Aug102012

What’s the best way to share PDF documents with a closed group?

Matt Goldstein asks:

I have some PDFs that I’d like to share with a closed group, and prevent members from downloading or printing. Would be nice if they could join using Google Accounts, but not essential. Suggestions?


Browser: Chrome 20
System: Windows
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9 Answers -

0 votes

Vipul Jain

August 10, 2012

you can try out scribd.com
It allows you to presnt your documents in such a format that it isnt downloadable or printable.
but be wary that anyone can print screen the document and print it.
So you cannot make it full proof at all.
If you trust the guys you want to share the document with, just share on dropbox or mail it to them directly.

0 votes

ha14

August 10, 2012

perhaps with Scribd
http://www.scribd.com/

slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/

Free online web services to create, view, share and edit PDF files
http://blog.nitropdf.com/2008/01/free-online-web-services-to-create-view-share-and-edit-pdf-files/

0 votes

Yasin Soliman

August 10, 2012

You could use an online viewing service, although sites may not permit sharing documents with a specific group.

Dropbox is another option, although the functionality to prevent printing and downloading has not been integrated.

I believe there are some ways of preventing PDFs from being printed (preventing through the actual file) although it could still be downloaded.

0 votes

Saikat Basu

August 10, 2012

Look into Mendeley – http://www.mendeley.com. There’s a basic (Free!): 1GB Private Storage plan.

Also, Doocu.com – http://www.doocu.com/ could be of help.

0 votes

So Nia

August 10, 2012

you can try the tool named “Undownloadable PDF”.
It creates a link to an exe file,instead of creating a link to your pdf file, hence preventing it from downloading…. the readers can only view it.No opton of “save” or “print”.Right click is disabled.Even keyboard shortcuts are disabled
To read the contents,the readers have to just press the “run” button.. it doesnot leave any traces in reader’s browsing history or temp folder.

0 votes

Justin Pot

August 10, 2012

If everyone has Google Accounts, Google Docs/Drive is the way to go. Upload the files, add to a folder and share that folder with them; done.

0 votes

James Gillespie

August 11, 2012

If you want them to be able to download the PDF’s before viewing them then you can use Dropbox, it is a free 2GB cloud storage which should be enough for some PDF’s.

0 votes

Pankaj Lakhani

August 11, 2012

We have many resources to share documents privately with your friends.

List which i prefer the most:

1. Google Docs – Upload and share the URL with your friend
2. Dropbox – Same things as above
3. Slideshare – Register, upload and mark as private. then Share with your friend’s email which will be downloaded by your friend only

Regards

0 votes

Jehan Seedin

August 15, 2012

Use Google Docs/Drive You can invite the people you want to share the PDF file with that group of people and it will be private to them