PDF Studio

Share a report without its embedded companion files

A report includes an embedded source spreadsheet that should not travel with the reading copy.

Open Remove embedded files →
Original documentSOURCEAlpha chapterAttachments removedAttached PDFReading copy
Buddy’s illustration: Attached PDF → Reading copy. Your document’s result depends on its content and settings.

Follow these steps

  1. Open the original single PDF.
  2. Export a copy without reachable embedded-file attachment entries.
  3. Check the reader attachment panel and inspect the output before sharing.

The document and the intended outcome

A report includes an embedded source spreadsheet that should not travel with the reading copy. Remove reachable embedded files, then inspect the attachment panel in a reader.

Make this example work for your file

For an externally shared report, inspect the attachment panel before and after export. An attachment can be a legitimate companion spreadsheet, so keep it separately if the recipient still needs those figures.

Choose only the settings this case needs

Work from the original single PDF and check embedded-file entries after export. Also review visible page content because an attachment cleanup does not remove sensitive text on the pages.

When the example needs a different approach

It may be flattened artwork rather than a live attachment annotation. Confirm whether a file can actually be opened from it before choosing another editing action.

A checked example you can try

Reachable embedded-file name tree is absent.

First page of the exact synthetic input
Input · first page
First page rendered from the checked output
Output · first page
Settings used in this engine check
quality
compact
angle
90
margin
20
start
1
columns
2

Check the result

Deletes attachment name trees, associated-file references and attachment annotations. Unreachable objects may remain in the bytes; use a dedicated sanitization workflow for sensitive documents.

Keep the original. When this task produces a file, reopen the download in the application where you will use it and inspect the affected pages. An illustration explains the operation; it is not a recorded processing test.

Practical tips

  • Work from the original single PDF and check embedded-file entries after export. Also review visible page content because an attachment cleanup does not remove sensitive text on the pages.
  • Inspect metadata, page text and other objects separately. Attachment removal addresses companion files, not a complete privacy review.
  • It may be flattened artwork rather than a live attachment annotation. Confirm whether a file can actually be opened from it before choosing another editing action.

Questions

The document still contains sensitive information?

Inspect metadata, page text and other objects separately. Attachment removal addresses companion files, not a complete privacy review.

An attachment symbol remains on a page?

It may be flattened artwork rather than a live attachment annotation. Confirm whether a file can actually be opened from it before choosing another editing action.

Open Remove embedded files →

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