File Permissions for Word 2003

It's not often that people use floppy disks anymore, but...

First rule is never save to a floppy disk. Save to your My Documents folder, then copy the file to a floppy. Word creates a temporary file on the diskette and, if the file is not fully saved (or even if it is at times) another access to the file will be prevented.

Second, you should always format a diskette before usage when using Windows XP (or later) as the original format may cause problems.

So, try to copy the file from the floppy to the My Documents folder, edit/change the file, save it to the My Documents folder, then find it, right click and choose Send To, 3 1/2 floppy (A:)

Allan,

Hmm...Interesting.  It didn't work that way in my original installation of Word 2003 from the Factory.  I used the backup CDs of Office 2003 to reinstall it in my clean reinstall of Windows XP.  But I did upgrade it to the latest MS Update.  What's different?

The reason I want to go directly to the floppy is for security.  I didn't want a copy of this material on the HD, even though I can password save it to the HD.  Passwords are easy to crack with available Software.

Is there a way to change Word so I can save directly to Floppies w/o this issue?

Anyhow, Why can't I access Permissions on the File Menu?  It's there but grayed out.  What do I need to do to activate it?   

Thanks for the info.  It does work.

NoBootJack

To use permissions, you need Information Rights Management, which is an "extra" for Word and requires a server.

To get around your issue, copy to the HD, make the edits, copy to the floppy, delete from HD.

You may be better off using a flash drive (USB key, as some call it).

See if this will work, after you save the fille as A:\myfile.doc, use Save As and save it as B:\myfile.doc. Word should prompt you to insert the floppy into drive B. Pop out the original floppy and put the new one in the drive. You may have to swap the 2 disks back/forth for a while if the file is big and Word can't hold all of it in RAM at once.

If this doesn't work, you can always use a secure shreder (like the one included in the free Spybot Search & Destroy) to wipe all traces of the file off the hard drive after you're done editing it.

Must be pretty secret stuff if you're worried about somebody cracking the password to your loveletters. ;)

Ron 

Allan,

Thanks for the primer on IRM.  I vaguely knew about IRM but not many details. 

Well, I tried your method of savng to the HD and then sending to A:\ multiple times.  It works! and I had to do only initially.   Then I could save directly to the BU floppies.  This workaround is all Ineed for doing what I want. I'll find a war to use it.

I don't have B: drive either, but if I do as mentioned in my previous post, XPpro says "Insert disk for drive B". I swap out the floppy from drive A and put the new one in the same drive. XP is happy and copies the file to the new disk.

Secure Shredder, and a bunch of other very useful stuff, is 'hidden' in Spybot. Do this:

On the very top toolbar click MODE>ADVANCED

Click OK to their stupid warning message

Several new buttons will appear on left edge of the screen

Click Tools button and look for Secure Shredder option

The default number of shreds is 5 but you can increase it if you're concerned. 6 shreds is the DoD security standard. But more shreds increases the time it takes, especially if a large file. Now drag the file from its current folder into the shredder window and click "chop it away" button.

Once a file is gone, it's gone so use this at your own risk. I take no responsibility if you shred the wrong file! ;)

As added bit of caution, make sure Word hasn't saved a backup or .tmp version of your file on the hard drive that might be recoverable. 

Now relax, the world is safe again! :D

Ron