Can a fillable form be filled, emailed, and recipient can't modify?

[573dawn]

Hi All, I have a fillable form created in AcroPro7, it is for a service estimate. My boss wants the service department to be able to fill it in, and email it to the customer. BUT, when the customer receives it, that they are only able to print, sign, and return it via fax or snail mail, NOT modify it.

Is this possible and if so how? My boss said she got such a form from a realtor who sent her a filled form that she couldn't modify, but I have no idea how this might be possible. Security settings don't appear to allow such a one-sided thing. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Dawn

 

[apepp]

Restrict printing or changes to a document

With the PDF document open, choose Document > Secure > Show Security Settings For This Document.

Choose Password Security from the Security Method menu.

From the Compatibility menu, choose the earliest version of Acrobat that you want to be able to open this document.

Select the check box under Permissions, and then type a Permissions password. This password is not required to open the document, but only to change the security settings. It must be different than the Document Open password, if one exists.

Choose which printing and editing changes are allowed.

Click OK, type the Permissions password again, and then click OK.

Note: For heightened security, specify a Document Open Password.

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...the above will have to be done by the service department after they have filled out the form...

...you can set up a batch command for multiple pdf files to have security under the advanced > batch processing menu...

Andrew

 

[573dawn]

apepp, thank you. I am confused though, won't this restrict everyone who uses the document, including our service writers?

Thanks, Dawn

 

[apepp]

...the above will have to be done by the service department after they have filled out the form, before they send it to the client...

...if this is a problem for them to do, if you or someone has access to all the filled out pdf files you can create a batch command to run on the completed forms and then copied to another folder to be emailed...

...or they will have to remember themselves in the service department to perform it in acrobat pro on each form, once they have filled out the necessaries...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...having one password would make sense for all forms using the batch command method...

...otherwise you would need to hold editable copies or have a record of the passwords used if they are to be individual...

Andrew

 

[573dawn]

I bet they'd all have to have Pro? I am the only person here with Pro. It already presents a problem becaue they won't be able to save a filled form, only print one. I can set it up to email as a PDF, but this looks unworkable to me.

I have a sneaking suspiscion that the form my boss got from her realtor was done by someone with Pro...

 

[apepp]

...so long as the client doesn't know the passwords used, it can be overridden...

...saying that, there is software available that can strip out security of pdf's very easily but this would need to be known by the client to be achieved...

...i do use very such software sometimes to access pdf files in the prepress world of print...

...some times these security settings get in the way to making urgent edits before imposing to press. To find out who set the passwords to these pdf's we get can be a huge problem, so therefore the security stripping software is handy and a real saver...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...yes pro is required however there is other software available to encrypt pdf's...

http://www.verypdf.com/encryptpdf/

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...here is another:

http://www.pdf-convert.com/pdf-encrypt-tool/index.htm

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...is it viable for you to send the editable form to the service department, the department fills out in reader, saves and then encrypts their end and then sends to client?

...if they don't have pro they can fill it out in reader and save, they just need a method to secure it, either through pro or by a third party application...

Andrew

 

[573dawn]

apepp, I didn't think they could save it in reader, is that a new feature of reader 8?

 

[apepp]

...with pro 8 you can for reader 7:

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bbac63e

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...adobe never intended it to be free and easy i believe this much to be true...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...acrobat...

...need a gymnastic brain to use it, a right headache...

Andrew

 

[573dawn]

Ok, well, just bought the AcroPro8 Upgrade, hopefully that will solve my problem!

 

[RocSky]

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iTextSharp asp.net 2.0 Demo:

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