# Flatten PDF files: web app, CLI, MCP and C# (FOSS)

## What it does
Flattens PDF form fields, annotations and layer content into static page content, making the document non‑editable while preserving its appearance.

## Inputs and limits
* Input: a single PDF file uploaded or provided via URL.  
* The tool processes any standard PDF; there are no explicit size limits mentioned in the documentation.

## Web app
The web page asks you to **Upload a PDF to flatten**. After uploading, the service merges layers, forms and annotations into a single static document. Options are available to keep or remove specific fields.

Client configuration (the key comes from your Documentize account):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "documentize": {
      "url": "https://api.documentize.app/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer dmk_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Tool call (`tools/call`). The tool returns a task id; poll `get_task_status` until it reports 200, then download the file from `uploadFileName`:

```json
{
  "name": "flatten_document",
  "arguments": {
    "fileUrl": "https://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tests/xhtml/testfiles/resources/pdf/dummy.pdf"
  }
}
```

## Command line (CLI)
The Documentize.Flatten CLI plugin flattens PDF form fields. Provide the PDF in the task‑input folder; the plugin writes the flattened PDF to the task‑output folder. Options:

* `--skip-fields` – comma‑separated field names to leave un‑flattened (default: none)  
* `--flatten-only-fields` – comma‑separated field names to flatten exclusively (default: none)  

```bash
# Linux / macOS (needs the .NET 10 runtime and documentize.lic next to the DLL)
export PLUGIN_INPUT_DIR=./work/input
export PLUGIN_OUTPUT_DIR=./work/output
mkdir -p "$PLUGIN_INPUT_DIR/job1"
cp form.pdf "$PLUGIN_INPUT_DIR/job1/"
dotnet Documentize.Flatten.dll --task-id job1
ls "$PLUGIN_OUTPUT_DIR/job1"
```

```powershell
# Windows PowerShell
$env:PLUGIN_INPUT_DIR  = "$PWD\work\input"
$env:PLUGIN_OUTPUT_DIR = "$PWD\work\output"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$env:PLUGIN_INPUT_DIR\job1" | Out-Null
Copy-Item form.pdf "$env:PLUGIN_INPUT_DIR\job1\"
dotnet Documentize.Flatten.dll --task-id job1
Get-ChildItem "$env:PLUGIN_OUTPUT_DIR\job1"
```

## MCP
The hosted MCP tool **FlattenDocument** flattens form fields and annotations from a PDF available at a public URL.

Parameters:

* `fileUrl` (required) – public URL of the PDF to flatten  
* `skipFields` (optional) – comma‑separated field names to skip  
* `flattenOnlyFields` (optional) – comma‑separated field names to flatten exclusively  

Client configuration (the key comes from your Documentize account):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "documentize": {
      "url": "https://api.documentize.app/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer dmk_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Tool call (`tools/call`). The tool returns a task id; poll `get_task_status` until it reports 200, then download the file from `uploadFileName`:

```json
{
  "name": "flatten_document",
  "arguments": {
    "fileUrl": "https://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tests/xhtml/testfiles/resources/pdf/dummy.pdf"
  }
}
```

## Aspose.PDF.FOSS (C#)
The sample uses Aspose.PDF.FOSS to load a PDF, flatten its interactive elements, and save the result.

```csharp
#:package Aspose.PDF.FOSS@26.11.0

using Aspose.Pdf;

var inputDir = args[0];
var outputDir = args[1];

var inputFile = Directory.GetFiles(inputDir, "*.pdf").First();
var doc = new Document(inputFile);

// Convert form fields and annotations to static page content
if (doc.Form != null) doc.Flatten(); // Aspose flatten method

var outputPath = Path.Combine(outputDir, "flattened.pdf");
doc.Save(outputPath);
Console.WriteLine("flattened.pdf written");
```

Save it as `app.cs` and run `dotnet run app.cs -- ./in ./out` (.NET 10 SDK).

## Verified

Every code sample on this page was run on 2026-11-03 and its result was checked:

- Flatten MCP sample (hosted MCP server): passed in 10 s
- Flatten CLI sample (CLI plugin): passed in 4 s
- Flatten C# FOSS sample (Aspose.PDF.FOSS): passed in 6 s