Securing word application using automation .. Please help :((

[vishal]

Hi
I am developing an application, which uses word 2003. The
application creates a word document from the SQL database
and stores it in a folder in web server.
I have a set of users, having only read only permission.
We are opening the document by using the clients word API.

My requirement is that when these user opens the document,
using an option provided through the web page, they should
not be able to save or edit or print it. Every option
should be disabled except the view/read option.

Your help will be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Vishal

 

[Jonathan West]

Hi Vishal,

The short answer is that it can't be done.

Word is simply not designed to be that secure. This is requested from time
to time, and every so often somebody comes along with what they think is the
answer. It usually takes about 30 seconds for a knowledgeable user to crack
whatever scheme they have come up with.

 

[JGM]

Hi Vishal,

In my opinion, your best bet would be to explore the possibility of
converting your Word Doc to PDF's. Acrobat has a much better security system
than Word has.... Which is not saying much since Word does not really have
one... lol But I think Acrobat would be suitable to your purpose.

The only sorta secure feature in Word is the Password to open the document.
But once it is open, forget about security!

Cheers!

 

[Guest]

Hi Jean

Thanks for the prompt response.

Jean, can I use Information Rights Management, provided in
office 2003 some how to implement teh functionality
required.
Coz, by using Information Rights Management we can
restrict the access rights.

Vishal

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the prompt response.

Jonathan , can I use Information Rights Management,
provided in office 2003 some how to implement the
functionality required.

Coz, by using Information Rights Management we can
restrict the access rights.

Vishal

 

[Jonathan West]

Thanks for the prompt response.

Jonathan , can I use Information Rights Management,
provided in office 2003 some how to implement the
functionality required.

Coz, by using Information Rights Management we can
restrict the access rights.

I can't say for certain. This is an area I haven't yet explored, as Office
2003 has only just come out and there have been other areas of Word I have
given more attention to.

However, I'm not all that hopeful, because once a document is open in Word,
it will be hard to totally prevent some of its content getting copied to the
clipboard, or being transferred to another file using drag & drop. Also, if
IRM *was* a solution to making files uneditable, then I'm sure it would have
been trumpeted by Microsoft much more, as it is a frequently requested
feature.

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Hi Vishal,

Having just seen an overview of Information Rights Management, I believe you
maybe able to use it for that purpose.

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP
Hi Jean

Thanks for the prompt response.

Jean, can I use Information Rights Management, provided in
office 2003 some how to implement teh functionality
required.
Coz, by using Information Rights Management we can
restrict the access rights.

Vishal

 

[Guest]

Hi Robbins

I do not have any idea, how can I do it using word
automation. If you know some references and help me.. I
big thanks for that.
Vishal

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Jonathan,

Also, if
IRM *was* a solution to making files uneditable

Actually, it is. But it's very complicated to get set up
and requires a special server, either in-house or on-line.
So it's really only of interest to corporate users.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update
Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

I do not have any idea, how can I do it using word

automation.

I agree with Doug that you probably can use it. But as
Jonathan has said, it's a very new area. In addition, most
people won't be able to use it because of the server
requirements.

I suggest you start by researching the msdn library. Also,
try posting in an office.developer newsgroup, where you may
have a better chance of running into someone with some
experience in this area.

I do know that some people there have been able to automate
it, because I pointed someone in one of those groups in
this direction a few weeks ago, and they came back and said
they got it working.

Another tip: you can learn a lot about what VBA commands
you need by recording a macro, then going into the Help
with F1 for what it records. For example, from the
following code, you can see you need the "Editors"
collection and that the Protect method now has a UseIRM
argument, as well as new Types.

Selection.Editors.Add wdEditorEveryone
ActiveDocument.Protect Password:="", NoReset:=False,
Type:= _
wdAllowOnlyReading, UseIRM:=False,
EnforceStyleLock:=False


Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update
Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail