Automatic PDF Processor - Online Help
Comprehensive documentation of all features and settings

28 Remove Pages

Task: Remove Pages

28.1 Description

The Remove Pages task deletes specific pages from a PDF document. The pages to remove can be determined by various criteria: text content, character count, page numbers, or page ranges.

Typical Use Cases

  • Remove Cover Pages: Remove automatically generated cover pages from scans
  • Remove Blank Pages: Delete pages with little or no content
  • Remove Separator Pages: Remove pages with specific marker text
  • Remove Advertising: Delete pages with promotional content from documents
  • Standardization: Keep only specific pages (e.g., odd pages)

28.2 General Settings

Enabled

Enable this option so the task is executed for matching PDF files. Disabled tasks are skipped.

28.3 Removal Criteria

Removal Criteria

You can combine multiple criteria. Pages that match at least one of the enabled criteria will be removed.

Remove Pages with Specific Text

Removes all pages that contain the specified text.

Examples: - SEPARATOR - Removes all pages with the word “SEPARATOR” - Advertising - Removes all pages containing “Advertising”

Remove Pages Without Specific Text

Removes all pages that do not contain the specified text. Useful when you only want to keep pages with specific content.

Example: Invoice - Keeps only pages containing the word “Invoice”.

Remove Pages with Fewer Than X Characters

Enable this option and specify the minimum character count. Pages with fewer characters are removed.

Use Case: Automatically remove blank or nearly blank pages (e.g., only with page number).

Setting Effect
10 characters Removes almost empty pages
50 characters Removes pages with very little text
100 characters Removes pages with little content

Remove Odd/Even Pages

Option Description
None No page number-based removal
Remove odd pages Pages 1, 3, 5, 7… are removed
Remove even pages Pages 2, 4, 6, 8… are removed

Use Case: With duplex-scanned documents, blank back pages (e.g., all even pages) can be removed.

Remove Page Ranges

Specify the pages to remove as a range.

Syntax: | Input | Effect | |——-|——–| | 1 | Removes page 1 | | 1-3 | Removes pages 1, 2, and 3 | | 1, 5, 7-9 | Removes pages 1, 5, 7, 8, and 9 | | last | Removes the last page | | last-2 | Removes the last 2 pages |

Examples:

Input For a 10-page PDF
1 Page 1 is removed
1-3, last Pages 1, 2, 3, and 10 are removed
last-3 Pages 8, 9, and 10 are removed

28.4 Storage Location

Directory

Specify the target directory for the processed PDF file.

Note: It’s recommended to use a separate folder for each processing step to ensure clear separation.

Filename

Set the name for the processed file.

Examples:

Input Result
(empty) Document.pdf (original name)
<FileName>_cleaned Document_cleaned.pdf

Name Collisions

Choose what should happen if a file with the target name already exists.

28.5 File Date

Adjust Creation and Modification Date

Optionally, you can change the file date of the processed file.

28.6 Afterwards

Call External Program

After removing pages, an external program can be started automatically.

Parameters: Available placeholders: - <PathIncludingFilename> - Full path of the processed file - <ParentDirectory> - Path of parent folder - <Filename> - Filename

28.7 Example: Remove Cover Pages from Scans

Initial Situation

A scanner automatically adds a cover page with device information that should be removed before archiving.

Configuration

  1. Enabled: Yes
  2. Remove Page Ranges: 1
  3. Directory: D:\Archive\Cleaned
  4. Filename: <FileName>

Result

Original Processed
Scan_001.pdf (5 pages) Scan_001.pdf (4 pages, without cover page)

28.8 Example: Remove Blank Pages from Scans

Initial Situation

Duplex-scanned documents contain blank back pages that should be removed.

Configuration

  1. Enabled: Yes
  2. Remove Pages with Fewer Than X Characters: Yes, 20 characters
  3. Directory: D:\Documents\Cleaned
  4. Filename: <FileName>

Result

All pages with fewer than 20 characters are automatically removed.

28.9 Example: Remove Separator Pages from Batch Scan

Initial Situation

A batch scan contains separator pages with the text “— SEPARATOR —” that should be removed after splitting.

Configuration

  1. Enabled: Yes
  2. Remove Pages with Text: --- SEPARATOR ---
  3. Directory: D:\Documents\Cleaned
  4. Filename: <FileName>

Result

All pages containing the separator text are removed.

28.5 Tips and Notes

Combining Criteria

You can enable multiple criteria simultaneously. A page is removed if it matches at least one of the criteria.

Example: “Remove pages with text ‘Advertising’” + “Remove pages with fewer than 50 characters” → Removes both advertising pages and nearly empty pages.

Caution with “Remove Pages Without Text”

The option “Remove pages without specific text” can unintentionally delete many pages. Test this setting carefully with sample files.

At Least One Page

The program ensures that at least one page remains in the document. If all pages would match the removal criteria, the first page is kept.

Order in Task List

Typically place “Remove Pages” before other tasks like Copy or Send Email, so subsequent tasks work with the cleaned document.

Backup Copy

Create a backup copy before removing pages by placing a “Copy File” task before the “Remove Pages” task.

Convert to PDF/A Stamp/Watermark