Securing PDF Files - How to create Secure PDF Documents

	If you are evaluating Safeguard PDF Security, you need to follow all the steps on this page, including creating a customer account for yourself on the administration system so that you can view your secure PDF files.  Failure to do so will result in you not being able to view your secure PDF files.

STEP 1:   Download and install Safeguard Secure PDF Writer





The latest software can be downloaded from here.  Once you have downloaded the software, double-click on the .exe file to install it.




STEP 2:   Register Safeguard Secure PDF Writer

Before you can secure PDF files you must first register the Secure PDF Writer software.

YOU NEED TO EMAIL US FOR A LICENSE CODE so we can create an account for you on our licensing system. The license file required for registration will then be emailed to you.





Click on the license file link and select the 'Open It' option.  The Secure PDF Writer software will automatically connect to the Internet to register your license.

This will start the registration process and confirm your publisher record in the administration system.   A message dialog confirms successful registration.  You can now start securing PDF files.




STEP 3:   Securing PDF files

Right-click on one or more PDF files in Windows File Explorer to start the process of protecting them.   The dialog in step 4 will then be displayed.







STEP 4:   Set PDF document usage controls

Select the appropriate document access rights from the tabbed dialog.  For detailed use, please refer to the product manual or use the help feature in each tab.





NOTE: If you select more than one PDF file to secure then the Publish All button will be available.

When you select the Publish button your PDF files are encrypted and the document usage and access controls are applied.  You will end up with encrypted copies of your PDF files that have a .pdc file extension.




STEP 5:   Set up users

Once you have protected your PDF documents you need to create customer/user accounts on the administration system.  Even the person protecting PDF documents needs a user account to view them.

1.   Off the Windows Start > All Programs > LockLizard > Lizard Safeguard > PDF Writer menu select the Administration System to start generating user licenses.





This opens up a web page where you enter user names and email addresses by selecting the Customer tab and then the Add customer option. 




2. Enter your name, email address, the number of licenses you require (1 license = 1 computer installation), and an end date (if you want the account to expire) or the never expires button (if you don't want the account to expire).  Then select the Add customer button.

3. Depending on the Document Access method you selected when protecting the document (All Customers, Selected Customers, or a Publication) you may have to grant yourself access to the document you protected. You can do this when you add the customer (using the 'Set Publication Access' or 'Set Document Access' links) or at a later stage.  If you selected 'All Customers' then you won't have to do this since you are automatically given access.

4. The licensing system will automatically send an email - LockLizard Safeguard Secure PDF Viewer Registration - to the email address you have entered above that contains the download details for the Viewer software and a Viewer license file to register.  See below for more details.

5. For each user that you want to view your secure PDF files you must create a customer account for them.




STEP 6:   Assigning document access

To manually assign document access to a user, select the Customer tab and then the Manage customers link.

NOTE: You DON'T need to do this if you protected the document for 'All Customers'.





Find the customer account you want to grant document access to and then select the button. In the right dialog, select either the 'Set Document Access' or 'Set Publication Access' links depending on whether you protected the document for selected customers or to a publication.





You can then select the documents or publications you want to grant access to for either an unlimited or limited period.




STEP 7:   Send protected PDF files to your users / customers

Now you are ready to send your secure PDF files (PDC files) to users by email, or you can publish them on CD-ROM, DVD, removable media, etc., or from your web site.  You do this just the same as you would with any other type of file.

Viewing Secure PDF Files

This section explains how users/customers view your secure PDF files.  For a detailed description on using the Safeguard Secure PDF Viewer please refer to the product manual.

Once you have created a customer account on the administration system, the system will automatically email their license information to them.  Users install the Safeguard Secure PDF Viewer from the download link in the email and double-click on the license file to register.   The Secure PDF Viewer software will automatically connect to the license server, validate the license code and install the necessary decryption keys.

NOTE:  With Safeguard PDF Portable users do not have to install or register the Secure PDF Viewer.



STEP 1:   Download and Install Safeguard Secure PDF Viewer

Once downloaded, double-click on the .exe file to install the software.







STEP 2:   Register with the Publisher (Document owner)

Double-click on the license file (safeguard_v_license.llv) in your email application and select 'Open It' to register.







STEP 3:   View the protected PDF documents

Double-click on the PDC file (secure PDF file) in Windows File Explorer.






The secure PDF file is transparently decrypted and displayed in the Safeguard secure PDF viewer.

Once registered, any other secure PDF files you are allowed to access will be transparently decrypted and displayed in the Secure PDF Viewer - this process is totally transparent - you won't even realize they are encrypted.

Decryption keys are transparently relayed to the client computer if you have been given access to view a secure PDF file.  If you have not been given access to a secure PDF file then you will not be able to view it. Instead, a dialog box will be displayed with the publisher (document owner) contact details.

Document usage controls are enforced by Safeguard PDF Security and cannot be circumvented. Details of when the account expires and when the secure PDF file expires (if at all) are displayed at the bottom of the Secure PDF Viewer.