Scripting a TeX document - (or other way to number pdf pages)

[Patton Echols]

I am working on a modification to the script found here:

http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=30598

The purpose is to "page number" an existing PDF document.  Part of the 
process requires a pdf document with the page numbers in the appropriate 
place.  The script author made his manually using OO.  What I would like 
to do is to script the process.  One of the commentators to the script 
said that he made his using LaTeX. (Which I know nothing about).

The documentation I have been able to find is massive and frankly I 
don't  quite know where to begin. 

What I would like to do is to feed a script a PDF and have it calculate 
the number of pages "$n", then the script would create the "page number" 
pdf with pages $n, and the correct text, font, color, leading zeros, 
etc.  (Example "Page PE - 00001")

  So here are the questions:

If this is something that can be done with LaTeX? (tex-live)

Nodding in the direction of "RTFM" is there a recommended "FM?" (and 
pointers about what I should be reading!)

Is there another way of doing the above that would be more 
straightforward / scriptable?

Thanks

--PE