Is there a way to configure a pdf document so that it can be viewed on the internet without being downloadable? We would like to share the contents of a reference book with our customers over the internet, but we do not want them to be able to download the book for their personal use.
A PDF file, like any other object that you create a URL to has to be sent to the user's computer (except for streaming objects like Flash). Even if you disabled the Save button in Reader or Acrobat, the user need only right-click on the link to download it. Even if you could disable that, the file could be found in a cache folder somewhere.
However, you still have some options. First off, you can use security to lock the file so that it cannot be printed. This keeps it from becoming paper. As a further step, you can use the Adobe Document Center to allow specific people access to the file for a specific amount of time. This way, they can download the file, but only open it for a period of time that you are comfortable with. If you need to go a step further into digital rights management, then you shold explore the Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management server.
With this tool, you can connect the documents to an enterprise level authenticaton tool. Is isn't cheap, but it allows you to protect PDF files in a more robust way.
Tim
I am a long-time Acrobat user, an employee of Adobe Systems, and Maine native. I have created training videos for Total Training, consulted with people to help them better use Acrobat, and developed new business for Adobe as a Business Development Manager