How to print password protected PDF files to a new PDF using Visual Basic for Applications

[JDGUILTY]

I have a series of PDF files that are password protected. I have a login ID and password that allows me to view the documents once I've logged in, but my co-workers that don't have login credentials cannot view the documents. What I'm doing in order to make the documents viewable for others is a manual process that I'm looking to automate using Microsoft Access 2003 VBA. Here's the manual process:

1.) I set my default printer to be the "Adobe PDF" printer.

2.) I open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder that contains the password-protected PDF files, selecting all of them.

3.) I right-click on the selected group of files and choose "Print" from the context sensitive menu that appears.

4.) I provide my ID and password in order to access the password-protected files - I only have to do this once.

5.) In the "Save PDF File As" dialog box that appears, I choose where I want to save the first file and the applicable file name and click "OK".

6.) I repeat Step 5 until all of the PDF files have been printed as "new" PDF files with new names that are no longer password protected.

I know how, using Microsoft Access 2003 VBA, to navigate to a particular folder on a network drive and loop through each file within the folder. What I don't know how to do is to print each individual PDF file using the Adobe PDF printer so that it's printed as a new PDF file that's no longer password protected.

[Test Screen Name]

(Sorry, I think my reply was useless to you. This is not a PDF password, but an external password. Is that right?)

[JDGUILTY]

You are correct - the password is an external password. When I go to open one of the PDF files that are pasword protected I'm greeted with a dialog box (the dialog box displays "Login In To Restricted Document" in the title bar), which is where I provide my user name and password as part of the Adobe LiveCycle Right Management credentials.

[Test Screen Name]

Hmm. I think that may be halfway between a regular PDF password (which you would have to give for each file) and an external password (which was done by the OS).

I think your best bet is to talk to your site security administrator about adding LiveCycle Rights Management access to the other members of your work group. Working around company security, even if it is possible, can lead to very deep waters... such as them blocking printing of all future files to protect them...

[JDGUILTY]

The PDF files that are password protected have been provided to us (my company) by a third party. In terms of what you suggested about adding LiveCycle Rights Management access to others, that is not an option. There are other individuals outside of my department that will need to need to view the documents and will not be granted a login ID and password. It seems that if the documents can be printed manually using Adobe PDF as the printer, there has to be a way to automate the process.

[Bill12]

I would just ask the 3rd party that created the PDF if they could supply unencrypted files. If there is some reason they will not, I am surprised that they have not restricted printing. Normally when Acrobat security is set, you can not print to a new PDF, even if printing is allowed. One option is to provide the ID and password to the other folks who need to review the PDFs. On the surface, there seems to be a license issue with what you are trying to do and you may need to be careful that the company is not at risk. That is why I am suggesting to coordinate with the 3rd party.

Sorry. I don't have a solution but just the statement of concern.

[Dave Merchant]

The workflow being described here would have the effect of removing DRM protection on a file, and irrespective of your motives in this particular case, NO discussion of how that could be achieved is permitted on these forums.

Contact the supplier of the original documents and arrange access for your colleagues.