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Unlocking PDFs to print

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2009-01-22 09:25:29
moverob
Registered: Jan 22 2009
Posts: 11
Answered

Help!!! Most of the time, when I save a document as a PDF, the document is then "locked" so I cannot print it. For example, the other day, after I paid my property taxes online, I saved a copy of the online "receipt" to my computer.

Now, today, I wanted to print a copy of that receipt, but the PDF is locked.

How do I "unlock" these documents so I can print them? Some of these documents, like this one, are extremely important, and I need them unlocked so I can print them.

Help, help, help...

Thanks.

Robert

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2009-01-22 10:25:01
#1
George_Johnson
Online
Expert
Registered: Jul 6 2008
Posts: 1876
Are you saying that the security settings of the PDF document do not allow printing? Are you creating these PDFs, or is someone else?

George
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2009-01-22 10:41:47
#2
moverob
Registered: Jan 22 2009
Posts: 11
No, they will not print. When I click on the lock and look at permissions, they printing not allowed. The PDF files are things I save from online. The online receipt for my property tax payment is an example...
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2009-01-22 10:59:35
#3
George_Johnson
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Expert
Registered: Jul 6 2008
Posts: 1876
What I'm trying to figure out is if you're creating the PDF from online content, or if the PDF is being generated on a server.

For example, since I have Acrobat, I can print web pages to PDF so I have a PDF copy. If this is what you're doing, then you have a chance to change the security settings that get applied. But if the PDF is being generated by someone else, there's probably nothing you can do, other than complain to them.

George
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2009-01-22 11:03:03
#4
moverob
Registered: Jan 22 2009
Posts: 11
I do not have "paid" Acrobat, if that's what you mean. With that particular document, I "printed" it as a PDF to save a copy to my Documents folder.
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2009-01-22 11:34:33
#5
George_Johnson
Online
Expert
Registered: Jul 6 2008
Posts: 1876
Hmm...so what software do you have installed on your machine that allows you to print to PDF? This is often Acrobat, but there are a number of other possibilities.

If you can figure out what software is creating your PDFs, you may be able to configure it so that it does not add the security setting to the document that prevents it from printing.

George
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2009-01-22 12:29:56
#6
moverob
Registered: Jan 22 2009
Posts: 11
I use a PDF conversion program from Staples called EasyPrint, which I primarily use to save documents or files in PDF. Nothing is impossible, but I think it would be counterproductive if the Staples software was locking PDF files from being printed, since that is the whole purpose of the software: Converting files to PDF for printing (only) at Staples???
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2009-01-22 12:39:18
#7
George_Johnson
Online
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Registered: Jul 6 2008
Posts: 1876
That does indeed seem counterproductive. I seem to recall that program used to add a watermark they Staples would remove before THEY printed it for you, so perhaps they changed their approach.

Can you email me a sample PDF that you create so I can have a look?

George
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2009-01-22 13:10:17
#8
gkaiseril
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
moverob wrote:
I use a PDF conversion program from Staples called EasyPrint, which I primarily use to save documents or files in PDF. Nothing is impossible, but I think it would be counterproductive if the Staples software was locking PDF files from being printed, since that is the whole purpose of the software: Converting files to PDF for printing (only) at Staples???
It sounds like Staples wants you to pay them for printing the file so they can recover the cost of the conversion service. Maybe not the best business model.

There are other conversion services available for the same purpose, but they tend to charge up front.

George Kaiser

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