Hi,
When I apply security settings to a PDF, after embedding an index, the PDF must be saved, and when this is done the index is lost.
Is there any way to apply security settings to a PDF without removing an embedded index?
Many thanks.
PDF with Embedded Index AND Security
2010-10-05 03:21:27
My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.2, Windows
Acrobat Pro 9.2, Windows
2010-10-05 03:30:32
#1
in my experience any change to a pdf, no matter how trivial, will invalidate (destroy) the embedded index. also, when the index is no longer valid, but the bits remain, it is useful to apply 'reduce file size'. if there is a solution to the annoying issue you describe, i'd like to hear it.
2010-10-05 03:39:05
#2
rbogie,
I fear you're right. My company has always protected the PDFs that we send out, but I really wanted the improvements in speed of searching for our 1000+ page documents, so I was just hoping there might be a way round it.
I fear you're right. My company has always protected the PDFs that we send out, but I really wanted the improvements in speed of searching for our 1000+ page documents, so I was just hoping there might be a way round it.
2010-10-05 04:17:47
#3
there is a way around, but an inelegant one, in that you can create a regular index/catalog (PDX and its ancillary files) for one PDF (or multiple PDFs, of course). create the pdx and ancillary files in its own folder. be sure to assign the index (file> properties> advanced tab) to the PDF before you apply security settings. a little experimentation may be necessary.
2010-10-05 09:35:13
#4
Thanks, I'll give it a go.
2010-10-05 11:10:46
#5
I publish numerous 2500 page e-Books. Most are single users but I have one 1600 user company that delivers the PDFs from a document server. I played with the embedded index option to increase search time. That works great. However, as stated above, once you implement password security and save the file, the embedded index disappears.
Of course, the Adobe security is easily broken anyway, and there are numerous programs that will "save the password" etc. So I'm looking for a non-Adobe security process that will provide real security AND maintain the embedded index.
I have tried a few third party programs already, some of which retain the index, but then show an error message when you try to save a copy to a PC.
I will share anything I find on this board and appreciate the same.
Of course, the Adobe security is easily broken anyway, and there are numerous programs that will "save the password" etc. So I'm looking for a non-Adobe security process that will provide real security AND maintain the embedded index.
I have tried a few third party programs already, some of which retain the index, but then show an error message when you try to save a copy to a PC.
I will share anything I find on this board and appreciate the same.
2010-10-05 13:18:25
#6
"Permissions" password security is part of the published ISO PDF specification, and so while we know it's not respected by all software, it's not correct to call it "Adobe security" - all PDF software can read and write that form of encryption if it so chooses, but by definition it is a request to the rendering device, not a protection of the content - if it were, you would need a password to open the file. The fact you can see the page on the screen means your software has been able to read the content, and so can something else.
If you *do* use one of the security methods developed by Adobe, such as LiveCycle Digital Rights Management, the documents thus distributed are effectively uncrackable as they lock the file to applications which respect the permissions request (Reader and Acrobat). We have yet to see a single example where an LCDRM-protected PDF has been decrypted in the wild - you can of course print out screenshots of every page, OCR them and try to rebuild the visual content, but that's beside the point.
If you *do* use one of the security methods developed by Adobe, such as LiveCycle Digital Rights Management, the documents thus distributed are effectively uncrackable as they lock the file to applications which respect the permissions request (Reader and Acrobat). We have yet to see a single example where an LCDRM-protected PDF has been decrypted in the wild - you can of course print out screenshots of every page, OCR them and try to rebuild the visual content, but that's beside the point.
2010-10-06 02:40:28
#7
There appears to be a workaround, where you set a more limited set of security settings and these still allow an index to be embedded.
Got it from here:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2425836#2425836
By setting the Changes Allowed to "Any except extracting pages" you can still subsequently go in and embed an index, and then, crucially, you don't need to save the pdf so the index is preserved.
Now of course it means weaker security, but it might work for me. As noted above the security that I've been setting can be cracked easily anyway, but even so I know there would be difficulties if I suggested removing it entirely. With the workaround above, the document still shows as Secured, but contains the index.
Got it from here:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2425836#2425836
By setting the Changes Allowed to "Any except extracting pages" you can still subsequently go in and embed an index, and then, crucially, you don't need to save the pdf so the index is preserved.
Now of course it means weaker security, but it might work for me. As noted above the security that I've been setting can be cracked easily anyway, but even so I know there would be difficulties if I suggested removing it entirely. With the workaround above, the document still shows as Secured, but contains the index.