Protecting Documents in Writer

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Foreword

The video "Protecting Documents" links to this page here, which contains further information. It gives an overview of the different methods how to protect content in LibreOffice from viewing, deleting or unwanted changes. This description refers exemplarily to Writer in LibreOffice. The content of this page is derived from the help system of LibreOffice:
Protecting Contents in LibreOffice Writer
Security
About Digital Signatures

Link to the Video

Link to the Video (in German [DE]): Dokumente schützen in Writer - LibreOffice

Save documents protected

All documents in OpenDocument format can be saved with a password. Documents saved with a password can no longer be opened without this password. The content is encrypted in such a way that it can no longer be read even with an external editor. This applies to content, graphics and OLE objects.

Switch on protection

Choose File ▸ Save as from the menu. In the "Save As" dialog, enter a file name and check mark "Save with password". Click Save. In the "Set Password" dialog, enter a password and confirm it. Click OK.

Warning:
If a password has been specified, the file can only be opened with this password. If you lose the password, there is no way to recover the document. Also note that the password is case sensitive.

Switch off protection

Open the document and enter the correct password. In the menu File ▸ Save as, uncheck "Save with password" and Save.

Note:
The information under File ▸ Properties is not encrypted. This is the name of the author, the date of creation, the number of words and characters.

Protect changes (revision function)

The revision function records the author of every single change made in LibreOffice Calc and LibreOffice Writer. This function can be protected at power-up so that it can only be deactivated again by entering the correct password. As long as this is not done, the changes will continue to be recorded. Accepting or discarding changes is not possible in the protected state.

Switch on protection

Choose in the menu Edit ▸ Track Changes ▸ Protect. Now in the "Enter Password" dialog you enter Password and confirm it and click OK.

Switch off protection

Choose in the menu Edit ▸ Track Changes ▸ Protect. Now in the "Enter Password" dialog give the right Password and click OK.

Protect Frames, Images and OLE-Objects

You can protect the Content, Position and Size. This applies to:

Frames
Images
OLE objects.

Switch on protection

You can switch ON protection separately for an image, a frame or an object. Select the object by clicking on it with the left mouse button. Then select from the menu

Format ▸ Image ▸ Properties for Images or
Format ▸ Frame and Object ▸ Properties for Frames or
Format ▸ Frame and Object ▸ Properties for an OLE-Object

The corresponding dialog opens:

In each case you can set a check mark in the "Position and Size" Tab.

Switch off protection

You can switch OFF protection separately for an image, a frame or an object. See the dialogs above. Select the object by clicking on it with the left mouse button. Then select from the menu

Format ▸ Image ▸ Properties for Images or
Format ▸ Frame and Object ▸ Properties for Frames or
Format ▸ Frame and Object ▸ Properties for an OLE-Object

The corresponding dialog opens:
You can uncheck the box in the "Position and Size" tab in each case.

Protect Drawing shapes, Text Boxes and Form controls

The Drawing shapes that you insert into a Document using the Drawing toolbar. Text Boxes that you insert into a Document using the Standard toolbar. Form Controlsthat you insert into a Document using the Form Controls toolbar. The Objects can be protected against accidental moving and resizing.

Switch on protection

Activate the protection Format ▸ Text Box and Shape ▸ Position and Size via menu - "Position and Size" tab. Activate the "Position" or "Size" check box.

Switch off protection

See the dialog above. Switch off the protection via menu Format ▸ Text Box and Shape ▸ Position and Size - "Position and Size" tab. Deactivate the "Position" or "Size" check box.

Protect Table cells

You can protect Table cells of Tables inserted in Writer. Tables are inserted from the Table ▸ Insert Table menu. Select the Cells of the Table you want to protect. Choose Table ▸ Protect Cells from the menu. The selected Cells are now protected against overwriting. Attempts to enter data into these cells will generate a message "Write-protected content cannot be changed.".

Select Table ▸ Unprotect Cells from the menu to remove the protection.

Further Informations

Work file

Anleitung für die Formularsuche für eine Steuererklärung.odt

Documentation / Manuals

Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals: Documentation / Manuals

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