How to Separate and Hide Data Sheets from Fillable PDF Forms
Question details
The user wants to know if they can hide or separate a data sheet page within a fillable PDF when sending it out via forms distribution platforms like DocuSign or FormsCentral.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Distributing fillable PDF forms to recipients while keeping internal data sheets confidential.
- Observed behavior
- Platforms like FormsCentral display all pages of an imported PDF to the recipient, exposing sensitive data if not removed beforehand.
Create a backup copy of your original PDF document so you do not permanently lose the internal data sheet when preparing the form for distribution.
Remove the Data Sheet Page Before Uploading
The most secure way to ensure recipients do not see your internal data sheet is to delete that specific page from the PDF before importing it into DocuSign or FormsCentral.
Distribution platforms generally display all pages of an uploaded document to the person filling it out. To prevent unauthorized access to internal information, the sensitive pages must be physically removed from the file before the upload process begins.
Open your fillable PDF document in a standard PDF editor.
Click on the 'Page Thumbnails' panel on the left side of your screen, or navigate to the 'Organize Pages' tool.
Right-click the thumbnail of the page containing the data sheet you wish to hide and select 'Delete Page'.
Go to 'File' > 'Save As' and save the document under a new name (e.g., 'Form_For_Distribution.pdf'). Upload this new file to DocuSign or FormsCentral.
Extract Only the Form Pages for Distribution
If your PDF contains many internal data pages and only a few form pages, extracting the form pages is faster than deleting the data sheets.
Easily Separate and Delete PDF Pages with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a powerful built-in PDF editor that allows you to easily delete, extract, and organize pages in your fillable PDFs. Secure your internal data sheets before distribution with just a few clicks.
- 1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your fillable PDF document containing the data sheet.
- 2. Access Page Management: Click on the 'Page' tab in the top navigation menu to view all page thumbnails.
- 3. Delete or Extract: Select the data sheet page, then click the 'Delete' icon to remove it, or select the form pages and click 'Extract' to save them separately.
- 4. Save the New File: Go to 'Menu' > 'Save As' to create a new version of the PDF ready for DocuSign or FormsCentral.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide a specific page in DocuSign without deleting it?
DocuSign generally displays all uploaded pages to the signers. To ensure a data sheet remains unseen, it is best practice to remove the page from the PDF before uploading it to the envelope.
Will deleting a page break the fillable form fields?
Deleting a page only removes the form fields located on that specific page. The fillable fields on the remaining pages will continue to function normally.
How do I keep the data sheet for my own records?
Always use the 'Save As' function after deleting the data sheet to create a new file for distribution. This ensures your original PDF, complete with the internal data sheet, remains intact on your computer.
