# Flatten PDF form fields on iOS

Form elements in a PDF document can be flattened in the Nutrient UI by sharing (exporting) the document and choosing the Flatten Annotations option. They can also be flattened programmatically using the [`Processor`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/processor) class.

Form elements are of the special annotation type [`Annotation.Kind.widget`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/annotation/kind/widget). Refer to our guide on [flattening annotations](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/annotations/flatten.md), which also covers flattening for print and how to restrict permissions with a document after flattening. You can use the method discussed there to flatten all types of form elements:

### SWIFT

```swift

guard let processorConfiguration = Processor.Configuration(document: originalDocument) else { return }

// Flatten all form elements.
processorConfiguration.modifyAnnotations(ofTypes:.widget, change:.flatten)

do {
    let processor = Processor(configuration: processorConfiguration, securityOptions: nil)
    try processor.write(toFileURL: outputFileURL)
} catch {
    // Handle error.
}

let flattenedDocument = Document(url: outputFileURL)

```

### OBJECTIVE-C

```objc

PSPDFProcessorConfiguration *processorConfiguration = [[PSPDFProcessorConfiguration alloc] initWithDocument:originalDocument];

// Flatten all form elements.
[processorConfiguration modifyAnnotationsOfTypes:PSPDFAnnotationTypeWidget change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];

PSPDFProcessor *processor = [[PSPDFProcessor alloc] initWithConfiguration:processorConfiguration securityOptions:nil];
NSError *error;
if (![processor writeToFileURL:outputFileURL error:&error]) {
    // Handle error.
}

PSPDFDocument *flattenedDocument = [[PSPDFDocument alloc] initWithURL:outputFileURL];

```

Alternatively, you can flatten only certain types of form elements by specifying a [`PDFFormField.Kind`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/pdfformfield/kind) and using [`Processor.Configuration.modifyForms(of:change:)`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/processor/configuration/modifyforms(of:change:)). For example, you might not want to flatten a signature annotation, as only the visual representation of the digital signature — and not the actual digital signature — would be included in the resulting document:

### SWIFT

```swift

guard let processorConfiguration = Processor.Configuration(document: originalDocument) else { return }

// Flatten all form elements except signature elements.
processorConfiguration.modifyForms(of:.pushButton, change:.flatten)
processorConfiguration.modifyForms(of:.radioButton, change:.flatten)
processorConfiguration.modifyForms(of:.checkBox, change:.flatten)
processorConfiguration.modifyForms(of:.text, change:.flatten)
processorConfiguration.modifyForms(of:.listBox, change:.flatten)
processorConfiguration.modifyForms(of:.comboBox, change:.flatten)

do {
    let processor = Processor(configuration: processorConfiguration, securityOptions: nil)
    try processor.write(toFileURL: outputFileURL)
} catch {
    // Handle error.
}

let flattenedDocument = Document(url: outputFileURL)

```

### OBJECTIVE-C

```objc

PSPDFProcessorConfiguration *processorConfiguration = [[PSPDFProcessorConfiguration alloc] initWithDocument:originalDocument];

// Flatten all form elements except signature elements.
[processorConfiguration modifyFormsOfType:PSPDFFormFieldTypePushButton change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];
[processorConfiguration modifyFormsOfType:PSPDFFormFieldTypeRadioButton change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];
[processorConfiguration modifyFormsOfType:PSPDFFormFieldTypeCheckBox change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];
[processorConfiguration modifyFormsOfType:PSPDFFormFieldTypeText change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];
[processorConfiguration modifyFormsOfType:PSPDFFormFieldTypeListBox change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];
[processorConfiguration modifyFormsOfType:PSPDFFormFieldTypeComboBox change:PSPDFAnnotationChangeFlatten];

PSPDFProcessor *processor = [[PSPDFProcessor alloc] initWithConfiguration:processorConfiguration securityOptions:nil];
NSError *error;
if (![processor writeToFileURL:outputFileURL error:&error]) {
    // Handle error.
}

PSPDFDocument *flattenedDocument = [[PSPDFDocument alloc] initWithURL:outputFileURL];

```
---

## Related pages

- [Extract data from PDF form fields on iOS](/guides/ios/forms/extract-form-data.md)
- [Validating PDF forms using JavaScript on iOS](/guides/ios/forms/javascript-validation.md)
- [PDF form library for iOS](/guides/ios/forms.md)
- [Exploring PDF form actions on iOS devices](/guides/ios/forms/pdf-actions-support.md)