any utilities out there for stripping the metadata from
Word or other Office docs? I know about
Preferences>Security>remove personal data on save
but I'd like to be able to run it on a number of documents without
opening/saving them for one, and I'm not sure just how much that
function strips out.

The only Mac-compatible app I've seen is
http://www.3bview.com/3bclean.html
but the website lists no pricing or purchase info, and they weren't
answering their phone (not a good sign), and I didn't see much 3rd-party
info about the app itself.

 

[Scott]

The only Mac-compatible app I've seen is
http://www.3bview.com/3bclean.html

Wait, is this only via their servers and not even an application??? Not
what I need at all.

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Scott:

"Remove personal information" does a remarkably complete job.

To prove it, save the document as XML. Then enable "Remove personal..." and
Save and Close. Re-open, and save as XML again.

You can then read the thing as text to see what you have left.

If you DID save the document as XML, you could whip up a PERL script to get
the metadata out.

Cheers

Hello. Are there any utilities out there for stripping the metadata from
Word or other Office docs? I know about
Preferences>Security>remove personal data on save
but I'd like to be able to run it on a number of documents without
opening/saving them for one, and I'm not sure just how much that
function strips out.

The only Mac-compatible app I've seen is
http://www.3bview.com/3bclean.html
but the website lists no pricing or purchase info, and they weren't
answering their phone (not a good sign), and I didn't see much 3rd-party
info about the app itself.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[Scott]

Hi Scott:

"Remove personal information" does a remarkably complete job.

To prove it, save the document as XML. Then enable "Remove personal..." and
Save and Close. Re-open, and save as XML again.

You can then read the thing as text to see what you have left.

If you DID save the document as XML, you could whip up a PERL script to get
the metadata out.

Hi, John. But this requires loading/resaving the files, doesn't it? What
if there are scores of files that need processing?

 

[John McGhie]

In the Mac world? You'll have to run up a VBA routine to do it.

If you have access to a PC, you have other options with routines written
around DSOFile.dll

Of course, if you were not too worried about the formatting, you also have
extra options: you could use DataViz MacLink Plus to convert to a format
that does not support Meta Data and back again.

However, you have not specified what it is that you are worried about. I
just need to check that you are not worried unnecessarily: the meta data
we're talking about is the user names (only) of the people who handled the
documents. Just how bad would it be if they were to remain in the file?

I just want to check that you are not spending a hell of a lot of time and
money worrying about "imagined" meta data that is not in fact ever saved
into the documents.

I also need to just mention that some data you may not want to remain in the
file is NOT meta-data, and will not be removed. Tracked Changes come under
that heading. If you are worried that revisions and deleted material, the
only save thing to do is to open each document and accept all changes.
Otherwise, all manner of confidential information may still be in the files,
and the Remove Personal Information filter will not remove it, and neither
will anything else.

Hope this helps

Hi, John. But this requires loading/resaving the files, doesn't it? What
if there are scores of files that need processing?

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]