locking a document

[treymedic]

How do I lock a document so my coworkers can ONLY read the document and click
hyperlinks? I don't want tracked changes, comments or anything done to the
document.

 

[Allan S. Warrior]

Tools>Options>Security password to open and password to modify. Set both
passwords, but only give your coworkers the password to open. Be sure to
save your document after setting the passwords.

You can also get to the options while using Save As... - Tools>Security
Options.

This is possible in Word 2002 and 2003, I'm less certain about older
versions.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

You can protect the document as a Form. Tools > Protect Document.

You'll need to make your hyperlinks into macrobutton fields and this only
works for external links or links to enabled form fields.

Also no matter what, people will be able to print your document. And if they
can read it (even on paper) they can retype it and edit it. Word is not
built to create documents that can not be changed.

Even if you follow Allan's advice, people will be able to use Save As to
save the document to a new name and make whatever changes they want.

You don't mention which version of Word you are using. The latest versions
include more security but my statement about retyping remains true
regardless of the version.

For more about online forms, (including using macrobutton fields for
hyperlinks) follow the links at
http://addbalance.com/word/wordwebresources.htm#Forms or
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/FillinTheBlanks.htm especially Dian
Chapman's series of articles.

Hope this helps,