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Controlling the precision of numeric values in PDF files

Foxit Quick PDF Library includes a function called SetPrecision which allows you to control the precision of numeric values in PDF files.

In a PDF all numeric values are stored as strings. So using a smaller precision would mean a number takes up less characters in the file.

If a PDF has a lot of complex graphics this would add up cumulatively and reduce the total file size.

The default precision is 4 and measurement units are points (1/72 inch), so the smallest measurement with the default precision is 0.000001 inch.

Dropping the precision to 2 would result in the smallest measurement being 0.0001 inch.
For most purposes a 0.0001 inch precision would be good enough – but some things might not align perfectly.

The maths for the precision calculations in inches are (1/10000 * 1/72) for the precision of 4, and (1/100 * 1/72) for the precision of 2.

Updated on March 19, 2019

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