Question:
How do I send a 'read only' document? One which is only to be read by the recipient.?
Moglai
2015-12-08 23:37:28 UTC
How do I send a 'read only' document? One which is only to be read by the recipient.?
Twelve answers:
Steven J Pemberton
2015-12-09 02:06:15 UTC
There are various ways that make it difficult for someone to share information with someone who isn't supposed to have it. But unless there's a guy with a gun or a baseball bat standing behind the recipient, all you can do is slow them down. I've yet to come across a system that would prevent the recipient from taking a photograph of the screen, for example, and now that everyone has a camera in their pocket...
?
2015-12-09 18:08:42 UTC
It can't be done unless you have a personal encryption code that only you and the recipients machines can decode. Even that is not infallible. Governments and corps get hacked all the time and ever hackers get hacked.

Some one could hack your code. Even if sent on the dark net. I know it's primitive but send it snail mail.
?
2015-12-20 21:40:47 UTC
Well when you email documents to people, and they open the attachment, they can't edit it, but all they'd have to do is save that document to their files and then they can edit as much as they want...



Some people have suggested the Google Docs option, I'd go with that, for sure! :)
amon
2015-12-08 23:44:54 UTC
The following is how to do it in the most up to date Office suite software;



Add protection in your Word document



In an open document, click File > Info > Protect Document.



You see the following options.



Protect Document button with options



Mark as Final: Make the document read-only.



When a document is marked as final, typing, editing commands, and proofing marks are disabled or turned off and the document becomes read-only. The Mark as Final command helps you communicate that you are sharing a completed version of a document. It also helps prevent reviewers or readers from making inadvertent changes to the document.



When you mark a document as final, Word asks you to save the file. The next time you open it, you will see a yellow MARKED AS FINAL message at the top of the document. If you click Edit Anyway, the document will no longer be marked as final.



Encrypt with Password: Set a password for the document.



CAUTION Keep your password in a safe place. If you lose or forget the password, it cannot be recovered



When you select Encrypt with Password, the Encrypt Document dialog box appears. In the Password box, type a password, and then type it again when prompted. Important: Microsoft cannot retrieve lost or forgotten passwords, so keep a list of your passwords and corresponding file names in a safe place.



Restrict Editing: Control what types of changes can be made to the document.



When you select Restrict Editing, you see three options:



Formatting restrictions This reduces formatting options, preserving a look and feel. Click Settings to select which style are allowed.



Editing restrictions You control how the file can be edited or you can disable editing. Click Exceptions or More users to control those who can edit.



Start enforcement Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection to select password protection or user authentication. You can also click Restrict permission to add or remove editors who’ll have restricted permissions.



Restrict Permission by People: Use a Windows Live ID to restrict permissions.



Use a Windows Live ID or a Microsoft Windows account to restrict permissions. You can apply permissions via a template that is used by your organization, or you can add permissions by clicking Restrict Access. To learn more about Information Rights Management see Information Rights Management in Office.



Add a Digital Signature: Add a visible or invisible digital signature.



Digital signatures authenticate digital information such as documents, email messages, and macros by using computer cryptography. Digital signatures are created by typing a signature or by using an image of a signature to establish authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. See the link at the end of this topic to learn more about digital signatures.
Lucius T Fowler
2015-12-19 16:39:38 UTC
Encrypt it using TrueCrypt or PGP and exchange the private key with the recipient in a manner that can't be compromised.
Doug Freyburger
2015-12-09 11:57:24 UTC
Read only typically means it can't be modified but it can be read by anyone.



You're asking about restricted access. The two methods are encryption and password protection. "amon" posted directions for both.
?
2015-12-17 18:22:43 UTC
Registered Mail must be signed for by the ADDRESSEE.



Certified Mail can be signed for by anybody at the destination address.



You could also use a courier or courier service to deliver the message from person to person.



If you want security, you must give up some speed and ease of delivery.

You must choose which is of primary importance.



Of course, however you send it, you are placing a LOT of faith in the addressee that they will not show it to anybody else!
LarsEighner
2015-12-09 03:35:04 UTC
That is not what "read only" means.



If you want to send something to someone that only that person can read, you have to encrypt it and you have to have an arrangement with the recipient so that he or she know how to decrypt it.



"Read only" means something that can be read, but not edited or deleted. If you want to edit something that is "read only," you have to make a copy and edit your own copy. You cannot edit the original.
?
2015-12-09 14:47:28 UTC
If you are doing it through Google Docs and you share it with someone, it will have a little button, "can edit" next to whom your sending it to. If you click that, you can choose to have others view only, and they have to ask you for access to edit the doc. Hope that helps!!
2015-12-08 23:45:15 UTC
password protect it and send the password in a separate e-mail to the recipient
Khush Preet
2015-12-15 03:09:04 UTC
Better way to send it as PDF file.
Mukta
2015-12-09 00:11:28 UTC
many ways to it, i demonstrate one:



create an uneditable adobe reader document. or convert a word file to pdf by using"File>save as PDF"option

it has extension ".PDF"


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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