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This is a strange request I know, hopefully someone out there can offer some assistance.
I am wanting to protect some files, namely word + excel documents.
Here is an example of what I am wanting to do :
I want to make an excel document read only in a "special way" such that no-one is able to copy/print/save changes or do anything to the document besides read it.
I would only want the person that created the file to be able to make changes to it.
Does anyone know of a way I can do this, or software that I can use.
:wink:

Hi Zimbo - welcome to PCHF.

What you are asking can be achieved thru windows XP sharing and security settings. How familiar are you with file permissions on XP? The reason I ask is so that I can give you a long or short explanation :-D

Hi Hengis

I am sort of familiar with the security settings, but maybe if you could send me the long version just in-case I run into any problems, that would be great.

Thanks

Sharing of files and folders can be managed in two ways. If you chose simplified file sharing, your folders can be shared with everyone on your network or workgroup, or you can make your folders private. (This is how folders are shared in Windows 2000.) However, in Windows XP Professional, you can also set folder permissions for specific users or groups. To do this, you must first change the default setting, which is simple file sharing. To change this setting, follow these steps:
?Open Control Panel, click Tools, and then click Folder Options.
?Click the View tab, and scroll to the bottom of the Advanced Settings list.
?Clear the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) check box.
?To manage folder permissions, browse to the folder in Windows Explorer, right?click the folder, and then click Properties. Click the Security tab, and assign permissions, such as Full Control, Modify, Read, and/or Write, to specific users.

You can set file and folder permissions only on drives formatted to use NTFS, and you must be the owner or have been granted permission to do so by the owner.

In your case you would probably want to set "Read only" for those users that you want to restrict.

Thanks for the mail Hengis.

I have had a look at your instructions, there are some extra settings there which I did not know about but it still doesn't have the security that I need.
It looks like I might need to look around for specific software that can do it.
This is the scenario :
We have a Data server shared up for all users to access, \\data
Users have the rights to create directories as they wish, and to copy any work they may want to into those folders.
Now there are certain documents which contain information that the management look at regularly and so do most of our sales team, lets call it "work.xls"
The management want to be able to protect this file in such a way that everyone can still view the information within the file but are unable to do any of the following:
Make changes to the file, copy the file from the server onto their machine, print the information in the file.
I know it is possible to setup Read only permissions but this does not stop users from being able to copy the file from the networked computer onto their machine or print the file.
Bacially the management have become very security conscious.
I don't know if you would know anything about this but any assistance is appreciated.

8)
Alright I think I may have found the solution to my file security, so I will post this thread for anyone else that may be interested.
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 provides information rights management (IRM) functionality to help organizations and employees protect and have greater control over digital information, such as confidential planning documents or financial reports. You can set policies that wield greater control over who can open, copy, print, or forward information created in Microsoft Office Word 2003, Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003, and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003.
Go to the site to view more:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/edit...ogies/irm.mspx

Great tip Zimbo - thanks for sharing that