Non-editable file

Hello,

It is best to print your project in PDF format and to send it like this. This is what I did in similar situations. This way it can be used also by those that don’t have MSP installed.

Best,
MD

Thanks,
That’s what I was planning to do. I was looking for a "turn off calculations", "locked file", or something like that within the MSP software.
Maybe another viewer will have a clue.
Go well,
Eric

Hi Eric

In Powerproject there is a "Book Out" facility that allows other users a pre fixed level of access for editing.

One option is View Only.

Maybe MSP has a similar function.

Best regards

Mike Testro.

Eric,
you could use:
File, Save As, Options, Password
There are 2 password levels in Microsoft Project: for opening the file, for editing the file
If you give your file this 2nd password, the person who will open your file with MSP will not be able to change the schedule
Hope this helps
Alexandre

Eric,

In case you lose your passwords you can recover them with software for these purposes. The following have been useful to me.

http://www.elcomsoft.com/aopr.html
http://www.softsea.com/review/Advanced-Project-Password-Recovery.html

For PDF files recommend you use a password remover such as the following.

http://www.verypdf.com/pwdremover/index.htm

Password removers are faster than password recovery products.

There are many products out there for software that sell to a wide audience. I do not believe you will find password removers for all products, but for MS Project seems there are a few available options.

In your case if really worried about someone breaking the password I would use PDF. You could even print your reports to a graphic format and then change it to a PDF with password protection for added security.

For your knowledge if using Windows 7 and screen capture Snagit I had issues with it and have to change to FastStone Capture. These utilities you can use to change your reports to graphic format. Better than the snipping tool provided by Windows 7.

Best regards,
Rafael

I like staying within MSProject to "lock the file". However, using the Save As with either and both Password options did not prevent me from making changes to the emailed copy of the schedule and then changing the name and saving it to my desktop.

Read-only seems to be undone by changing the name of the file during the Save As procedure.

Would it make a difference if I wasn’t sending the file to myself for experimentation? If I created the file and set the passwords and sent a copy to my email would that prevent the password protection from taking effect?

Thanks and go well,
Eric

Eric,
you are right when saying saving your file with a read-only password does not prevent someone of editing your file, saving it under a mock-name and giving it the original name by using Windows Explorer
the only way to obtain what you were talking about in your first post, and whatever MSP release you do use, is to "print" the project to PDF format
There is no "check-out" or whatever functionality that would let you lock any possible edition of your file and let the users freely open the file.
Alexandre

Thank you,
I’ll use the .pdf format to insure that I have the single source of record.
Be well,
Eric