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Guest
Is there a way to protect (via password) a Word 2003 document from being saved while still allowing that document to be fully edited?
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J
Jean-Guy Marcil
Hi Arthur,
Normally, if you protect the document against modification, when it is
opened, a password is required, otherwise the document will be "Read only".
In the "Read Only" mode, a user can change all he/she wants in the document
(Edit it), but will not be able to save it unless the proper password was
given when opening it. So it can be edited and printed but not saved.
But the user can decide to use "Save as" and give the document a new name.
This new document will be saved with the changes AND the password. So, if
the user does not know the password, he/she will not be able to save it
later when editing it a second time (after having closed it) because it will
be in "Read Only" mode. But they could repeat the above, and create a chain
of documents!
Alternatively, they could save it as ".rtf", which will strip the password.
Then re-open it, save it as a ".doc" (and if they wanted to play with your
head, give it a new password, close it, then give it the original name while
in the Windows Explorer, then send it back to you, and you will not be able
to do anything with it because of the new password!).
So as you can see, basic document security in Word is not very strong... If
you can see it on the screen, you can usually do something with it. The best
protection is the password to open it. Don't know the password, then you
can't even open it. Use a fairly long password, and most people will give up
trying to crack it as it can take a long time with a cheap cracking program.
But apparently, Word 2003 has made improvements in the area of document
security. Hopefully there is another new approach with Word 2003 that
someone will be able to point out for you.
--
Cheers!
_______________________________________
Jean-Guy Marcil - Word MVP
(e-mail address removed)
Word MVP site: http://www.word.mvps.org
Normally, if you protect the document against modification, when it is
opened, a password is required, otherwise the document will be "Read only".
In the "Read Only" mode, a user can change all he/she wants in the document
(Edit it), but will not be able to save it unless the proper password was
given when opening it. So it can be edited and printed but not saved.
But the user can decide to use "Save as" and give the document a new name.
This new document will be saved with the changes AND the password. So, if
the user does not know the password, he/she will not be able to save it
later when editing it a second time (after having closed it) because it will
be in "Read Only" mode. But they could repeat the above, and create a chain
of documents!
Alternatively, they could save it as ".rtf", which will strip the password.
Then re-open it, save it as a ".doc" (and if they wanted to play with your
head, give it a new password, close it, then give it the original name while
in the Windows Explorer, then send it back to you, and you will not be able
to do anything with it because of the new password!).
So as you can see, basic document security in Word is not very strong... If
you can see it on the screen, you can usually do something with it. The best
protection is the password to open it. Don't know the password, then you
can't even open it. Use a fairly long password, and most people will give up
trying to crack it as it can take a long time with a cheap cracking program.
But apparently, Word 2003 has made improvements in the area of document
security. Hopefully there is another new approach with Word 2003 that
someone will be able to point out for you.
--
Cheers!
_______________________________________
Jean-Guy Marcil - Word MVP
(e-mail address removed)
Word MVP site: http://www.word.mvps.org
saved while still allowing that document to be fully edited?Arthur said:Is there a way to protect (via password) a Word 2003 document from being
J
Jean-Guy Marcil
Hi Arthur,
Just give it a password for modification (File > Save as... > Tools >
Security Options) and not one for opening it.
When a user will open it, the password will be required, if they do not know
the password, they will have to click on "Read only". They will then be able
to modify and print it, but will not be able to save their changes.
--
Cheers!
_______________________________________
Jean-Guy Marcil - Word MVP
(e-mail address removed)
Word MVP site: http://www.word.mvps.org
document I was prompted that it was 'Read Only' and that no changes could be
made whithout a password.
Just give it a password for modification (File > Save as... > Tools >
Security Options) and not one for opening it.
When a user will open it, the password will be required, if they do not know
the password, they will have to click on "Read only". They will then be able
to modify and print it, but will not be able to save their changes.
--
Cheers!
_______________________________________
Jean-Guy Marcil - Word MVP
(e-mail address removed)
Word MVP site: http://www.word.mvps.org
to be opened but still allowing it to be edited and then printed?Arthur said:Thanks!...but..........
How do I make a document 'Read Only' without requiring a password for it
accessed it from someone elses computer, upon trying to enter text into theI've tried previously to make the document 'Read Only' and, when I
document I was prompted that it was 'Read Only' and that no changes could be
made whithout a password.