TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A

[MCWebsite.Staff]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
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[gotto@islandpacific.com]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
Thank you for this simple article. I have been curious about digital signatures and didn't understand the basics. This article describes the basics and gives practical information about how to set it up. Excellent.

[Guest.Visitor]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
Any help on this error would be much appreciated.

[brandle]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
I just read your article on “digital signatures”, in reading I discovered that this is more than what I need. Our company is now requiring a password to open PDF documents created from the iSeries. This is a simple password created with a combination of employees name and social security number. All I want to do is modify the code I’m using to assign a password to the document, any information you and provide on how to do this would be greatly appreciated.

[brianmay]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
brandle wrote:

I just read your article on “digital signatures”, in reading I discovered that this is more than what I need. Our company is now requiring a password to open PDF documents created from the iSeries. This is a simple password created with a combination of employees name and social security number. All I want to do is modify the code I’m using to assign a password to the document, any information you and provide on how to do this would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know what you use for your PDF conversion. I use Spool-a-Matic by Gumbo Software. It is not very expensive and will allow you to secure your PDF any way you want.

[brandle]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
brianmay: We're using the sample code by Giuseppe Costagliola for our PDF converter, these programs which have been modified somewhat are integrated into other software, other than the password issue we are pleased with the results and see no need in purchasing additional software. The software already writes header and footer information for the PDF file, all we're looking for is the syntax needed to assign a password to the document.

[brianmay]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
brandle wrote:

brianmay: We're using the sample code by Giuseppe Costagliola for our PDF converter, these programs which have been modified somewhat are integrated into other software, other than the password issue we are pleased with the results and see no need in purchasing additional software. The software already writes header and footer information for the PDF file, all we're looking for is the syntax needed to assign a password to the document.

My understanding is, it is not that simple. Password protecting a PDF is not just adding a tag in the PDF header. It requires the PDF to be encrypted. The encryption key is generated by running the owner and user passwords through many different hash calculations. This key is then used to encrypt the document using one of a few different encryption algorithms. If you really must "roll your own", I suggest reading up on the PDF specification found at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/pdf/pdf_reference.html HTH, Brian

[V.Mack]

** This thread discusses the article: TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Appendix A **
See attached files.

Victoria Mack
Executive Editor
MC Press Online