Hide Text When Printing a PDF Document to a Printer

[Kristine5FD3]

I have a client that struggles with his invoicing, so to assist him, I created an invoice 'template' PDF form for him to use for his invoicing. When he goes to use the invoice template, he need only enter his info and print it to his printer.

My question: How do I have certain bits of text that I want visible on the PDF, not print on the paper copy he generates?

I've done this before with form elements such as buttons; however, with regular text, I don't seem to have the option to select "Visisble but don't print."

Thanks in advance!

Best,

Kristine

P.S. I'm using the new, modern Acrobat, unfortunately 😖, so I would not be at all surprised if Adobe has removed that feature given the dismal overhaul Acrobat has been undergoing.

[PDF Automation Station · Accepted solution]

You can't make static text non-printable unless you cover it with a form field with white fill.  You could use a Will Print script to make those fields visible and a Did Print script to return them to hidden.  An easier way would be to create text fields that are visible but not printable.  Make those fields Read Only so they user can't interact with them and tabbing skips over them.  Also, set their default values to the text you want displayed, this way, a form reset will not clear the text.  Doing it this way will have the appearance of static text, but you can make it not printable.

[Kristine5FD3]

@PDF Automation Station  Thanks for your reply.

Interestingly, I did have the thought about making read-only text fields, so that is what I will go with. I guess I was secretly hoping that there was some option, hidden, for making static text non-printable.

Thanks again,

Kristine

[PDF Automation Station]

Another option is to create a layer that you can hide or show with Will Print and Did Print.

https://acrobatusers.com/tutorials/print/create_use_layers/

[Kristine5FD3]

Yes, I saw that option as well in some of the internet searching that I did... I like your suggestion for read only text fields best, so Imma start with technique first and go from there. wish me luck!

[PDF Automation Station]

That will be easiest.  Good luck!

[try67]

An even easier way is to place fields on top of that text with a white fill color and set their visibility to "Hidden but printable". Then you won't need to use any scripts to show/hide them, etc.

[PDF Automation Station]

Perfect!