File Content Extraction 26.1
HTML Export SDK Java Programming Guide

# Show Hidden Data

Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents can contain hidden information, some of which is shown by default when exported, and some of which is hidden by default. You can choose which types of hidden data to show.

NOTE: File Content Extraction does not consider white text on a white background to be hidden text. Export outputs the white text as black text to make it readable.

You can show several types of hidden data from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, each of which has a corresponding parameter in the `Export` class, which you can set to change the default behavior. The following table lists each data type, its default behavior, and its corresponding configuration API flag.

Hidden data settings

Hidden Data Type | Default Behavior | Configuration API Parameter
--- | --- | ---
Microsoft Word |  |
Comments1 Word comment settings can also be toggled with a configuration parameter in the formats_e.ini file. See Toggle Word Comment Settings in the formats_e.ini File. | Shown2 Shown by default in documents from Microsoft Word 97 and later. | `CFG_WP_NOCOMMENTS`
Hidden text | Hidden | `CFG_WP_SHOWHIDDENTEXT`
Date field codes | Calculated date | `CFG_WP_SHOWDATEFIELDCODE`
File name field codes | Document file name | `CFG_WP_SHOWFILENAMEFIELDCODE`
Microsoft Excel |  |
Hidden information | Hidden | `CFG_SS_SHOWHIDDENINFOR`
Notes (previously known as comments) | Hidden | `CFG_SS_SHOWCOMMENTS`
Formulas | Calculated value | `CFG_SS_SHOWFORMULA`
Microsoft PowerPoint |  |
Hidden slides | Shown | `CFG_PG_HIDEHIDDENSLIDE`
Comments | Shown3 Shown by default in Microsoft PowerPoint 97 to 2000 documents. | `CFG_PG_HIDECOMMENT`
Comments slide | Hidden | `CFG_PG_SHOWCOMMENTSSLIDE` 4 This setting affects PowerPoint 2003 and 2007 only.
Slide notes5 PowerPoint slide note settings can also be toggled with a configuration parameter in the formats_e.ini file. See Toggle PowerPoint Slide Note Settings in the formats_e.ini File. | Hidden | `CFG_PG_SHOWSLIDENOTES`

To toggle the display of hidden data

- Use the `setConfigOption` method of the `Export` object, and set the `config` parameter to one of the options listed in Hidden data settings. Setting a hidden data parameter changes the default behavior.

  For example:

      objExport.setConfigOption(Export.CFG_WP_SHOWHIDDENTEXT);

  In this case, the configuration parameter ensures that hidden text in Microsoft Word documents is shown (it is hidden by default).

### Toggle Word Comment Settings in the formats_e.ini File

Microsoft Word 97 to 2003 comment settings can also be controlled through a parameter in the `formats_e.ini` file.

The `formats_e.ini` file is in the directory `install\PLATFORM\bin`, where `install` is the path of the Export SDK and `PLATFORM` is the name of the platform.

To toggle comment output in formats_e.ini

1. Open the `formats_e.ini` file in a text editor.

2. Under `[Options]`, add the `WP_NOCOMMENTS` parameter and set it to `0` to show comments, or `1` to hide comments. For example:

       [Options]
       WP_NOCOMMENTS=1

   NOTE: The `CFG_WP_NOCOMMENTS` configuration API flag overrides the setting in `formats_e.ini`.

### Toggle PowerPoint Slide Note Settings in the formats_e.ini File

Microsoft PowerPoint slide note settings can also be controlled through a parameter in the `formats_e.ini` file.

The `formats_e.ini` file is in the directory `install\PLATFORM\bin`, where `install` is the path of the Export SDK and `PLATFORM` is the name of the platform.

To toggle slide note output in formats_e.ini

1. Open the `formats_e.ini` file in a text editor.

2. Under `[Options]`, add the `ShowSlideNotes` parameter and set it to `1` to show slide notes, or `0` to hide slide notes. For example:

       [Options]
       ShowSlideNotes=1

   NOTE: The `CFG_PG_SHOWSLIDENOTES` configuration API flag overrides the setting in `formats_e.ini`.

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Version 26.1 | Last updated January 2026

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Product: File Content Extraction 26.1

Topic Title: Show Hidden Data