A PDF normally signals a viewing copy to many recipients, but LibreOffice can create a PDF that also carries an editable OpenDocument file. Decide whether that source-document handover is intentional before enabling Hybrid PDF.

This guide covers the desktop LibreOffice PDF export dialog described in current LibreOffice Help. Menu wording can vary with the selected interface. Preserve the normal editable source and prepare a separate output file for the intended recipient.

Understand what the hybrid option adds

Open File, Export As, Export as PDF and inspect the General options. Hybrid PDF, labelled as embedding an ODF file, produces a file containing both PDF and OpenDocument formats.

LibreOffice explains that the result behaves like a normal PDF in a PDF viewer while remaining fully editable in LibreOffice. That can be useful when the recipient needs both a convenient preview and the editable source in one file.

If the recipient should receive only the reviewed viewing document, leave the hybrid option off. Do not infer what a file contains solely from its .pdf extension or from how it looks in a viewer.

Review both the purpose and the result

For an intentional hybrid handover, open the output in a PDF viewer and inspect the visible pages. Then open a test copy in LibreOffice and confirm that the intended editable document is available. Tell the recipient that the file contains editable source material.

For a viewing-only handover, export with Hybrid PDF disabled and review the resulting pages and other export choices. Disabling the option does not make the visible content impossible to copy or edit; it avoids this particular embedding mechanism.

Keep the source file and approved output clearly named. If a document contains material you do not intend to share, prepare a properly reviewed delivery source before export rather than relying on an extension to conceal it. The useful decision is what the recipient needs to receive, followed by checking that exact file.

References: LibreOffice: PDF export General options.