---
type: Documentation
title: Importing PDF files
description: This guide explains how to import PDF files into Librario and have them
  catalogued automatically.
resource: https://www.librario.de/en/docs/bibliothekswesen/importieren/pdf-importieren
language: en
revision: e114aa541d24c57e452957a2313c85d2014b716b
tags:
- docs
- bibliothekswesen
- importieren
---

# Importing PDF files

![Imports overview page: the import options on the left, the filters and the table of imports with their status on the right.](/de/docs/bibliothekswesen/importieren/uebersicht.webp)
_The Import PDF files area is at the top left
Screenshot of the German interface._


The PDF import adds PDF files to your library and catalogues them automatically.
Librario reads the title, contributors and publication year from the PDF's document properties: the metadata embedded in the file, not the text of the first page.
It also looks for an identifier such as a DOI, ISBN, PubMed ID or arXiv ID in that metadata and on the first pages. If it finds one, it adds details from bibliographic sources: DOIs through the DOI registration agency (for example Crossref), ISBNs through the German National Library, Open Library and Google Books, PubMed IDs through PubMed and arXiv IDs through arXiv.
Without an identifier, the title and contributors usually come from the document properties. These are often empty or inaccurate, for example holding only the file name the word processor stored. Check the title and contributors of such publications and correct them where needed. If Librario finds no title at all, the publication gets a placeholder title.
You can upload many PDF files at once, and Librario processes them one after another.
Once the import has succeeded, you can go on to [edit the publication](/en/docs/bibliothekswesen/publikationen-verwalten), for example to [add hard copies to it](/en/docs/bibliothekswesen/leihexemplare-verwalten).

## Uploading PDF files

There are two ways to upload PDF files:

1. **Drag and drop**: drag the PDF files into the marked area
2. **File selection**: click **browse files** and select the PDF files you want

![The "Import PDF Files" area: a drag-and-drop zone or file selection for the upload, with a note on automatic metadata extraction.](/de/docs/bibliothekswesen/importieren/pdf-dateien-importieren-start.webp)
_The start view of the PDF import
Screenshot of the German interface._


The uploaded files appear straight away in the list of imports with the status **Pending**.
Librario processes them automatically, with no further action from you.
It takes these steps:

1. Librario adds the PDF files to your library and creates a new publication for each file
2. Librario reads the **metadata** from the file's document properties (title, contributors, publication year)
3. Librario reads the **full text**, so that full-text search finds the file
4. If Librario finds an identifier such as a DOI, ISBN, PubMed ID or arXiv ID in the document properties or on the first pages, it adds **further metadata from the internet**

> **Full-text search:**
> 
> Librario checks every file of a publication for searchable text. If it finds no text, for example in a scanned document, you get a notice. In that case you can [optimise the file for full-text search](/en/docs/bibliothekswesen/best-practices/volltextsuche-optimieren#problem-1-gescannte-dokumente-ohne-texterkennung).