question to prevent editing the pdf

[burgerqing]

I made template certification file throught illustrator, then exported to pdf.

Client love to edit the template himself on Acrabat,  and he want me lock other elements on that file but just keep the name/date editable.

how can i do it?

1. should I rasterize the background (to make the other element to a raster image) but just keep the name/date editable in Illustrator, then re-export it to PDF?
2. or i should set password for protecting the PDF file?  if client forget the passaword, then that file is useless, is that practibale to use password?

Any suggestions? i haven't done any Acrobat setting before, please give me advice. Thank you.

[JR Boulay]

What do you mean by "edit the template himself "?

Filling form fields or edit the PDF with Acrobat Pro or Illustrator?

[burgerqing]

I made the original template pdf from illustrator, and he want's to change the name/date/certification title by himselfe for future updates, and also he wants to send the digital file to the recipient.  so the file needs to be has two purpouse:

• He can edit the name/date/certificaion title
• recipient can't edit the file themselves.

Could you please give me any suggestions, thank you.

[Bernd Alheit]

Use form fields for name and date.

[burgerqing]

Do you suggest me to make the print pdf to interactive pdf (have only the name field and date field editable)?

[try67]

You can apply a security policy that prevents editing, except for filling in form fields. If you want it to be extra secure then also apply a security policy that requires a (different) password to open the file. But yes, you must remember both passwords to open or edit it. They can't be recovered if you lose them.

It's also recommended to keep (but not distribute) a non-secured version of the file, just in case.

[JR Boulay]

Use form fields for name and date, and add a button for the client to lock them.
Ideally, the script that locks the fields should also hide or delete the "lock" button.