In this article, I will show you how to convert fillable PDF forms to static PDF and set password by command line. The fillable PDF form refer to PDF which could be filled. For printing or transferring PDF forms, some times we need to flatten PDF form. VeryPDF PDF Toolbox Command Line can help you do this. If you need to know functions of this software, please check it on homepage, in the following part, let us check how to make it work.
Step 1. Download PDF Toolbox Command Line
- There are three versions of this software: Mac, Linux and Window. Please download the right version according to your computer system. Here I will take the Window version for example.
- When downloading finishes, there will be a zip file. Please extract it to some folder then you can find the executable file and call it from the MS Dos Windows.
Step 2. Flatten PDF form to normal PDF file and set password to it.
- When you use this software, please refer to the usage and examples.
- Here is the usage for your reference: pdftoolbox <input files> [options] <-outfile output >
- When flatten PDF form to normal PDF file, please refer to the following command line templates.
pdftoolbox "sample_fillform.pdf" -outfile "_flattenform_out.pdf" –flattenform
By this command line, we can make PDF form sample_fillform.pdf to normal PDF file. When you input the command line, please input full path of the PDF form then input parameter –outfile with output PDF file path and last add parameter –flattenform
Now let us check related parameters:
-flattenform : convert fillable PDF forms to static PDF file.
-outfile : specify an output file name. - When flatten PDF form to normal PDF file, by this software you can also set password to output PDF file. When setting password, this software allows you to set password from two levels in two aspects. Here are some examples for your reference:
Encrypt a PDF using 128-bit strength:
pdftoolbox 1.pdf -outfile 1.128.pdf -ownerpassword foopass
Set an owner password and an user password to a PDF file:
pdftoolbox 1.pdf -outfile out.pdf -ownerpassword opwd -userpassword upwd
Enable high quality printing when encrypt a PDF file:
pdftoolbox 1.pdf -outfile out.pdf -ownerpassword opwd -userpassword upwd-permit printing
Now let us check related parameters:
key40bit : set output PDF encryption strength as 40 bits.
-key128bit : set output PDF encryption strength as 128 bits.
-permit <permissions> : permissions are applied to the output PDF only if encryption strength is specified or an owner or user password is given.
printing : allow top quality printing.
lowprinting : allow lower quality printing.
modifycontents : allow modifying contents.
assembly : allow document assembly.
copying : allow copying.
screenreader : allow screenreader.
modifyannot : allow adding annotation.
filling : allow filling interactive PDF form.
allowall : allow all the above permissions and top quality
printing.
-ownerpassword : set owner password to output PDF file.
-userpassword : set user password to output PDF file.
So by this software, we can flatten PDF form to normal PDF file and then set password. All of those functions are just a slice of this software, it can help you more than you can image. During the using, if you have any question, please contact us as soon as possible.