Restrict access to the project manual [pdf] to the [construction team] and the [owner] with password and role controls…
Open the PDF file you want to restrict in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Select File from the top menu, then choose Properties.
In the Document Properties window, click the Security tab.
From the Security Method dropdown, select Password Security.
In the Password Security Settings dialog, check the option to restrict editing and printing of the document.
Set a permissions password when prompted.
CautionIf you forget this password, you cannot change or remove the restrictions later.
Choose the specific restrictions you want to apply (e.g., disallow printing, disallow editing, disallow copying).
Click OK to confirm your settings and close the dialog.
Click OK again in the Document Properties window.
Save the PDF to apply the new permissions.
Best practiceTest your restricted PDF in a different PDF reader or with a different user account to confirm the permissions are enforced.
You can review or change these restrictions later by reopening the Document Properties and returning to the Security tab.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
When you set 'Printing Allowed: None', no one can print the PDF at all. If you choose 'Low (150 dpi)', people can print the document, but the quality will be low. This is useful if you want people to have a physical copy but not a high-quality one for professional use or reproduction.
The owner password is very important because it is the only way to change or remove the restrictions you set on a PDF. Without it, the document's security settings are locked forever. It ensures that only you, or someone you trust with the password, can alter the access controls.
You can allow form filling by setting 'Changes Allowed' to permit 'Form Fill'. This means users can type into form fields but cannot insert, delete, or rotate pages, or extract content. This keeps your document structure safe while still allowing interaction with forms.
Yes, you can automate this. Adobe provides an API called 'Remove Protection'. You would send a POST request to the specified endpoint, including the owner password in the request body. This allows for programmatic control over PDF security settings.