Adobe Community: Document Restrictions of Security Policies

Currently Being Moderated

1. (Sarabjit_Singh),

Dec 18, 2006 10:08 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Hi Robert

I have a question for you.

Can you provide some details of the policy that you have created?

Like what permissions are checked, who's authorized to access etc.

I am trying to reproduce your issue.

Thanks for your time.
Sarabjit Singh
Adobe Document Center Team

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

2. (tobias_hoellrich),

Dec 18, 2006 10:37 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Robert - thanks for the description above. I'm one of the engineers for Adobe Document Center. I just tested the scenario you describe and here's what I saw:

1) I opened a non-secure PDF document and used Secure->Manage Security Policies ... to bring up the Policies dialog
2) I selected "New" to create a new policy
3) Inside Adobe Document Center I created a new policy where only "Print" under access-rights was checked and I also set the policy to expire after 90 days
4) Back in Acrobat-8 I selected the newly created policy and assigned it to the document.
5) I reopened the document on two different systems and verified that the security settings were reflected properly: both systems showed "Allowed" only next to "Print" and on both systems "Extract Pages ..." in the Document menu was grayed out.

I wonder if you looked at the security settings of the *envelope* when you saw that "Extract Pages ..." was not grayed out? The envelope does not have any security settings applied to it and is always readable by anybody (unless you secure the envelope as well).

Is that possible? If you can recreate this problem and can send me the steps on how to reproduce it, I'd be more than happy to take a closer look.

Thanks

Tobias Hoellrich
Adobe Systems Inc.
thoellri@adobe.com

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

3. (CindyLL),

Dec 19, 2006 4:10 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I have been fighting the same problem most of the day...except I WANT my users to only be able to extract pages and print. No matter what I do, Extract pages is always grayed out.

Cindy

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

4. (Princess_Brown),

Jan 10, 2007 7:01 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I, need to fill out a hardship form.

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

5. (Holly_Flannery),

Feb 6, 2007 11:32 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I'm new to Acrobat 8 Standard - can anyone tell me how to allow my viewers to print the PDF file but not allow them to make any changes to the text please? Many thanks!

Holly

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

6. (Rwilson7),

Feb 6, 2007 9:41 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Hi Holly,
Question - is that all you want to do? Or do the documents have value to you such that you want to maintain control over how long they are used, by whom, and for how long?

1. If the former, you can use password protection to protect the documents, and format them so that they cannot be altered.

From within Adobe Acrobat 8 with the document visible.
Select Secure / Password Encrypt / Permissions
Click on Restrict Editing and Printing
Key in a protection password (I use the same for all documents)
Select Printing permissions "High Resolution" from drop down menu
Select Changes Allowed "None" from Drop Down Menu
Make sure "Enable copying of text, images.... box is unchecked

Don't worry about creating Security Envelopes or anything else. Just click cancel if those windows pop up.

Your security changes will not take effect until you save the document. Once saved, you can go to Secure / Show Security Properties / Show Details to confirm that all settings are as you want.

2. If you want to do the latter, you can sign up for Adobe Live Cycle Policy Server protection of the document. Adobe just came out with a new service. Right now its free. Later to be subscription based.

https://dc.adobe.com/adc/login.do?nextURL=https%3A%2F%2Fdc.adobe.com%2 Fadc%2Fadc.do

I use this, since I want to maintain control over the documents. I let people print only. No other changes, no copying, no emailing. And the document "self destructs" on the date I set for its expiration.

Regards,
Robert

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

7. (Holly_Flannery),

Feb 7, 2007 5:09 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Robert, thank you so much for your response but it just goes to show how new I am at this. I failed to mention that I don't want to use a password. I'll have 113 of these PDF files accessed within a Help system that will be on many client workstations and/or intranet sites. I want the user to be able to print directly from Acrobat Reader (it displays in the Reader within the Help system) rather than from the Help system (I don't want the usual HTML header/footer info on the pages) which I've tested and works, but I don't want them to be able to edit the PDF file. Am I asking for too much?

Holly

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

8. (Derek_Marcs),

Feb 7, 2007 7:30 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Question--I dont know if this is possible with Adobe but I have a PDF that I need certain parts of the data masked and locked (ex: social security numbers) is there a way I can do this with Adobe?

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

9. (Rwilson7),

Feb 7, 2007 11:26 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Hi Holly,
I'm afraid that's way out of my league.
I don't understand why a password wouldn't be the solution. Everyone could print seamlessly without the password, but no one could modify or change the document without it. But I'm sure you'll figure it out, or someone else here might have a solution for you.
R

|

Mark as:

Guest

Currently Being Moderated

10. ,

Feb 9, 2007 4:18 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Hi Holly,

I am not sure I completely understand your question. The PDF files will not be editable by your users. If you want to prevent your users from being able to copy out of the files you can use the Adobe Document Center to apply a policy to the PDF files which does not allow the users accessing the file to copy from the file but still be able to print the files.

Let us know if you have any additional questions.

Adobe Document Center Team.

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

11. (wasiim),

May 22, 2007 2:36 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I have download a Study guide from Internet. But i am unable to print it. The print option is disable.

Can anyone help me so that i can take the print of this PDF file.

I wana go for the exam and i wana take it in hard form which will be easy for me for study purposes.

waiting for reply

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

12. (rmeldahl),

May 23, 2007 12:24 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I am not a PDF expert. I have a book that is self-published. I want to make it available on my web site for reading only. I have gone into Adobe and restricted it to:
1. Not printing
2. Not copying
However, it can be saved. My questions are:
1. Is this the best security that I can do? Can I prevent saving also?
2. How secure is the non-printing and non-copying options? Can someone clever open it someone and print it an violate my copyright?

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

13. (manojkumarprasad),

May 30, 2007 2:58 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

can anyone tell me how to allow my viewers to print if print option is disable the PDF file but not allow them to make any changes to the text please?

waiting for reply

Regards,
Manoj Kr P r A s A d
TCE Consulting Engineers Limited
System Administrator
Jamshedpur, India

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

14. (FRANK_UMPIERRE),

May 31, 2007 2:25 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

no ---np sead to off com---see noan one t-you frank umpierre

|

Mark as:

Guest

Currently Being Moderated

15. ,

Jun 12, 2007 10:21 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

> Reply to Question from rmeldahl

Hi,
You can use the Adobe Document Center and define a policy which will prevent the users from printing and copying from your book. If your customers download the book from your website to their desktop and try to open it, the download file will also not allow the user to print and copy from the PDF file.
Thanks
Adobe Document Center Team

|

Mark as:

Guest

Currently Being Moderated

16. ,

Jun 12, 2007 10:24 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Hi Manoj,

If the print option is disabled for the PDF file you will not be able to print it. You have to contact the original author of the PDF and ask him/her to allow printing of the PDF file.

The PDF file format does not enable making changes to the content.

Thanks
Adobe Document Center Team.

|

Mark as:

Guest

Currently Being Moderated

17. ,

Jun 12, 2007 10:44 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Reply to Question from wasiim

Hi,

If the print option is disabled you need to contact the author of the document to enable you to print the document.

Thanks
Adobe Document Center Team.

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

18. (Anne_Elmerick),

Jun 21, 2007 9:49 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Help please. I want to email a document for viewing only. How can I restrict the reader from copying the page with "screen print" or "one note" or "snag'it" or something similar?
Thanks,
Anne

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

19. (Ashu),

Jun 22, 2007 12:29 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

hi

i have a pdf document in which the document protection summary says -> "docment change: not allowed & document extraction: not allowed". The author of the document is not traceable. so can this be resolved. The document does not have any other restrictions and also is not password protected.

Ashu

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

20. (Palle_Jensen),

Sep 11, 2007 7:10 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

We have just installed Ver. 8 Pro and are unable to restrict page extraction. We have tried both security settings and security policy but page extraction remains "allowed" whatever we do. Please advise. Thanks.

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

21. (CEM_Insurance),

Oct 25, 2007 12:06 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I have the exact same problem. I simply am trying to restrict everything. I choose password security, and set everything to NONE. Then just like others, page extraction is ALLOWED. I can find nothing to stop this with full restriction. Please someone help as obviously others have the same issue.

Thanks

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

22. (AngieOkamoto),

Oct 26, 2007 7:11 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Hello Everyone,
The document will be restricted for extraction. When you apply the security setting, the following message is provided (if you haven't already cleared it from appearing by checking the box: Do no show this message again.)

"Security settings will not be applied to the document until you save the document. You will be able to continue to change security settings until you close the document."

That last setting of page extraction is not altered until the document is closed. Upon re-opening the file you will see the setting has indeed taken effect.

If you have cleared the warnings - and would like to turn them back on:
Edit->Preferences (ctrl k)
General Category
"Reset All Warnings"

Cheers.
Angie Okamoto
www.techedsolutions.com

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

23. (Joe_Smith),

Dec 11, 2007 12:22 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

If the document author does not want you to print, use pdf2ps to turn the document into postscript, and then print that instead. Better yet, most versions of xpdf do not follow the optional PDF security flags and will allow for printing, copying of text, etc.

Cheers,
Joe Smith

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

24. (Charlie_Peck),

Feb 6, 2008 5:03 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

We are trying to do the same thing as Cindy. We need our users to be able to extract pages but not make changes to the document (we have had problems with users accidentally selecting the "delete pages after extraction" option"

Any way to do this?

Thanks,

Charlie

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

25. (ronald007),

Apr 26, 2008 5:32 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

When I apply the security setting, the following message is provided (if you haven't already cleared it from appearing by checking the box: Do no show this message again.) Why this is hapening?Can I use pdf2ps to turn the document into postscript, and then print that instead. Better yet, most versions of xpdf do not follow the optional PDF security flags and will allow for printing, copying of text, etc.
Martin Fowl
| inkjet
cartridge | data recovery
| data recovery |

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

26. (debjani_dasgupta),

Apr 30, 2008 7:39 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

sorry I never went through this problem, but I think most versions of xpdf do not follow the optional PDF security flags and will allow for printing, copying of text, etc.
Martin Fowl
| inkjet
cartridge | data recovery
| data recovery |

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

27. (Jill_Scraver),

May 1, 2008 9:46 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I am also trying to allow users to extract pages from documents but not make any other changes. I have tried all the existing security settings and this option doesn't seem to be available in Adobe Professional version 7.0.

The only thing I can come up with is to allow them to copy the file into a TIF format which creates a separate file for each page. It doesn't allow you to specify the pages you want to copy so for a large file it is very cumbersome.

I have also used SnagIt to capture several pages but again that isn't truly the most efficient. Anyone have any other ideas?

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

28. (mbethel),

May 22, 2008 6:26 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

HOW DO YOU PREVENT PDF FILES ON THE WEB FROM BEING SAVED?
I saw the previous post from rmehldahl, but don't see a "true" answer about how to prevent SAVING a fully "secured" PDF when it is available on a website. All you have to do is File, Save As and you can save. We don't want copying, printing, or saving. Password and security settings theoretically take care of copying and printing, but I see nothing to stop users from saving a file off of the website. HELP!? Thank you.

RMEHDAHL:
I am not a PDF expert. I have a book that is self-published. I want to make it available on my web site for reading only. I have gone into Adobe and restricted it to:
1. Not printing
2. Not copying
However, it can be saved. My questions are:
1. Is this the best security that I can do? Can I prevent saving also?
2. How secure is the non-printing and non-copying options? Can someone clever open it someone and print it an violate my copyright?

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

29. (svester),

Aug 9, 2008 4:39 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I'm in way over my head as a new newbie. I have been assigned the task of creating a simple webpage that will allow the viewing party to click an image of a ticket (a link to a .pdf document) and thus print a ticket to a meeting. I am clueless, and after searching, now even more clueless.

I need to:
Print only, prohibit saving or editing
Print todays date on the document (updating to todays date, and titling it an expiration date, making the ticket valid today only)
Preferably print without actually opening acrobat, or at least automatically closing it when the printing is complete.

Anyone who can help give me some direction would be my friend for life.

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

30. (Jim_Edmunds),

Dec 18, 2008 9:59 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I am trying to do more or less the same as Jill, Charlie, and Cindy. I want users to be able to do everything except modify text (i.e. extract pages, copy text, etc.).

The four settings options in the drop-down box on the security tab provide everything but this option.

Any ideas???

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

31. (MariPopins),

Feb 2, 2009 6:32 AM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Robert I have this same problem, any solution yet? Hom e pa g e

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

32. jkrim01,

Jun 24, 2009 9:03 AM in reply to Guest

Report

Hi, i saw this post

"> Reply to Question from rmeldahl

Hi,
You can use the Adobe Document Center and define a policy which will prevent the users from printing and copying from your book. If your customers download the book from your website to their desktop and try to open it, the download file will also not allow the user to print and copy from the PDF file.
Thanks
Adobe Document Center Team "

that sounds perfect for what i need. how do i do this? can i send it to others in an email?

thanks!

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

33. Tostubbit,

Nov 11, 2009 3:54 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

Hello Robert,

Im trying to acomplish the same thing Holly was but i have the Adobe Reader 9 and I cannot find the Select Secure / Password Encrypt / Permissions you mentioned... Could you please tell me on how to get there; if at all possible since I have a different version.

Thank you,

|

Mark as:

Currently Being Moderated

34. sunshinecoastguy,

Dec 15, 2010 12:57 PM in reply to (Rwilson7)

Report

I have been using Adobe 6 Standard for probably four or five years now. My principle use of it was to put together a written report, maybe attach some addendum pages, and then secure it all to send off with only printing allowed. I just bought Adobe 9 Pro Extended and see that I can allow/disallow page extractions, possibly something that I had in 6 but wasn't aware of.

I am also having the same problem as some of the other users of now trying to creat a policy that disallows page extraction. I know its probably one step that I'm not doing but I followed the instructiopns in the comments below and "page extraction allowed" still shows up after I've tried to create that limitation in my policy. What am I not doing or doing wrong?

Suggestion, would it be possible for Adobe to allow users to highlight that permission and change it simply by highlighting it from "Allow" to "Disallow". That would probably make a lot of users real happy

sunshinecoastguy

|

Mark as:

Adobe Document Center

Document Restrictions of Security Policies

Dec 15, 2006 4:25 AM

More Like This

Bookmarked By (0)