Setting Distiller security options

[Rhonda_...@adobeforums.com]

I am using Acrobat 5.0 and I would like to be able to set the default distiller options so that when I create a pdf say from a MS Word document (by going to File > Print > Acrobat Distiller) it would automatically apply the security settings to the document. Right now I have to create the pdf, then from Adobe Acrobat I have to go to File > Document Security > then choose I my security settings and then save. would be great if when I create the pdf it automatically applies the document security settings right then and there so I don't have to go back in an apply to each document. would save me a lot of time especially when I have 20 documents I need to pdf, I have to do double work to add security. if anyone knows how to do this, I would love to hear from them.
Thanks,
Rhonda Edmunds

[Vaughn_...@adobeforums.com]

I use Windows 2000 and can go to the properties of my Acrobat 5.0 printer (found in Start > Settings > Printers) and select the "printing preferences..." button (and/or click on the advanced tab and select the "printing defaults..." button and set the default options you mentioned. Unfortunately, on my Windows NT 4 box these same printer configuration options/buttons are not available? Can these be set via the registry? Please, can anyone help with this?

Thanks.

Vaughn Clement

[Suzann...@adobeforums.com]

>I am using Acrobat 5.0 and I would like to be able to set the default
distiller options so that when I create a pdf say from a MS Word document
(by going to File > Print > Acrobat Distiller)

I don't think there's a way to do it by printing to Distiller directly, but if you use the PDFMaker macro set (the Acrobat tool in your Word toolbar) for your PDF conversion, you can apply security preferences there.

[Suzann...@adobeforums.com]

>Does anyone know what the difference is between creating a pdf using
Distiller, PDF Writter, PDF Maker

There is an entry in the forum FAQ topic at the top of this list. Short version is that Distiller is the PostScript printer that prints the PDF, PDFMaker is a macro set designed for Microsoft Office products, that can add certain features to the PostScript file but then uses Distiller to finish generating the PDF, and PDFWriter is old technology that tried to mimic a PCL printer to create a PDF file, but does not handle graphics well, and because of its limited functionality is no longer supported as of Acrobat 6.0.

[Rhonda_...@adobeforums.com]

thanks to both of you for your replies....I tried finding the option in the Printing Preferences for Distiller and I can't find anything there that lets me set default security settings. I am also using Windows 2000, Vaughn - where do you find this setting? Then I tried Suzanne's way and this did apply the security setting, but I can only use this feature with Word but that is where the majority of my pdfs are created from....thanks!
Does anyone know what the difference is between creating a pdf using Distiller, PDF Writter, PDF Maker, etc.?

[Vaughn_...@adobeforums.com]

Rhonda,

Sorry I wasn't specific enough. You may not be able to change or see the properties of the Acrobat Distiller Printer if you are not and Adminstrator on your machine. To change the default properties of your distiller printer, you must first open your printers folder. Here are the steps:
(1) click on start button
(2) click on the "Settings" menu
(3)click on "Printers" -- the printers folder should open
(4)right-click the "Acrobat Distiller" Printer and select properties -- a new properties dialog box should open.
(5)on the general tab click the button at the bottom that reads "Printing Preferences..." This will open a new dialog box.
(6)click on the "Adobe PDF Settings" tab. There you will see the options you are looking for.
(7)make your changes and then click okay to close the preferences dialog box. You should now be looking at the Acrobat Distiller Properties Dialog box.
(8)click on the "Advanced" tab
(9)click on the "Printing Defaults..." button at the bottom. You should now be looking at the exact same dialog box you alter under preferences. Make your changes and click okay.
(10)click okay to close the Acrobat Distiller Properties dialog box.
(11)just to make sure your setting stick, follow the same steps as above.

[Rhonda_...@adobeforums.com]

I tried changing this setting using the Printing settings but there is no place to change the security on it.....however I just figured it out. When you have Adobe Acrobat open, go to Tools > Distiller, when Acrobat Distiller opens select Settings > Security from the top toolbar - here you can set the default options for distiller. so now when I print from any program to the distiller it will apply the security level & password that I specified here. Thanks all for your help.