PDF and Command line arguments

[aragonit]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

There is another option... you could make this an eBook... with 128bit encryption they can't be opened / converted by Ghostscript & Co.

BTW, Acrobat 6.0 takes a lot of new command line parameters, maybe there's something you could use.

[yoni]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

thanks for the info. I've been playing a little with C++ for a while and I guess I'll just have to take it more seriously and finally learn it.

Knowing that Microsoft is the only option, I think i'll stay away from VB, since i was hoping to learn on a free or shareware version before purchasing it. And since C++ is both more powerful and free I'll just dive into that.

Thanks for the info and thanks indigo rose for allowing this completely non-AMS conversation to take place. I love you guys (and i just found out you're Canadian which makes my national pride shine that much brighter)

[Worm]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

Ahhh, I see. I did write this in VB and then wrapped it with VB-PowerWrap. Supposedly, its supposed to make a VB app need no installation. It puts the runtimes in the exe balh blah blah. I more or less wrote this as a "I wonder..." kind of thing.

If it is something that other find useful, and it actually works. I'd probably port it over to C++. I'm much more comfortable in VB, and can whip up small utils like this relatively easily. C++ takes me more time. At least this way I have the logic, and API calls down before trying to write the C++ code.

As for a preferred VB program, there is only one and that Microsofts. Here is the deal though, ask ANY programmer what you should learn and most will tell you to jump into C++. I wish I would have. Its not an easy language, but once you get it, other languages will come very quickly.

[yoni]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

I'm just curious what program and/or language it's in (I'm a little unknowldegeable when it comes to programming).

And since it did sort of come up, is there a preffered VB program out there amongst VBers? I'm looking to advance my knowledge and wanted to start in the right place.

[Corey]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

An API a day helps keep the doctor away.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Worm]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

A few APIs here and a few APIs there...

In all honesty, sample code on the internet trimmed down to do the job at hand. With a few tweaks here and there. I'm a firm believer in NOT reinventing the wheel.

[yoni]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

I told you this mostly to report the bug rather than because i must have it fixed for myself. So don't kill yourself on my behalf.
Ok. I've just gone back to running it again to check which version of Acrobat it opens up (because i have reader5 and the full version as well). Now for some reason it does work. Which is really weird because i tried a few times before posting.
I guess it can be looked at as good news.
But that does bring to mind a question, for password passing is it necessary to use ShellPdf?

Sorry for falsly alerting you. And thanks for repeatedly posting portentially helpful tools. Much apreciated

ETA: upon further review, I'm guessing that shellpdf.exe is a worm custom special. I'm understanding now. how did you put that together (just out of curiosity)

[Worm]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

Uh Oh! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

The top link should only open the PDF normally. The bottom link should open the PDF and insert the password. What version of Acrobat Reader?

If that's not the case... Uhmmm, I dunno. What OS are you running? Are you using the sample app, or have you modified it?

[yoni]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

hey worm,

I've downloaded your example and tried it out. It goes as far as waiting for the password prompt and bringing it to the front but it doesn't send the password.
Looking through the actions you had setup I can sort of see that at least from the ShellPDF button you mention the password but I'm not really clear about how it is that this is supposed to work and almost as importantly why it is that this doesn't work.

Care to enlighten me?

[Worm]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

Cool Biz!

I guess you made it through the parameters okay then.

[Bruce]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

It worked great! This is huge for those of us who need some sort of protection for our PDFs. Thanks again!

[Worm]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

Sure thing, if you have questions about the command line parameters, let me know. I didn't do any explaining at all.

[Bruce]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

Thanks Worm! I'll give it a try!

[Worm]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

Bruce, give this a try...

I can't gaurantee it 100%, but I wasn't able to break it in the tests I did. Basically, its a program that will call the AcroRd32.EXE, wait for the Password dialog box, force the window to the front, then send the password and a carriage return.

Anyhow, play with it and see what you think.

Download Sample

[McGargle]

Re: PDF and Command line arguments

I'm not sure a user password would prevent Acrobat from "saving as," but I'll have to try it.

If you want to prevent printing the PDF, I've seen indications that you do need a user password to prevent some third party software (Ghostscript, GSview, XPDF, Mac OS X preview) from ignoring the restriction.

Note that if you apply only a user password, someone with Acrobat can remove the user password and any other security settings (no printing, no copying, etc.).

Have you thought about applying just a master password? At least that way, the saved file would still have the same security restrictions, and you wouldn't have to send the master password to AMS. Also, if you're confident that the users will only have Reader, you can apply restrictions without having either a user or a master password.