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"What I mean is that if I make the checkboxes non-printable, and keep them as fields, and then flatten all text and image input fields."
Otherwise you can select all checkboxes, cut them, flatten the form fields, then paste.
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Just print to PDF when you're done filling file.
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Ah ok I will try that but I need to keep some of the form objects still (checkboxes), but transform the text and image fields to normal text and images.
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That seems extremely janky for something that should be a simple option on one of the most widely used programs in the world. Acrobat Pro is horrible software.
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You can do that using a simple script:
this.flattenPages();
If you want it to not flatten some fields then you would need to set them first as non-printing (ie. either hidden or visible, but doesn't print), then run this command:
this.flattenPages({bNonPrint: 1});
Just be aware this process is NOT reversible, so make sure to save the flattened file under a new name, or to keep a backup of the original somewhere.
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Also note that if you do this you'll lose all information that's not available on the screen, such as overflowing text in a text field with a scroll-bar.
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ok thanks!!! will this make it possible to use the form fields (checkboxes) not flattened in the PDF after exporting? But see th eothers as just text and images?
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No, flatten means that you take away the interactivity and all that happens in the background. A bit like printing and scanning, accept that there will be no need for running OCR.
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What I mean is that if I make the checkboxes non-printable, and keep them as fields, and then flatten all text and image input fields.. and then open the PDF in the 3rd party software where I can view the PDF with form fields or without.. can I still use the checboxes and check/uncheck?
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Why would you do that, as you want to flatten the file? 3rd Party software may or may not work correctly with your file.
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It a tabletop roleplaying form that will show in virtual tabletop software online. The users need to be able to interact with it.
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If you print, you will lose checkbox interactivity.
Why not use text box instead of text fields?
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When you say print.. what do you mean? I will only use it digitally on screen.
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Print file and select Adobe PDF as printer.
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I said that flattening was the digital equivalent of printing and scanning. 😉
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ok.. I have dropdowns with content as well that needs to be fixed with content and not dropdown-able in the PDF but I will do some experimentation.
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> will this make it possible to use the form fields (checkboxes) not flattened in the PDF after exporting? But see th eothers as just text and images?
Correct. The unflattened fields will continue working just like before.
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"What I mean is that if I make the checkboxes non-printable, and keep them as fields, and then flatten all text and image input fields."
Otherwise you can select all checkboxes, cut them, flatten the form fields, then paste.
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There is a flattener among the (free) abracadabraTools:
https://www.abracadabrapdf.net/utilitaires/utilities-in-english/abracadabratools_en/
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I have now set the checkboxes to "Visible but not printable", and objects I need to flatten to "visible".
I used the "Flatten" feature of abracadabra, and it flattened ALL objects.
I opened the Javascript debugger console and script, and entered this script:
this.flattenPages({bNonPrint: 1});
as suggested above but nothing happened when clicked the green circle button. I tried to run the script all over the javascript editor but I couldn't get the script to run. also tried to remove the "this." prefix.
What is wrong?
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To run the code select it and press Ctrl+Enter.
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Ok thanks I clicked Command+Enter on my Mac and it ran the script but ALL objects got flattened. Darn
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I used the "Flatten" feature of abracadabra, and it flattened ALL objects.
That's why I suggested cutting, flattening, and pasting.
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I found this page and a script named "Flatten page Content Tool" Free Acrobat Automation Tools | pdfscripting.com
This works, but can it be adjusted to only Flatten objects that are printabe by adding this commend somewhere? In this way I can choose exactly what I need flattened.
this.flattenPages({bNonPrint: 1});