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Thread ID: 64409 2005-12-14 06:00:00 PLS HELP! Want to disable printing or make the files self-delete. PLS HELP!!! sonytom (9291) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
412529 2005-12-14 06:00:00 Greetings everyone and thank you for reading my thread.

I've got some Word Docs which I can convert them to PDFs, that I need to send away electronically. But due to the nature of the files, I need to make them Read-Only and NOT printable. It would be even better if they can be prevented from being copied, or best of all, it would self-delete after a set period of time.

I know this sort of requirement sounds kind of sci-fi but I believe this sort of thing is possible with DOC and PDF, if anyone can help me out with this sort of thing, I will send you a Christmas card. I'm running a WinXP PC with MS Office 2000 (i know...), CutePDF writer and Acrobat Reader 7.

Any help is dearly appreciated, I would prefer the use of Freeware to get this done, any freely obtainable office add-ons sounds good too. But I'm willing to try anything to make it happen.

Thank you all very much for your time, and may I wish you all an early Merry Christmas!

Kind regards,
Tom
sonytom (9291)
412530 2005-12-14 06:12:00 Read-only is no problem, non-printable is a very big ask and unlikely to be achieved.

Self deleting implies an embedded macro or other executable file and that would be a no-no for most people and might get canned by AV programs anyway, either on download or when it tried to execute.

I can think of ways to make the print almost unreadable, but what stops the recipient from reading it on screen and typing his/her own copy? Then there is copy & paste.

If you can't trust them with the file, or you have a serious problem if anybody sees it, you shouldn't be sending it, the Internet is not that secure.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
412531 2005-12-14 06:28:00 I think Adobe reader Pro would make it so someone couldnt print it.

BUT, it'd be pretty expensive.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
412532 2005-12-14 06:36:00 The bottom line is, if they can read it, they can copy it, one way or the other including "print screen" or simply by photographing the screen. Once a copy is downloaded, it can be reproduced, right down to logos and all the drama.

Why do you want to prevent printing and/or delete it? Maybe a few clues might help produce some workable answers.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
412533 2005-12-14 06:57:00 The bottom line is, if they can read it, they can copy it, one way or the other including "print screen" or simply by photographing the screen. Once a copy is downloaded, it can be reproduced, right down to logos and all the drama.

Why do you want to prevent printing and/or delete it? Maybe a few clues might help produce some workable answers.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

There are various programs around that will encrypt a PDF to make it more secure and prevent printing or copying.
Such as this one
www.verypdf.com
Safari (3993)
412534 2005-12-15 02:02:00 I suspect that any "no print" or "no copy" options set in the full professional Adobe software will work only when recipients use Adobe readers. :D

Ghostscript (open source PostScript) can read PDF files. ;)

The only secure way to do what you want is the CIA way: deliver by hand; let the recipent read it, making no notes; then kill them. :cool:
Graham L (2)
412535 2005-12-15 08:22:00 The only secure way to do what you want is the CIA way: deliver by hand; let the recipient read it, making no notes; then kill them. :cool:

Sadly, this is true. If they can read it on screen, it can (and probably will) be copied.

End of story.

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
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