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Can Security Settings be "Cherry Picked" by form author?

Forum Index > Security > Can Security Settings be "Cherry Picked" by form author?
2010-12-15 09:10:41
David Dunn
Registered: Oct 28 2010
Posts: 116

I would like to secure my pdf form so that no recipient can edit the layout or field properties, but every recipient who has Acrobat can fill in the form, save it, distribute the form and/or fdf file, print it and perform document assembly (both insert and extract pages). (I do know that Reader is incapable of some of these things even if the form is Reader enabled).
 
It appears none of the standard sets of security options in Acrobat allow me to restrict only layout and field property modification. Is there a means by which this can be accomplished?
 
DavidD
 

David D

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.4, Windows
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2010-12-15 10:29:11
#1
gkaiseril
Online
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
Have you looked at the PDF "Properties", "Security" tab - "Password" and under the 'Permissions' section select the 'restrict editing and printing, set the resolution for printing, and allow 'filling form fields and signature fields'?

You should find more information in Acrobat 9 Help.

George Kaiser

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2010-12-15 11:19:42
#2
David Dunn
Registered: Oct 28 2010
Posts: 116
Yes, I have, but that option eliminates document assembly options (insert and extract), and I want users to be able to do those things. Even though the "Document Restrictions Summary" says page extraction is allowed with that security setting, it is not allowed in fact, and page insertion is not allowed.

David D

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2010-12-15 11:31:19
#3
David Dunn
Registered: Oct 28 2010
Posts: 116
PS: those security settings also eliminate the ability to export data and send data. Between the inability to insert and extract, and the inability to export data, this completely blocks the user's ability to use the data with other documents.

I recognize Adobe's devotion to security and understand why they feel it's necessary, but it is frustrating that there are so many roadblocks created by Adobe - in the interest of security - to using Acrobat to its full potential for in-house productivity and automation thereof. If Microsoft took that approach with Word, Word would have been outrun by WordPerfect years ago (which would not have been altogether regrettable).

DavidD

David D

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