Section:

Sanitize PDFs - Obj-C Sample Code

This is sample code for using Apryse SDK to remove hidden, non-visual content within PDF documents. Using pdftron.PDF.Sanitizer ensures that if metadata, form data, bookmarks, hidden layers, markup annotations, JavaScript, or file attachments are present in a document, that content is permanently destroyed and is not simply disabled or obscured. Sample code is provided in Python, C++, C#, Java, Node.js (JavaScript), PHP, Ruby, and VB.

Implementation steps

To sanitize files with Apryse Server SDK:

Step 1: Follow get started with Server SDK in your preferred language or framework.
Step 2: Add the sample code provided in this guide.

Learn more about Apryse Server SDK.

1//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2// Copyright (c) 2001-2026 by Apryse Software Inc. All Rights Reserved.
3// Consult legal.txt regarding legal and license information.
4//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
6#import <OBJC/PDFNetOBJC.h>
7#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
8
9//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10// PDFNet's Sanitizer is a security-focused feature that permanently removes
11// hidden, sensitive, or potentially unsafe content from a PDF document.
12// While redaction targets visible page content such as text or graphics,
13// sanitization focuses on non-visual elements and embedded structures.
14//
15// PDFNet Sanitizer ensures hidden or inactive content is destroyed,
16// not merely obscured or disabled. This prevents leakage of sensitive
17// data such as authoring details, editing history, private identifiers,
18// and residual form entries, and neutralizes scripts or attachments.
19//
20// Sanitization is recommended prior to external sharing with clients,
21// partners, or regulatory bodies. It helps align with privacy policies
22// and compliance requirements by permanently removing non-visual data.
23//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24
25int main(int argc, char *argv[])
26{
27    @autoreleasepool {
28
29        int ret = 0;
30
31        [PTPDFNet Initialize: 0];
32
33
34        // The following example illustrates how to retrieve the existing
35        // sanitizable content categories within a document.
36        @try
37        {
38            PTPDFDoc *doc = [[PTPDFDoc alloc] initWithFilepath: @"../../TestFiles/numbered.pdf"];
39            [doc InitSecurityHandler];
40            PTSanitizeOptions *opts = [PTSanitizer GetSanitizableContent: doc];
41
42            if ([opts GetMetadata]) {
43                NSLog(@"Document has metadata.");
44            }
45            if ([opts GetMarkups]) {
46                NSLog(@"Document has markups.");
47            }
48            if ([opts GetHiddenLayers]) {
49                NSLog(@"Document has hidden layers.");
50            }
51            NSLog(@"Done...");
52        }
53        @catch(NSException *e)
54        {
55            NSLog(@"%@", e.reason);
56            ret = 1;
57        }
58
59
60	    // The following example illustrates how to sanitize a document with default options,
61	    // which will remove all sanitizable content present within a document.
62        @try
63        {
64            PTPDFDoc *doc = [[PTPDFDoc alloc] initWithFilepath: @"../../TestFiles/financial.pdf"];
65            [doc InitSecurityHandler];
66
67            [PTSanitizer SanitizeDocument: doc options: nil];
68            [doc SaveToFile: @"../../TestFiles/Output/financial_sanitized.pdf" flags: e_ptlinearized ];
69            NSLog(@"Done...");
70        }
71        @catch(NSException *e)
72        {
73            NSLog(@"%@", e.reason);
74            ret = 1;
75        }
76
77
78	    // The following example illustrates how to sanitize a document with custom set options,
79	    // which will only remove the content categories specified by the options object.
80        @try
81        {
82            PTSanitizeOptions *opts = [[PTSanitizeOptions alloc] init];
83            [opts SetMetadata: YES];
84            [opts SetFormData: YES];
85            [opts SetBookmarks: YES];
86
87            PTPDFDoc *doc = [[PTPDFDoc alloc] initWithFilepath: @"../../TestFiles/form1.pdf"];
88            [doc InitSecurityHandler];
89
90            [PTSanitizer SanitizeDocument: doc options: opts];
91            [doc SaveToFile: @"../../TestFiles/Output/form1_sanitized.pdf" flags: e_ptlinearized ];
92            NSLog(@"Done...");
93        }
94        @catch(NSException *e)
95        {
96            NSLog(@"%@", e.reason);
97            ret = 1;
98        }
99
100        [PTPDFNet Terminate: 0];
101        return ret;
102    }
103}
104
105

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