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Disable Printing of Word Document on Website

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cmhdover

cmhdover

Technical User
Jul 15, 2004
37
US
We have 2 policy & procedure manuals loaded on our website. They are Word documents and open up in Word. We do not want users to be able to print these documents because that would defeat the purpose of putting them on the site. Plus, when we make changes, everyone will see the changes at the same time and no old versions of the policy will be laying around.

We did not make a link on our website for the policies - I put the word documents thru on ftp and gave the users the direct path to access the files.

Is there a way to prohibit the printing of these manuals without disabling all printing of other websites a/or work related stuff?

Thanks for your help,

Dennielle
 
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The only POSSIBLE way you could limit the ability to print, and that would be until someone caught on, would be to convert the document to an image, then put it as a background image in a table and use a clear gif to expand the table to show the document. Since most people have background printing turned off, nothing would print unless it got around that you could print the document by turning background printing on.

So, basically, if you're going to display it on someone's computer, they can print it unless you go around and take away all the printers from all the people who would view the documents.

Lee
 
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You can't do it.

Also bear in mind that, if you're talking about big documents like manuals, some people prefer to read them from paper instead of from a screen. So even if you had the power, your choice might be between letting people print - with all the disadvantages thereof - and having them not read the manuals at all - which is probably worse.

Mind you, who reads manuals anyway? ...

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd
 
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Is the adobe conversion program part of acrobat reader? I went to their website and didn't see a conversion program.

Thanks for your help!

Dennielle
 
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I downloaded CutePDF and I was able to convert my Word document to a PDF. When I was in Adobe, I went to File-Document Properties and clicked on Security. I was unable to select any options because they were grayed out.

I'm so close, but can't figure out why I can't select these options.

Please help!

Dennielle
 
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If you're having problems with an Adobe product, you should probably post your questions in the appropriate forum.

Lee
 
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The original question is about Word document files that open up in Word, not an HTML page.

Lee
 
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You can download and purchase Docucom PDF from pdf store this program allows you to use a printer driver to print PDF files. If you go under the printer properites you can disable printing, copying, and other options

Chris
 
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I too can reccomend Docucom. It's very good, if a little unstable at times, but only if you're pushing it hard and automating lots of stuff.
I've code to automate it too from VBA if you need it.

Ben

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I can't understand why you don't want people to print the documents.

Surely the purpose of the excercise is to get people to read and digest the content of the manuals. If you limit the ways in which they can do this you are limiting the effectiveness of the whole thing.

Unless the object is to get people on your site and keep them there I would say that allowing someone to download and print your manual is an advantage.

I would, however not use a Word document and, as has been suggested, turn them into PDF files.

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Toccoa Games - Day of Defeat gaming community
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
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It's maybe to do with ISO9000 or other Quality management systems, where the notion of document control is vital to the whole process.

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Regarding the Word format for your document. Not everyone has Word installed on their computer - I certainly don't (won't!), as my basic word processing requirements are handled admirably by Notepad, Wordpad and my e-mail client, therefore it would make sense to use a format that is more widely installed. HTML would reign supreme here, and if you are worried about out-of-date copies kicking around in peoples' homes, place, as the first paragraph, a prominent note about the document's short-lived validity, and a request that people update it regularly.

In summary, it is pointless trying to prevent someone printing the document, simply because if it is visible on screen, there are ways to get it to the printer. (Even if a screenshot has to be taken first.)

Concentrate rather on making it more widely accessible. :)

Regards, Andy.
**************************************
My pathetic attempts at learning HTML can be laughed at here:
 
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