Metadata Types and Clean Presets

Every kind of hidden data a metadata clean finds in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files, and what the standard and strict presets do to each.

A metadata clean (clean_metadata on GET /v1/files/{file_id}, or on the MCP server's get_file) reports every kind of hidden data it found by the type names below, in metadata_report.items, with the action it took. The names are stable: match on them.

Action	Meaning
Removed	Deleted from the file
Reset	Replaced with a neutral value: the application's name without its version, a template path dropped
Accepted	Tracked changes accepted into the text
Anonymized	Names replaced with "Author", the same for every person
Converted	A field replaced with the text it showed
Unlinked	A link removed, its text kept
Applied	A marked redaction carried out, so the text under it is gone
Flattened	Drawn into the page, so it looks the same and can no longer be edited or read as data
Cleaned	An embedded document cleaned the same way as the document around it
Kept	Left in place, and counted in the report
Reported	Left in place and counted, because removing it would change what the page shows or how the document works: check it before sending

The three choices on a request override the preset for their types: clean_metadata_revisions for tracked_changes, clean_metadata_comments for comments, annotations and page_markup, and clean_metadata_authors for authors and revision_dates.

Properties

What the file says about itself.

Type	What it is	Formats	`standard`	`strict`
`author`	Who created the document	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`last_modified_by`	Who saved it last	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`creator`	The application that made the PDF's content	PDF	Removed	Removed
`producer`	The software that wrote the PDF	PDF	Removed	Removed
`revision_number`	How many times it was saved	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`created_date`	When it was created	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`modified_date`	When it was last saved	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`printed_date`	When it was last printed	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`title`	The title property, which is not the heading on the page	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`subject`	The subject property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`keywords`	The keywords property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`description`	The comments property in File › Properties	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`category`	The category property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`content_status`	The status property, such as Draft	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`identifier`	The identifier property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`language`	The language property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`version`	The version property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`trapped`	A PDF's print trapping flag	PDF	Removed	Removed
`company`	The organization the application is licensed to	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`manager`	The manager property	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`total_editing_time`	How long the document was open for editing	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`template_name`	The template it was created from	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`hyperlink_base`	The base path relative links resolve against	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`application`	The application and version that saved it, reset to the product name alone	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Reset	Reset
`document_statistics`	Page, word, character, line and paragraph counts	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`part_titles`	The names of the parts (sheets, slides, headings) listed in the properties	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`extended_properties`	Any other property the saving application recorded	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`custom_properties`	Custom properties, such as a document management system's matter and client numbers	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed
`sensitivity_labels`	Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels and the label ids behind them	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Kept	Removed
`version_story_ids`	Version Story's own ids, from a document saved by the Version Story app	Word	Removed	Removed
`xmp`	A PDF's XMP metadata stream, which repeats and extends its properties	PDF	Removed	Removed
`object_metadata`	XMP metadata attached to pages and images inside a PDF	PDF	Removed	Removed
`piece_info`	Private data an application (Illustrator, Acrobat) stored in the PDF	PDF	Removed	Removed

Review

The traces of drafting and review.

Type	What it is	Formats	`standard`	`strict`
`tracked_changes`	Insertions, deletions, moves and formatting changes not yet accepted	Word	Kept	Accepted
`comments`	Comments and their replies	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Kept	Removed
`annotations`	PDF notes, highlights, underlines, strikeouts and other review marks	PDF	Kept	Removed
`page_markup`	PDF stamps, ink, text boxes and shapes drawn on the page, such as a signature	PDF	Kept	Flattened
`authors`	The names on tracked changes and comments	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Kept	Anonymized
`revision_dates`	When each tracked change and comment was made	Word	Kept	Removed
`people`	The accounts behind comment authors: email addresses and directory ids	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`revision_ids`	The ids Word gives each editing session, which can tie documents to one machine	Word, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`document_guid`	A unique id that follows the document through every copy	Word	Removed	Removed
`revision_log`	A shared workbook's change history	Excel	Removed	Removed
`incremental_updates`	Earlier revisions a PDF keeps when it is saved over itself	PDF	Removed	Removed
`speaker_notes`	A presentation's speaker notes	PowerPoint	Kept	Removed

Hidden content

Content in the file that the page does not show.

Type	What it is	Formats	`standard`	`strict`
`hidden_text`	Text formatted as hidden	Word	Removed	Removed
`hidden_objects`	Shapes, pictures and text boxes marked hidden	Word, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`obfuscated_text`	White text, which does not show on a white page	Word	Reported	Removed
`small_text`	Text 1.5 points or smaller	Word	Reported	Removed
`hidden_sheets`	Hidden and very hidden worksheets	Excel	Reported	Removed
`hidden_rows_columns`	Hidden rows and columns	Excel	Reported	Reported
`hidden_slides`	Slides marked hidden	PowerPoint	Reported	Removed
`off_slide_content`	Shapes placed outside the slide, which never show	PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`hidden_layers`	PDF layers that are switched off	PDF	Reported	Reported
`unapplied_redactions`	Redactions marked in a PDF but never applied, so the text is still there	PDF	Applied	Applied
`improper_redaction`	Text under a dark box that only covers it on screen	PDF	Reported	Reported
`pivot_caches`	The copy of source data a pivot table keeps	Excel	Removed	Removed
`scenarios`	What-if scenarios	Excel	Removed	Removed
`custom_views`	Saved custom views	Excel	Removed	Removed
`unused_layouts`	Slide layouts no slide uses	PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`glossary`	Building blocks and AutoText entries stored in the document	Word	Removed	Removed

Links and automation

What connects the document to the firm's systems, or runs on its own.

Type	What it is	Formats	`standard`	`strict`
`document_variables`	Variables a template or add-in stored, often from a document management system	Word	Removed	Removed
`sensitive_fields`	Fields that show a file name, path, user name or property, converted to their text	Word	Converted	Converted
`attached_template`	The path of the template the document is attached to, other than Normal	Word	Reset	Reset
`attached_schema`	XML schemas attached to the document	Word	Removed	Removed
`mail_merge`	A mail merge's data source and its path	Word	Removed	Removed
`smart_tags`	Smart tags	Word	Removed	Removed
`custom_xml`	Custom XML parts, often from a document management system or add-in	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`custom_xml_bound`	Custom XML that content controls on the page are bound to	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Kept	Removed
`internal_links`	Links to files on a network or local drive	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Reported	Unlinked
`external_links`	Links to other workbooks	Excel	Reported	Unlinked
`data_connections`	Connections to databases and other data sources	Excel	Removed	Removed
`defined_names`	Hidden names, broken (#REF!) names, and names that point into other workbooks	Excel	Removed	Removed
`formulas`	Formulas, whose results the cleaner leaves as they are	Excel	Reported	Reported
`file_path`	The folder the workbook was saved in	Excel	Removed	Removed
`file_sharing_user`	The user who protected the workbook for sharing	Excel	Removed	Removed
`tags`	Tags add-ins stored on slides and shapes	PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`macros`	VBA macros	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Reported	Removed
`custom_ui`	Custom ribbon and toolbar definitions	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`web_extensions`	Office add-ins stored with the document	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`javascript`	JavaScript in a PDF	PDF	Removed	Removed
`open_action`	An action a PDF runs when it opens	PDF	Removed	Removed
`form_fields`	PDF form fields	PDF	Kept	Flattened

File contents

Everything else inside the file.

Type	What it is	Formats	`standard`	`strict`
`thumbnail`	A preview image of the first page	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`page_thumbnails`	Preview images of a PDF's pages	PDF	Removed	Removed
`printer_settings`	Printer settings, which can name a printer on the network	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`xml_comments`	Comments inside the file's XML, which no reader shows	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`tool_markup`	Markup that editing and document management tools add to the XML	Word	Removed	Removed
`unused_media`	Pictures and media nothing in the document shows	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Removed	Removed
`embedded_objects`	Documents embedded inside the document, each cleaned the same way	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Cleaned	Cleaned
`attachments`	Files attached to a PDF	PDF	Removed	Removed
`image_metadata`	EXIF and other metadata inside pictures: camera, location, dates	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF	Removed	Removed

Left in place

What a reader sees or relies on, which a clean never changes.

Type	What it is	Formats	`standard`	`strict`
`document_numbers`	Document numbers and file paths shown in a header or footer, which are visible text	Word	Reported	Reported
`protection`	Editing restrictions and passwords	Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Kept	Kept
`signatures`	Digital signatures	PDF	Kept	Kept
`bookmarks`	PDF bookmarks	PDF	Kept	Kept

Warnings

metadata_report.warnings names what a clean left for a person to decide, each with its type and a message to pass on to whoever sends the document. Among them:

A signed PDF. Any change to a signed PDF means its signature no longer verifies.
Text under a dark box. The box hides the text on screen, but the text is still in the file. Redact it properly before sending.
Document numbers. A header or footer shows a document number or file path. It is visible text, so it was left in place.
White text over a picture or page colour. It may be legible, so it was left in place.
Links to file paths or internal sites, left in place under standard.
Hidden rows and columns, left in place because removing them would move cells that formulas point at.
Macros removed, so the file is now a macro-free document.

Files: the request and response
Data handling: what is kept, and for how long

Metadata types