Creating PDFs
Setting PDF security options
For accessibility reasons, do not use security settings unless there is a valid reason (e.g. access to the content of the PDF must be restricted).
To find out the current security settings of a PDF, open it and select File > Document Info > Security.
To change or set the security settings:
- Open the PDF in Acrobat (not the Reader) and select File > Save As.
- Select Standard from the Security options list.
- Only set a password to 'Open the Document' if you want to restrict access to a selected group of users.
- Enter a password (or passwords) that you will be certain to remember. (If you forget a password, there is no way to change the security settings at a later date.)
- Tick the checkboxes next to the 'Do Not Allow' options that you want to set.
Note: You will prevent many users from accessing the document if you don't allow 'Selecting Text and Graphics'. Text-only browsers, screen readers and braille devices cannot access the content of a PDF if this option is selected. (See accessibility of PDFs for more information.) - Click OK. Enter the password(s) when prompted for confirmation.
- Ensure the Optimize checkbox is checked. Click Save.
Note: If you cancel at this stage none of the security settings will be saved and you will need to start again from step 1.)
A batch process can be used to set the security options for more than one PDF file at the same time. The same batch process can also be used to set open options.
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