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M
morganw4118444
Known Participant
May 12, 2020
Answered

Can form fields be flattened in the Macintosh version of Acrobat DC?

  • May 12, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 5000 views

And if so, how?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jane-e

So I don't have "Professional" if I am on a mac?  Or do you mean I *must* have professional if on a Mac?


You do have Professional on a Mac. Standard is not an option.

Here is a second way to flatten form fields:

https://acrobatusers.com/tutorials/how-to-flatten-form-fields/

6 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 13, 2020

"I don't need any magic properties, but I would like to make sure the form field entries are not changed before the doc is signed"

Why can't you sign the document before sending it for signature?

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
M
morganw4118444Author
Known Participant
May 13, 2020

Would this prevent the doc from being printed and hand signed in the traditional manner?  Would my "signature" leave a mark on the page?

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
May 13, 2020

"Printing to PDF doesn't seem to be possible from Acrobat on a Mac." That is correct (not since macOS 10.7).

"The "Save" function does not appear to offer any way to lock/flatten/finalize/etc any of the form fields." That is correct.

We have said what you need to do, though. Two possibilities, and since you do not seem to be a programmer the JavaScript solution doesn't seem one you will much care for. Hence, the PDF Optimizer solution. But my recommendation would be not to bother, there is a huge mythology around "flattening", ascribing it all sorts of magic properties it does not have.

M
morganw4118444Author
Known Participant
May 13, 2020

The option to save as an optimized PDF is blocked (grayed out).

 

I have programmed in C/C++/LISP/assembly.  If it is something as simple as entering code into a console and setting some command line parameters I am fine with that.  If I have to download a compiler/dev kit/etc, probably not.

 

Also won't the same security properties block the function anyway?

 

I don't need any magic properties, but I would like to make sure the form field entries are not changed before the doc is signed.

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 13, 2020

"The option to save as an optimized PDF is blocked (grayed out)."

Correct. The security settings of the document doesn't allow changing the document.

JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 13, 2020

"How do I access the functionality you are referring to?"

 

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 13, 2020

You can use the PDF Optimizer too, and save the setting:

 

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
M
morganw4118444Author
Known Participant
May 13, 2020

How do I access the functionality you are referring to?

 

If I search Help for PDF Optimizer I get no results.  I see none in the menus.  The only functions I have that reference the word "optimize" are the compression and OCR options and those do not have the parameters you are referencing nor does the interface look like that.

 

I am using the Mac version of Acrobat Pro DC.

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
May 13, 2020

To access the PDF Optimizer in Acrobat Pro DC use File > Save as other > Optimized PDF. (Note: flattener preview refers to a different kind of flattening - transparency flattening. There are at least four different things which people call "flattening" for PDFs, adding to the confusion. In the UI, it means only a kind you aren't interested in.)  

 

(By the way, flattening forms is NOT a kind of security, as some web sites foolishly claim!)

    M
    morganw4118444Author
    Known Participant
    May 12, 2020

    So the Acrobat software itself has no function to turn fillable form fields into permanent page content?

     

    seems weird

    Bernd Alheit
    Community Expert
    Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 12, 2020

    flattenPages is a function of Acrobat.

     

    You can also flatten form fields with the preflight tool.

    M
    morganw4118444Author
    Known Participant
    May 12, 2020

    Thank you!  How can I access either of those functions?  They are not referenced from the help menu nor are any "flatten" functions visible in the menus themselves

    Bernd Alheit
    Community Expert
    Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 12, 2020

    You can use this Javascript code:

    this.flattenPages();

     

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