ChangeProtection

The Change Protection function provides a way to change the protection settings on a PDF document without modifying the document contents. No further options other than the input and output PDF settings are required.

All passwords entered into this function's properties will be visible in plain text in the Linx solution file and in the compiled .Net assembly.

Properties

Input PDF

The follow properties specify the PDF document to be loaded and modified by the operation:

Input PDF file path

Path to the PDF file.

Input authentication type

PDF files can be protected using a password or a certificate, this field indicates which type of authentication to attempt when loading the PDF.

1. None
   The document is unprotected and can be opened immediately.
2. Password
   The document is protected by a password.
3. Certificate
   The document is protected by a certificate.

Certificate protected files are not supported by the "Fill form", "Sign", "Add watermark" and "Concatenate" operations.
If you need to use the operations on a certificate protected document, first remove the certificate protection using the "Change protection" operation. The certificate must include the private key in order to be able to load the document.

Input PDF password

Password required to access the PDF file.

Input certificate source

Source to load the certificate from. (Visible when using "Certificate" authentication type.)

1. File
   Load a certificate from a .pfx file.
2. Store
   Load a certificate from the windows certificate store.

Input certificate file path

Path to a .pfx file containing a certificate.

Input certificate file password

Password needed to open the certificate file.

Input certificate

Certificate loaded from the windows certificate store. (Visible when using "Store" as the certificate source.)

Output PDF

The follow properties specify options for saving the PDF document after it has been modified.

Output PDF file path

Path to the PDF file to write to.

Output PDF protection

Protection used to secure the output PDF.

1. None
   No protection
2. Password
   The PDF will ask for a password before opening
3. Certificate
   The PDF will only be readable by the owner of the specified certificate

Certificate source

Source to load the owner's certificate. (Visible if the "PDF protection" property is set to "Certificate")

1. File
   Load the certificate from a .pfx file.
2. Store
   Load the certificate from the windows key store.

Certificate file path

Path to a .pfx file containing a certificate used to authenticate the owner.

Certificate file password

Password used to decrypt the certificate file.

Document open password

Password required to gain user-level access to the PDF.
Leave this field blank, if you would like to allow user-level access without requiring a password.

Certificate source

Source to load the user's certificate from.

1. File
   Load the certificate from a .pfx file.
2. Store
   Load the certificate from the windows key store.

Certificate file path

Path to a .pfx file containing a certificate used to authenticate the user.

Certificate file password

Password needed to decrypt the user's certificate.

User certificate

Certificate in the windows key store.

Add document restrictions

Specify restrictions on the PDF document.

Allow printing

The level of printing allowed on the PDF document.

Allow changes

The editing actions allowed on the PDF document.

Allow copying

Enable copying of text, images and other content.

Allow screen readers

Enable text access for screen reader devices for the visually impaired.

Encryption

Encryption method used to protect the PDF contents.

1. Standard encryption (40 bit)
2. Standard encryption (128 bit)
3. AES encryption (128 bit)
4. AES encryption (256 bit)

AES encryption is stronger than standard (RC4) encryption, but is only supported by newer versions of Acrobat reader.
If the document needs to be read by any Acrobat versions prior to Acrobat X, standard encryption should be used.

Don't encrypt metadata

Prevents encryption of the document metadata.