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Document Metadata Fields let a sheet capture details straight from an uploaded file, instead of asking the person uploading to type them in. A field like Author, Invoice Number, or a fixed label is filled in automatically the moment a file is uploaded, and it shows up alongside the rest of the imported data as a regular column. You can configure up to 20 of these per sheet, each sourced a different way depending on what kind of information you need. Configuration is stored on Sheet.pdf_metadata_config; extraction is handled by App\Services\PdfMetadataExtractor, called from AnalyzeController.

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Why use Document Metadata Fields

  • Invoices and receipts: capture the invoice number or vendor name straight from the document, instead of asking the uploader to re-type it into a form field.
  • Applications and forms: tag every submission with who authored the file or what it’s titled, which is useful for sorting and follow-up later.
  • Batch labeling: stamp every import from a particular source or partner with a fixed label, so downstream reports can filter by it.

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Field sources

Each Document Metadata Field is filled in one of three ways.

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Static Value

A fixed value typed in once. It applies to every upload processed through this sheet, which is useful for labels and tags that never change. Example: Batch Label = “Q3 Vendor Import”

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Native Document Property

Most documents quietly carry their own properties, such as who created them or what they’re titled. This source reads that value straight from the file. Example: Author = whoever created the PDF or Word document

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Document Key-Value (Smart Match)

Give the field a name to look for, like Invoice Number, and CSVbox finds the value printed next to that label on the page. Example: field name Invoice Number finds “INV-4471” on the page

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Supported file types

If a value can’t be found for a field, it’s left blank for that upload. This never blocks or fails the import; the rest of the file still comes through normally.

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Enabling Document Metadata Fields

1

Open the File Upload settings

Open the sheet to configure and go to Import Steps → File Upload.
2

Find the Document Metadata Fields section

Scroll to the Document Metadata Fields section.
3

Add and name a field

Add a field and give it a name. This becomes the column name people see once data is imported.
4

Choose a source

Choose how the field should be filled in: Static Value, Native Document Property, or Document Key-Value. Provide whatever it needs (a value to use, or a label to look for).
5

Save the fields

Repeat for each detail to capture, then click Save Metadata Fields.
Up to 20 metadata fields are allowed per sheet, and each field name must be unique.
From that point on, every matching upload gets these fields filled in automatically, with no extra steps for the person uploading.

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Example

A sheet set up to receive vendor invoices, with three metadata fields configured, processes an upload named invoice_4471.pdf: All three values are captured the moment the file is uploaded, without anyone typing them in. This happens automatically as part of processing the file, with no extra wait for the person uploading.