I want a Word document to be a "read only" file, how do I do this?

Question

I have created a Word document I want to put on our Yahoo files and I want to protect it from being "stolen" or altered. How can I achieve this? We have had a problem with someone stealing our ideas and we don't want to make it easy for them.

Answer 1

A couple of things to do...

First, go to Tools> Protect Document. That will open a window and from there, select the No Changes (Read Only) option within the editing Restrictions area. Then click on the Yes, Start Enforcing Protection button. You'll then get an option for a password. If you want, you can provide a password so that anyone that knows the password can edit the file.

Note that this just prevents someone from editing the file - they can still read it. If you want to prevent that too, read on...

Another option is to add a password onto the file so that only people that know the password can open it. Go to Tools > Options > Security and set up a Open password. You can also from there define a modify password.

Answer 2

File > Save As > Tools > General Options > tick the 'read only' option.

'Read Only' only prevents someone from modifying the actual file. If you upload it there's nothing to stop someone copying and pasting it into their own Word doc and modifying it as they want.

Look into the option of patenting your ideas and protecting your intellectual property rights. The document will automatically be copyrighted (it's an automatic process) and strictly speaking no-one can reproduce it without your permission. Of course, this doesn't prevent it happening but including a prominent copyright notice will let people know that you don't want it copied.

Answer 3

There is a way in the save as area that let you protect the file even with a open by password only

Answer 4

Microsoft Office Demo (Adding passwords to Word and Excel)
Also shows using passwords to write protect files (make it read only)

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA012001751033.aspx

Answer 5

before uploading the file right click on the file and in the 'general tab' click on the 'read only' button.

Answer 6

Set a Password.

Make a PDF out of it.

But:
If you can read it you can steal it.

Good Luck
M.

Answer 7

go to security and set a password.