How to batch delete images, text, and page elements within specified rectangular areas in multiple PDFs

When the same images, text, logos, or other unwanted page elements repeatedly appear in the same position across multiple PDF files, editing page by page is not only time-consuming but also prone to omissions. This article explains how to use the batch processing feature in office software to define a rectangular area based on the upper-left corner of the page, import multiple PDFs at once, and uniformly set the page range, length unit, left offset, top offset, area width, and area height, so that all content within the specified area can be deleted in bulk while preserving the page information outside the rectangular region.

When organizing textbooks, reports, contract attachments, promotional materials, or archived documents, it is often the case that many PDF files use the same layout, and each file has images, text, icons, or other page elements that need to be removed at fixed positions. If you open PDFs one by one and then select and delete page by page, the operation is not only repetitive but also prone to missed processing due to the large number of pages and files.

For this kind of cleaning need for fixed-layout PDFs, you can use the "Delete content in specified area of PDF" feature in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . It is an office software designed for batch file processing scenarios. It can add multiple PDFs to a task at once, determine the range to be cleared through rectangular coordinates, and apply the same set of rules to selected pages. This article will combine actual interface screenshots to explain how to batch delete all content within a specified rectangular area in many PDF files.

Applicable scenarios

This feature is suitable for processing PDF documents with "a large number of files, similar page structures, and fixed positions of content to be deleted." Compared with manual editing, batch setting of rectangular areas is more suitable for standardized materials and documents with repeated layouts.

• Batch delete images at fixed positions: For example, if multiple PDF pages have portrait images, decorative images, or promotional illustrations placed on the left side, and you want to keep the main text while removing only the images in that area.
• Clean up fixed text on pages: When text near headers, page edges, or within a certain content box is no longer needed, it can be removed uniformly using a rectangular range.
• Delete old template elements: When updating templates for training materials, product manuals, and electronic textbooks, it may be necessary to remove old icons, old columns, or layout decorations.
• Process multiple PDFs with the same layout: If multiple PDFs are generated from the same template and the positions of the objects to be deleted are basically consistent, the same set of area parameters can be reused directly.
• Process only specific pages: If the content to be deleted appears only on the first few pages, the last few pages, odd pages, even pages, or custom page numbers, you can also limit the processing range first.

It should be noted that this operation processes content according to the rectangular position on the page, not by searching based on image names, text content, or object types. Therefore, it is especially suitable for page elements with stable positions; if the page sizes or layouts of different files vary greatly, sampling checks should be performed first.

Effect preview: what changes before and after processing

Before processing: there is a portrait image to be deleted on the left side of the page

In page 12 of the sample PDF before processing, a portrait image is placed in the left area, the right side contains body content with a green border, and there is also a title above. The page also contains arrows and other decorative elements. The goal this time is to delete the rectangular range where the portrait image is located, rather than clearing the entire page.

From the screenshot before processing, it can be seen that the object to be deleted is located slightly left of the center of the page. If multiple PDFs all use the same template, then the coordinates of the portrait image in each file are usually relatively consistent, making it suitable to locate uniformly by distance from the left edge of the page, distance from the top of the page, area width, and area height.

After processing: the portrait image within the rectangular range has been removed

After processing is complete, the position where the portrait image was located becomes blank, while the body box on the right, the top title, the page number, and content outside the rectangular range remain. The red arrow is still present because it did not completely fall into the deletion area set this time, which also shows that the boundary settings of the rectangular area will directly affect the final result.

Through the before-and-after comparison, it can be confirmed that this feature does not simply crop the PDF page, nor does it turn the entire page blank. Instead, it cleans page content within the specified rectangular area. To avoid accidentally deleting adjacent body text, the coordinates should be verified with a sample file before formal batch processing.

Operation steps: batch delete content in fixed areas of PDFs

Step 1: Enter the PDF tool and select the corresponding feature

Open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , enter "PDF Tools" in the left feature category, and then select "Content Processing" at the top. In the feature list, you can see "Delete content in specified area of PDF", whose description is to batch delete all content within a specified rectangular area in PDF files. Click this feature to enter the processing page.

The purpose of selecting this feature is to establish a unified processing task for multiple PDFs. Unlike features such as "Delete images in PDF" that process by object type, this feature focuses on determining the deletion range according to page position, so images, text, and other page content within the same rectangle should all be included in the check.

Step 2: Add PDF files that need batch processing

After entering the task interface, the first stage is "Select records to be processed". You can click "Add Files" to select PDFs, or use "Import files from folder" to add documents from a folder at once. In the screenshot, 4 PDFs have already been imported, and the file list displays the name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time.

After importing, you should first check the file list to confirm that the file extension is pdf, the path is correct, and no materials that do not need to be processed have been added. If you find that a file was selected by mistake, you can use the delete operation on the right side of the corresponding record to remove it from the task; if you need to reselect, you can also use "Clear" on the interface. This check is important because subsequent settings will be applied to all records in the current task.

After confirming that everything is correct, click "Next" at the bottom to enter the processing options. The value of adding files in batch is that multiple PDFs do not need to create separate tasks, and you only need to set the area parameters once to execute them uniformly.

Step 3: Set the page range to be processed

In the "Set processing options" stage, first select the processing range. The interface provides options such as "All pages", "First few pages", "Last few pages", "Odd pages", "Even pages", and "Custom".

If the content to be deleted appears in the same position on every page, you can select "All pages"; if the element only exists on the cover, preface, or last page, you should select a page range that matches the actual situation. The purpose of selecting the range is to reduce unnecessary page modifications and lower the risk that content at the same position on other pages is mistakenly deleted.

Step 4: Select the length unit and determine the rectangular coordinates

The interface prompts "The rectangular area starts from the upper left corner of the page." This means that positioning needs to be calculated from the left edge and top edge of the page. The length unit can be centimeters, inches, points, or percentage. In the example, "Percentage" is used, with parameters: distance from the left side of the page 20.00, distance from the top of the page 40.00, area width 20.00, and area height 60.00.

The four parameters can be understood as follows:

• Distance from the left side of the page: The position of the left boundary of the rectangle from the left edge of the page.
• Distance from the top of the page: The position of the upper boundary of the rectangle from the top of the page.
• Area width: The range covered to the right from the left boundary of the rectangle.
• Area height: The range covered downward from the upper boundary of the rectangle.

The advantage of using percentage is that the parameters form a relative relationship with the page width and height, making it suitable for PDFs with consistent sizes or similar proportions; centimeters, inches, and points are more suitable for scenarios that require precise positioning according to absolute dimensions. Regardless of which unit is chosen, the meaning of the same set of values should remain consistent.

Step 5: Set the save location and start processing

After confirming the area parameters, click "Next" and follow the process to enter "Set save location". It is recommended to save the results to an independent directory that is convenient for checking, so as to avoid mixing processed and unprocessed files. Then continue to the "Start processing" stage and execute the batch task.

After processing is complete, do not check only one file. It is recommended to spot-check the first page, middle pages, last page, and any special page numbers that were set in different PDFs to confirm that the content within the rectangular area has been deleted, and at the same time check whether titles, body text, page numbers, and nearby graphics are intact.

How to set rectangular area parameters more accurately

When setting the area, you can first use a PDF reader to observe the relative positions of the target object and the four edges of the page. First estimate the left distance and top distance, and then determine the width and height occupied by the target object. During the first test, the rectangle boundary should not be too close to the body text that needs to be retained, and it is advisable to process a copy first.

If image edges still remain after processing, it usually means that the area width, height, or starting position is insufficiently covered, and the rectangle can be appropriately expanded. If body text is mistakenly deleted, it means the area is too large or the starting point is offset, and the width and height need to be reduced, or the values for distance from the left side of the page and distance from the top of the page need to be adjusted.

For PDFs that mix different paper sizes, special caution is needed. For example, when A4 pages and landscape pages exist at the same time, the same absolute unit may fall on different visual positions; although percentage can adapt to proportions, if the layouts themselves are different, it cannot guarantee that the target objects completely overlap. In this case, processing can be grouped by page size or template type.

Common questions and precautions

Will the deletion area affect content outside the rectangle?

From the example results, the title, body box, page number, and other elements outside the rectangular area are all retained. However, whether objects near the boundary of the rectangle are affected depends on the overlap between the object and the area, so the actual effect should be confirmed with a sample file.

Why are some graphics still left after processing?

The common reason is that the rectangle does not completely cover the target object, or some graphics extend beyond the set area. You can readjust the starting position, area width, and area height, and then test again on the sample.

Can all PDFs directly use the same set of parameters?

Only when the page size, orientation, and layout positions are similar can unified parameters achieve stable results. If the sources of the files are complex, they should first be classified by template, and then batch processing tasks should be created separately.

Should I choose all pages or custom pages?

This should be based on the actual positions where the target content appears. Choose all pages only when the same elements exist on every page; if they appear only on some pages, limiting the page range is usually safer.

Do I need to back up before batch processing?

It is recommended to keep the original PDFs and output the processing results to a separate directory. Deleting specified areas is a content modification, and manual spot-checking is still required after completion. Keeping the original files also makes it easier to re-execute when the parameters are not suitable.

Summary

The key to batch deleting all content within a specified rectangular area in PDFs lies in three points: first confirm whether the layouts of multiple PDFs are consistent, then accurately set the processing page range and rectangular coordinates, and finally review using samples and batch results. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool integrates file import, range setting, saving, and execution into one process, which can reduce the workload of opening PDFs one by one, locating page by page, and repeatedly deleting.

If you are facing dozens or hundreds of PDFs with the same template, it is recommended to first copy a sample, set the rectangular area with the upper left corner of the page as the starting point, confirm that the deletion effect meets expectations, and then import all files for batch processing. This can both improve efficiency and reduce the risk of accidentally deleting important content.