How to flatten the PDF generated using standard Appian 'PDF Doc From Template' smartservice (under Document generation)?

Question

How to flatten the PDF generated using standard Appian 'PDF Doc From Template' smartservice (under Document generation)? 
 I am using a PDF Template(fillable PDF form created using Foxit Phantom) with some form fields, whose values are dynamically filled by Appian. It works perfectly. However the generated PDF is editable - a user can change the values. Would like to prevent the user from making changes, so want to the PDF. 
 I tried to use the plug-in 'Fill PDF'. It does have the option to flatten. However in the process design, I am not able to add the PDF form fields and set their corresponding values dynamically. The documentation on this plug-in doesn't address this in detail. Anyone faced this issue before and could help?

Joubin Izadi · Answer

Hi jamesg, 
 
 I understand this is 11 months late, but I found two solutions to your issue. 
 The first is the one I'm currently using and the simpler one - mark the form fields as Read Only in Adobe. 
 Then, the OOTB PDF Doc From Template smart service can still populate the form fields, but the final PDF will no longer be editable. 
 
 The second is to use the Fill PDF plugin (part of PDF tools). You can add the form fields when you populate the PDF Fields data input by passing in an array of dictionary like so: 
 { 
 {name = "formField1", value = "value1"}, 
 {name = "formField2", value = "value2"}, 
 etc. 
 } 
 This solution should work as well - you'll have to manually set up the names of the fields yourself though, the smart service can't parse that automatically.

Rafael Reynoso · Answer

Thank you!

How to flatten the PDF generated using standard Appian 'PDF Doc From Template' smartservice (under Document generation)?

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