Set Permissions

The PDF specification defines a set of permissions that may be set for encrypted documents. Permissions go into effect anytime an encrypted document is opened with the user password. Providing the owner password which is also known as the set permissions password or master password will give full access to the document.

pdfcpu provides minimal support for setting permissions. You can set either all or none permissions. Have a look at some examples.

Usage

pdfcpu permissions set [-perm none|all] [-upw userpw] -opw ownerpw inFile

Flags

name	description	required	values	default
perm	permissions	no	none, all	none
upw	user password	if set
opw	owner password	if set

Common Flags

name	description	required
verbose	turn on logging	no
vv	verbose logging	no
quiet	quiet mode	no
upw	user password	if set
opw	owner password	if set

Arguments

name	description	required
inFile	PDF input file	yes

Examples

You have to provide any non empty password in order to change permissions.

For a document encrypted with just the owner password you have to provide opw to change the permissions:

$ pdfcpu encrypt -opw opw enc.pdf
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf
permission bits:            0
Bit  3: false (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: false (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: false (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: false (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: false (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: false (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: false (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: false (print high-level(rev>=3))

pdfcpu perm add -perm all enc.pdf
Please provide all non-empty passwords

$ pdfcpu perm add -opw opw -perm all enc.pdf
adding permissions to enc.pdf ...
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf
permission bits: 111100111100
Bit  3: true (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: true (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: true (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: true (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: true (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: true (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: true (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: true (print high-level(rev>=3))

For a document encrypted with just the user password you have to provide upw to change the permissions:

$ pdfcpu encrypt -upw upw enc.pdf
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list -upw upw enc.pdf
permission bits:            0
Bit  3: false (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: false (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: false (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: false (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: false (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: false (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: false (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: false (print high-level(rev>=3))

$ pdfcpu perm add -perm all enc.pdf
Please provide all non-empty passwords#

$ pdfcpu perm add -upw upw -perm all enc.pdf
adding permissions to enc.pdf ...
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list enc.pdf
Please provide the correct password

$ pdfcpu perm list -upw upw enc.pdf
permission bits: 111100111100
Bit  3: true (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: true (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: true (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: true (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: true (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: true (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: true (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: true (print high-level(rev>=3))

For an encrypted document that has both passwords set you have to provide both opw and upw to change the permissions:

$ pdfcpu encrypt -opw opw -upw upw enc.pdf
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list -opw opw enc.pdf
permission bits:            0
Bit  3: false (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: false (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: false (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: false (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: false (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: false (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: false (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: false (print high-level(rev>=3))

$ pdfcpu perm add -perm all enc.pdf
Please provide all non-empty passwords

$ pdfcpu perm add -opw opw -perm all enc.pdf
Please provide the correct password

$ pdfcpu perm add -upw upw -perm all enc.pdf
Please provide all non-empty passwords

$ pdfcpu perm add -upw upw -opw opw -perm all enc.pdf
adding permissions to enc.pdf ...
writing enc.pdf ...

$ pdfcpu perm list -upw upw enc.pdf
permission bits: 111100111100
Bit  3: true (print(rev2), print quality(rev>=3))
Bit  4: true (modify other than controlled by bits 6,9,11)
Bit  5: true (extract(rev2), extract other than controlled by bit 10(rev>=3))
Bit  6: true (add or modify annotations)
Bit  9: true (fill in form fields(rev>=3)
Bit 10: true (extract(rev>=3))
Bit 11: true (modify(rev>=3))
Bit 12: true (print high-level(rev>=3))