How to protect a word document from being copied or printed?

[hankach]

Hi All ,

What is the solution to protect a word document from being copied from the place where you want to install it , a hard drive of a certain computer or a floppy ,it means that the persons can access, read but cant copy its contents nor the whole document sheet itself. Better to say you can select a paragraph or all but copying when you right click isnt allowed neither when you right click the whole document .
Also even after opening that file , he shall not be able to print a copy of it .
Sometimes you need to handle a file on a floppy or to install it on the computer of someone enabling him just to read but not to steal your work.

Any solution, soft or trick ?
Thank you very much for your support.

[Coldmoon]

Hello Hankach,
Have you tried this office page yet?

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011956981033.aspx

[hankach]

Actually this is a known way to protect editing of the document but still can be copied and printed easily .
Anyhow, thank you .

[Rmus]

-{ Quote: "Sometimes you need to handle a file on a floppy or to install it on the computer of someone enabling him just to read but not to steal your work." }-I know people who convert a Word document to a .pdf file, which allows the restrictions you mention.

Open a .pdf file and go to File|Document Properties|Security to see the options.

Remember, though, that anyone who wants to "steal" your work can just memorize relevant portions, or write them out in longhand. Also, the person can use the Windows PrintScreen to create an image of any document.

---
rich

[Peter2150]

In Word and PDF files, there are password systems, but generally the lock the file, and would also prevent reading.

If you don't want the document stolen, forget floppies, don't let anyone on your computer, and don't let the access the file. Print the relevant things you want them to see and give it to them.

Once you let them read it, they've got it.

[hankach]

Thats true after i opened the pdf file ,properties it had security limitations, any recommendations of such free programs to convert with options ?

Thank you .

[Peter2150]

-{ Quote: "Thats true after i opened the pdf file ,properties it had security limitations, any recommendations of such free programs to convert with options ?

Thank you ." }-

It's that important, and you are worried about free. Doesn't make sense to me.

[hankach]

What's the payable software that you recommend then?

[Peter2150]

-{ Quote: "What's the payable software that you recommend then?" }-

Okay I tested it. Nuance's Professional PDF converter.
http://www.nuance.com/pdfconverter/

It will allow you to convert a document into a pdf file. You apply two passwords. One protects it from opening, the other protects against printing, modifying etc.

If you were two apply both, then the document can't be opened by anything without the password. You could give someone the first password, in which case they could open it, but couldn't print or modify it.

You can add a signature to the document so its part of the document.

Just remember nothing is fool proof. If you gave me the document, and the password to open it to view, it's mine. All I'd need to do is a screen capture, print the picture, rescan it and convert it back into text.

The only really secure thing, is don't share it.

[hankach]

Thank you very much for the help .

[nanana1]

Okay I tested it. Nuance's Professional PDF converter.
hxxp://www.nuance.com/pdfconverter/

Nice find, Pete, I recommend the award-winning pdfFactory Pro.
Enabling the PDF Security there also allows you to set password for opening
allow read/edit, etc.

What its website says,

Security: Encrypt and control access to PDF files as follows:

Prevent printing PDFs
Prevent copying text and graphics
Prevent opening without a password
Prevent editing (yes, PDFs can be edited)

[Peter2150]

-{ Quote: "Okay I tested it. Nuance's Professional PDF converter.
hxxp://www.nuance.com/pdfconverter/

Nice find, Pete, I recommend the award-winning pdfFactory Pro.
Enabling the PDF Security there also allows you to set password for opening
allow read/edit, etc.

What its website says,

Security: Encrypt and control access to PDF files as follows:

Prevent printing PDFs
Prevent copying text and graphics
Prevent opening without a password
Prevent editing (yes, PDFs can be edited)" }-

I've used Nuance products for several years, Paperport, omnipage, etc. They are all top of the line.

[lucas1985]

Any decent PDF printer offers password protection/encryption of files. BullZip PDF Printer (http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php)
-{ Quote: "
Features

Print to PDF from almost any Windows program.
Supports 64-bit operatings systems.
Direct output to the same file each time or prompt for destination.
Control if the printer should ask if you want to see the resulting PDF document.
Control output and prompts programmatically.
Setup can run unattended.
Graphical user interface.
Password protect PDF documents.
128/40 bit encryption.
Quality settings (screen, printer, ebook, prepress).
Set document properties.
Watermark text, size, rotation, and transparency.
Supreimpose/background documents.
Appending/prepending documents.
User interface control.
Command line interface to all settings.
COM/ActiveX interface for programmatic control.
Support for Citrix MetaFrame
Support for Windows Terminal Server
" }-