List Permissions

The PDF specification defines a set of permissions that may be set for encrypted documents. This command prints the current permission set. Have a look at some examples.

Usage

pdfcpu permissions list inFile... [flags]

Common Flags

Arguments

Permission Bits

• There are twelve bits defined, four of which are unused.
• Bits are counted starting with bit 1 from right to left.

Examples

pdfcpu does not require any password for listing the permissions of an encrypted document unless the user password is set:

$ pdfcpu encrypt enc.pdf --opw opw
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf
permission bits: 000000000000 (x000)
Bit  3: false (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: false (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: false (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: false (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: false (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: false (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: false (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: false (print high-level(rev>=3))

If both passwords are set, you need to provide either one to list permissions:

$ pdfcpu encrypt enc.pdf --opw opw --upw upw
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf
Please provide the correct password

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf --upw upw
permission bits: 000000000000 (x000)
Bit  3: false (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: false (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: false (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: false (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: false (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: false (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: false (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: false (print high-level(rev>=3))

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf --opw opw
permission bits: 000000000000 (x000)
Bit  3: false (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: false (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: false (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: false (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: false (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: false (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: false (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: false (print high-level(rev>=3))