Saving Documents as Read-Only by Default

Summary: When you save your documents, you can specify that they be saved in a "read-only" format so that they cannot be changed as easily. This tip explains how you can modify the Save As command so that documents are saved as read-only by default. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

When Siegfried saves documents in Word, he normally needs them saved so that they are read-only. He finds setting the read-only option each time he saves (in the Save As dialog box) to be tedious and prone to error. Thus, Siegfried wonders if it is possible to force Word to save files as read-only by default.

The short answer is that it is possible, but it will take creating a macro that changes the Save As command. The following is a very simplistic version of such a macro.

Public Sub FileSaveAs()
    With ActiveDocument
        .ReadOnlyRecommended = True
        .Password = ""
        .WritePassword = ""
    End With
    Dialogs(wdDialogFileSaveAs).Show
End Sub

The macro first sets the document to be read-only, and then displays the normal Save As dialog box. Save the macro in your Normal.dot file (or Normal.dotm file in Word 2007) and it effectively replaces the default Save As command.

Tip #585 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Take Control! Master the real power behind Word! Successfully master the secrets of powerful formatting and create documents that stand out from the rest. Best of all, you can create documents that are easy to maintain and quick to change.

Check out WordTips: Styles and Templates today!

Helpful Links

Newest Tips

Subscribe

RSS Feeds

Saving Documents as Read-Only by Default