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Taylor514ce · 04-29-2008, 06:10 PM

The author of a PDF determines the intended usage of that PDF. If they've locked it from printing, that is because they do not wish it to be printed. If you have a valid reason why you need to print these, the proper course of action is to explain your reasons to the PDF author and ask for a printable version.

Or, you may decide to try to break the security settings. That is a personal choice, similar to removing DRM from an e-book. I will not comment on the right or wrong of it, but no one here is going to assist you in this.

All such settings are embedded in the PDF itself, and are enforced by the application used to interpret and display the PDF. Most commercial PDF applications are good PDF "citizens" and respect and enforce these settings. The PDF specification is public. It is possible to write your own PDF "reader" application, as I've had to do in my line of work, in which case you can be as strict or as lax as you choose in handling PDF features.

That should be enough information for you to decide on a course of action for your PDF files.

04-29-2008, 06:10 PM	#141
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	The author of a PDF determines the intended usage of that PDF. If they've locked it from printing, that is because they do not wish it to be printed. If you have a valid reason why you need to print these, the proper course of action is to explain your reasons to the PDF author and ask for a printable version. Or, you may decide to try to break the security settings. That is a personal choice, similar to removing DRM from an e-book. I will not comment on the right or wrong of it, but no one here is going to assist you in this. All such settings are embedded in the PDF itself, and are enforced by the application used to interpret and display the PDF. Most commercial PDF applications are good PDF "citizens" and respect and enforce these settings. The PDF specification is public. It is possible to write your own PDF "reader" application, as I've had to do in my line of work, in which case you can be as strict or as lax as you choose in handling PDF features. That should be enough information for you to decide on a course of action for your PDF files. Last edited by Taylor514ce; 04-29-2008 at 06:12 PM.