Text repeated at the top or bottom of each page keeps a document easy to identify when pages are printed, separated or sent on their own. It might be a report title, a client name, a case reference or a status like Internal. Header & Footer adds that text to the pages you choose, in a small and unobtrusive style.
How to use Header & Footer
- Add the PDF.
- Type Header text, Footer text, or both.
- Keep all pages selected, or choose Clear and select specific pages.
- Select Add Header & Footer and check the margins on a few pages.
Where the text goes
- Top-left and bottom-left: Header text is placed near the top-left corner and footer text near the bottom-left corner of each selected page, half an inch from the left edge, in a small 9-point gray font.
- Leave a field empty: Leave either field empty and nothing is added in that position.
- Rotated and landscape pages: Placement follows the page as it's displayed, so rotated and landscape pages get their header along the visible top edge.
- Check the edges: Text is added on top of the page, so check pages whose content runs close to the edges.
Plain text, written once
- No automatic fields: The text you type is repeated exactly on every selected page. There are no automatic fields for dates, file names or page counts.
- For numbering, run Add Page Numbers with a centered or right-hand position so it doesn't collide with a left-aligned footer.
- For legal productions that need a unique code on each page, Bates Numbering handles the sequence for you.
Good header and footer habits
- Keep it short: Keep the text short so it's still readable at a small size.
- Document-wide information only: Use it for information about the whole document, like a title or reference, not anything that changes from page to page.
- Add it after merging: Add headers after merging and reordering so every page of the final document is covered.
- Where to read more: For print, the print-ready guide explains margins, and for a confidentiality label across the whole page, Watermark PDF is far more visible.
When people use Header & Footer
Client and project names
Put the client or project name on every page of a proposal so printed copies stay identifiable.
Case references
Add a matter or case reference to each page of correspondence prepared for a file.
Status labels
Mark every page Internal or Not for distribution in a discreet footer.
Limitations to know
Header & Footer adds left-aligned plain text in a fixed small gray font, with no automatic dates, file names or page numbers. Text is placed on top of the page, so content near the edges may be overlapped.
Header & Footer: common questions
Can I add the date or file name automatically?
No. Type the date or name into the header or footer field and it's added exactly as written.
Can I center or right-align the text?
Not in this tool. Header and footer text is left-aligned. Add Page Numbers offers centered and right-aligned numbers.
Can I add only a footer?
Yes. Leave the header field empty. At least one of the two fields needs text.
Will it cover existing content?
It can, if the page has content very close to the top or bottom edge. Check a few pages after processing.