pdf document cannot be printed

[Jens3794889129qw]

Hello

I am Apple user (MBP). Sys is Sonoma 14.5.

Usually I have no problems printing pdf files, even not working on it. I use the free reader.

Now I received an pdf file from my medical docter, which was secured with a password. I have received the password befor for opening the file.

So can open the file, but it is impossible to print it our. It's frustrating and confusing, since Adobe Reader tell me that printing under OSX 14.5 Sonoma is not possible and I agree an upgrade. All oher pdf-files no problems with printing. Also storing it without password (unsecured pdf-file in my private NAS is impossible. Need help.  Thank you

[MikelKlink]

Password protected files may have limited permissions. Thus, have you checked whether your PDF forbids printing? You need the owner password to change permissions, the user password is not sufficient. (Or you have to use a third-party tool that doesn't care about permissions...)

[gary_sc]

What @MikelKlink says is probably the case. You can see if Apple's Preview application will print that (but I doubt it will, but it's worth a try). If there are not that many files/pages, you can also take screenshots and print them. The quality will not be as good, but you could print them (Shift-Command-4 and then marquee the region you want to capture).

Since it's your medical file, have you asked the doctor why it's print-protected? Maybe they could send you a file that is not protected.

It's ironic, but there are many ways to work around the "preventing print" option.

[Jens3794889129qw]

Thank you Gary

well, I thougt about taking screenshots. That would have been the last solution. As I replied to MikelKlink, I received an unprotected file later on. But it's still confusing. The file protection with a password is a protection of OPENING the file and keep it hidden to unauthorized. But as soon as you got the key to open it, it becomes a normal file (in my understanding). So far it's stll pretty confusing..  Thank you for support. Cheers

[gary_sc]

Hi, @Jens3794889129qw, about the only thing I can think of is that they set the PW requirement to open the document and somehow inadvertently also checked the "do not print" button as well. 

Either way, you're good now.

[Jens3794889129qw]

Hi Gary, that might have happened. Sometime it happens with my fingers as well. Yes, thank you, I'm fine, now. Cheers

[Jens3794889129qw]

Thanks your reply. Well, I tried receiving more in info in the net, first. But no real solution. All other pdf files I on my macbook can be printed without a problem. I called the Doctos office and lady was really overwhelmed with my question. She said that - as far as she knows, there is only a password protection for the opening of the file, so that no one can open it, but the authorized (German law). So, in my understanding/logic: As soon as I can open the file because I got the key, it should be able to print and/or save it without protection. That's what a bit confusing. Finally I called that doctors office again, and after receiving a permission from the doctor the girl re-sent me the file without protection (bypassinging the law, hi, hi).  Thank you again for support. Cheers

[MikelKlink]

So, in my understanding/logic: As soon as I can open the file because I got the key, it should be able to print and/or save it without protection. That's what a bit confusing.

Unfortunately it's not that easy. As mentioned above, PDF encryption knows two passwords with different permission levels. In some use cases, when it is not expected that the permissions ever will need to be changed again, a random owner password is used and immediately forgotten, so that there essentially is only one known password. Possibly that's how that doctor's software works.

[Jens3794889129qw]

Oh, I see. Sounds bit strange to me as an old end user. Nontheless THANK YOU again. Cheers

[JR Boulay]

[MOVED TO THE ACROBAT READER DISCUSSIONS]