> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.viesus.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.viesus.com/configuration/pdf-settings.md).

# PDF Settings

The VIESUS PDF Enhancer uses a JSON **`settings.json`** file for its pipeline: general processing behavior, resizing, folder paths, the trigger workflow, file naming, and special rendering modes.

{% hint style="info" %}
**`settings.json` vs `viesusini.json`.** `settings.json` governs the **PDF pipeline** — which folders to watch, how files are handled, triggers, and the resizing of embedded images. The **per-image enhancement** applied to each extracted image (color, sharpening, AI upscaling, etc.) is controlled separately by `viesusini.json` — see the [Parameter Reference](/configuration/parameter-reference.md).
{% endhint %}

**Default path on Windows:** `C:\Program Files\Imaging Solutions\VIESUS\PDFEnhancer\settings.json`. Changes take effect on the next hotfolder start (or immediately in stand-alone mode). For boolean parameters, **0** = OFF, **1** = ON.

***

## Settings groups

| Group              | What it controls                                                            | Reference                                                                 |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| General            | Core processing behavior, image filtering, adjacency and soft-mask handling | [General](/configuration/pdf-settings/general.md)                         |
| Resizing           | Image resizing, AI Upscaling, and artifact-removal modes                    | [Resizing](/configuration/pdf-settings/resizing.md)                       |
| Folders & Triggers | Source / destination / archive folders and the file-based trigger workflow  | [Folders & Triggers](/configuration/pdf-settings/folders-and-triggers.md) |
| File Extensions    | Naming conventions for processed and archived files                         | [File Extensions](/configuration/pdf-settings/file-extensions.md)         |
| Special Functions  | Render to Image (RTI) and Render to PDF (RTPDF)                             | [Special Functions](/configuration/pdf-settings/special-functions.md)     |

***

## Troubleshooting

For PDF-specific error codes, see [PDF Error Codes](/support/error-codes/pdf.md). For CLI exit codes from the underlying enhancement engine, see [CLI Exit Codes](/support/error-codes/cli.md).

| Symptom                 | Likely cause / fix                                                                             |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **File not found**      | Verify all paths exist and are accessible to the PDF Enhancer process                          |
| **Permission denied**   | Ensure exclusive read access to source files and write access to dest/archive folders          |
| **Invalid JSON**        | Check syntax and parameter values against this reference                                       |
| **Port conflict**       | Use `-p` to specify an alternative port if the default (12033) is in use                       |
| **Memory errors**       | Reduce `maxFactor` or `maxTargetSize`; process smaller batches                                 |
| **Images not enhanced** | Verify `minFileSize`, `minImageWidth`, `minImageHeight`, and resize `threshold`                |
| **Trigger not working** | Confirm the trigger filename matches the `trigger` parameter and the folder is being monitored |


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