PDF File Metadata Creation Date

I have a PDF file that I know was created in 2013, but the metadata creation date shows as 2008. I don't believe any versions of Acrobat allow editing the creation date although the modification date can be changed easily. I know there is software that can be used to edit the creation date, but my question is Can it be changed inadvertently and if so how?

Thanks for any inputs.

A "PDF printer" (used on a system with "wrong" date)? ?

jaclaz

Thanks. I had considered that, but the systems in use had the correct dates and the actual date and time are 1/1/2008 at 120000AM which is pretty unlikely.

Hi

Just a thought, but isn't 1 January 1980 an epoch date for FAT and DOS systems?

Implying a problem/deliberate manipulation of a system clock maybe?

Just an observation as I say.

Hi

Just a thought, but isn't 1 January 1980 an epoch date for FAT and DOS systems?

Implying a problem/deliberate manipulation of a system clock maybe?

Just an observation as I say.

Thanks for the input. I believe the metadata date change was likely deliberate, but I want to be sure I haven't overlooked a plausible explanation for an inadvertent date change.

Thanks for the input. I believe the metadata date change was likely deliberate, but I want to be sure I haven't overlooked a plausible explanation for an inadvertent date change.

Not to discount Jaclaz's suggestion, which could be right, here's another possibility. Perhaps the internal metadata is corrupt and whatever software you're using is simply reporting that date as a default, having failed to interpret it correctly? If you haven't already done so, it would be a good idea to check with a hex editor and manually decode the date (i.e., use Dcode or something).

A related alternative is that the PDF was edited with software that didn't properly support the metadata fields. There are lots of online services that join multiple PDFs into one, for example. It wouldn't be a stretch to think that it put in a date in an unexpected format. That kind of thing happens all the time.

Thanks . . good thoughts. There are multiple files involved so corruption is unlikely and there is other metadata besides the date that has been altered. I actually have a copy of the file with correct metadata. I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks for the input. I believe the metadata date change was likely deliberate, but I want to be sure I haven't overlooked a plausible explanation for an inadvertent date change.

Not to discount Jaclaz's suggestion, which could be right, here's another possibility. Perhaps the internal metadata is corrupt and whatever software you're using is simply reporting that date as a default, having failed to interpret it correctly? If you haven't already done so, it would be a good idea to check with a hex editor and manually decode the date (i.e., use Dcode or something).

A related alternative is that the PDF was edited with software that didn't properly support the metadata fields. There are lots of online services that join multiple PDFs into one, for example. It wouldn't be a stretch to think that it put in a date in an unexpected format. That kind of thing happens all the time.