Prevent editing a document but allow for document assembly

[Arlene21903156j4u3]

We PDF to clients so they can include our document into their PDF packages they send to their Boards. I place a permission protection password on the file so they can't change the content BUT I allow for document assembly so they can, obviously, combine multiple PDFs.

The client is calling me saying they can't combine our document with theirs and I am stumped. Even though yes, there is a permission protection on the doc (security) - I thought that by allowing document assembly I was covered. Seems I am not. Any thoughts? I am not sending them a portfolio package, only a single PDF.

Thanks in advance.

[Amal.]

Hi Arlene

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble. Would you mind sharing rhe workflow/steps you did to password protect the PDF file?

There are two type of password protection available:

1. Document open password : A Document Open password (also known as a user password) requires a user to type a password to open the PDF.

2. Permissions password: A permissions password (also known as a master password) requires a password to change permission settings. Using a permissions password, you can restrict printing, editing, and copying content in the PDF. Recipients don’t need a password to open the document in Reader or Acrobat. They do need a password to change the restrictions you've set.

For more info please check out the help page https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/securing-pdfs-passwords.html and see if that works.

Regards

Amal

[Arlene21903156j4u3]

Hi -

My workflow is: (using Adobe Acrobat 2017) - I don't require the client to have an open document password.

File>Properties>Security>Security Method>Password Security>Click in permissions>Restrict editing ...>Allow printing>changes allowed: inserting, deleting and rotating pages.

With this protection on I see document assembly is allowed. What am I missing? Because there's protection on the document in general, does that mean document assemebly is NOT allowed. I just don't understand.

I'll check out the link provided as well. THanks!

[Test Screen Name]

I believe the security settings have always displayed this wrong. Did you try document assembly yourself?  After all, if you combine two files with protection, what should the final document have for protection?

[Arlene21903156j4u3]

I did try the document assembly myself and of course, it only works in portfolio mode which isn't ideal.

So, the security settings have always displayed this as wrong?? What the heck!

If you combine the docs in a portfolio, instead of a single PDF file, they would retain the security settings they have on them.

[Arlene21903156j4u3]

Amal, in the link you provided there is not a mention of document assembly at all. Is this function redundant in Adobe these days?

[Test Screen Name]

There is no setting to do this.