Is there a way to make the page numbering nonselectable

Question

Is there any way in pdflatex to make the page numbers non selectable in the outputed documents. I know that there are some pdfs floating around out there where the page number is not included in selects. By page numbers I mean the ones placed at the bottom of each page to mark the current page, not those placed by using a reference command.

Which page numbers do you mean? In the ToC/LoF/LoT/ListOfWhatever? In a page reference by \pageref or in \cite - generated references? — , Apr 20 '17 at 20:42
@ChristianHupfer Updated question to be more clear. I mean the page numbers that mark the page as being that page. — HSchmale, Apr 20 '17 at 20:49
Related: How to make text copy in PDF previewers ignore lineno line numbers? — Werner, Apr 20 '17 at 20:59
Would it be enough if the pagenumbers would not be included if the selected text is copied? — samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz, Apr 20 '17 at 21:24

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 20 '17 at 20:55

The following is reader-specific:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{fancyhdr,accsupp,lipsum}
\pagestyle{fancy}
\fancyhf{}% Clear header/footer
\renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt}% Remove header rule
\fancyfoot[C]{\BeginAccSupp{ActualText={}}\thepage\EndAccSupp{}}

\begin{document}

\lipsum[1-50]

\end{document}

accsupp provides the ability to set content in the document, but let the rendered PDF have it think it's something else.

As mentioned, it's reader-specific. Here's the same selection-view within SumatraPDF:

Note how the page number (1) is selected.

Is there a way to make the page numbering nonselectable

1 Answers1