Native-file redaction is the removal of personal data from a document in its original format. FRCP 34(b)(2)(E)(iii) says a party need not produce the same item in more than one form. anonym.plus reads the hidden layers a native carries, on your own device.
When this applies
A native keeps what an image drops: comments, tracked changes, hidden rows, speaker notes, and cached pivot sources. Rule 34(b)(1)(C) lets the requester ask for that form. Each of those layers can name someone the reader never sees.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the file in anonym.plus on your device.
- It scans cells, comments, notes, and tracked changes.
- The tool flags names, contacts, and IDs in each area.
- Confirm the flags, including hidden comment text.
- Replace or mask each confirmed value.
- Save the clean document on your device.
What you need to provide
- The file (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, or PDF).
- An operator; Replace keeps the document usable.
- Optional rules to keep non-PII codes and formulas.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | cell value → [NAME] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | comment email → [EMAIL] |
| Identifiers | US_SSN | hidden SSN → [SSN] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | tracked edit date → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | slide footer → [ADDRESS] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | notes phone → [PHONE] |
Compliance achieved
- Clears the layers a native carries: comments, revisions, hidden rows, speaker notes.
- FRCP 34(b)(2)(E)(iii) means one form is enough, so pick it before the pass.
- A shape drawn over a cell hides nothing — the value is cut, not covered.
- Offline work keeps the original data inside your firm.
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Limitations & cautions
Such files hide data in comments, hidden rows, and revision history. Confirm those layers are scanned. Producing original format can expose more metadata than an image, so weigh whether a static export fits the request better.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cut inside a native file safe?
Only if the value is removed rather than covered. A shape over a cell, a hidden column, or white text all leave the data in the file. Use Redact so the characters go, or hand over an imaged form for the items you had to mark.
Which hidden layers get scanned?
Comments, tracked changes and revision history, hidden rows and columns, speaker notes, and cached pivot sources. That is where names survive a visual check.
Can I keep formulas while clearing names?
Yes. An allow-list keeps non-PII codes and formulas while personal data is swapped out.