How to create Read-only PDF file using NitroPro?

Do you want to create read-only PDF? Do you want to protect the pdf file? In this article, we will help you to create read-only pdf files using a nitro pro.

One of my friends, Rasik asked me a question: he created one template of the quote and he wants to protect it so other people can just read or open that template, but they can’t edit or change the pdf file when he shares the same with his other colleagues. So basically, he was asking how he can create an unchangeable or read-only PDF file? or how to create a pdf with limited read-only access? or how to limit the access of pdf files to read-only?  Similarly, when we share our project documents through email or cloud computing with engineers, architects, client, sub-contractor, or any other authority, if we want to limit the accessibility of our pdf documents like an editing pdf file, printing pdf file and copying content of pdf file, How we will do it?

After you read this blog you will be able to answer all the below questions or you will find the answer of all these below questions;

1. How to convert unchangeable or read-only PDF file?
2. How to create an unchangeable or read-only PDF file?
3. How to restrict the printing of your PDF file?
4. How to restrict copying and paste the content of your PDF file?
5. How to restrict the screen reader from reading your PDF file?

I am going to explain two procedures as mentioned below;

1. How to create a new pdf file?
2. How to convert an existing pdf file to unchangeable or read-only and assign restriction as mentioned above to the pdf file?

1) How to create a new PDF file?

If your file is not pdf and you want to convert it into pdf with the access permission mentioned earlier, you need to convert it to pdf. To convert any file into pdf, I use DoPdf program because it can convert any printable file into pdf. DoPdf is a virtual printer that prints any printable file like image, picture, word, excel, Microsoft Project, outlook, emails, web pages, AutoCAD files etc. into pdf. Click here to download and install doPDF.

We will use the Nitro Pro PDF editor to protect the pdf file. It can also create pdf files. Nitro Pro is the best PDF editor. It is effortless and quick to use. I have used it a lot while creating construction documents. You can search on YouTube or Google to download and install for free.

1. Open Nitro Pro once you complete the installation.
2. Go to the Home tab on the left panel and click on Create PDF from the file.
3. Click on Add Files and choose the file that you want to convert to pdf.
4. Click on Create and it will ask you to choose a location where you want to save to file and click on Save.
5. Once you click on save the pdf file creation process will start, and once it completes, it will open in NitroPro and the same converted file you can see at your selected location.
6. So now as your file is PDF, you are ready to follow below procedure no-02 using the same software.

2) How to convert PDF Files to unchangeable or read-only PDF Files using NitroPro?

1. If you have installed Nitro pro as explained in procedure -01, Right-click on the file you want to convert to read-only or unchangeable pdf and click on Edit with Nitro Pro. Once you will do this, the file will open in nitro pro.
2. Go to the Protect tab and choose the Password Security option.
3. Tick the option Require a password to change security settings and access specific functions and create a password. You can assign permission of printing, editing, copying of content, access for screenreader for the non-password holder user.
4. Click on the finish and save the file.

Once you save the file, it will get converted to the read-only or unchangeable file or protected file depending on the permission you have given to the file for non-password holder users. Only you can edit the file if you know the password or in other words, only password holder users can change or edit the same pdf file if they have Nitro Pro on their computer.