Password protection not supported in Office format??

[FL Guy]

I'm a new OOo user, checking out OO to see if I can switch entirely... Can anyone tell me if there is a solution / workaround for this issue?

I opened a file in OO which was created in MS Word and saved with encryption and a password. When I open this file with OO it prompts for the password, and and after it is entered, succeeds in opening the file.

Unfortunately, when I try to save the file, OO says that password protection is not supported when saving files in MS Office format.

Is there a solution or workaround that enables OO to save password protected / encrypted files in MS Word format?

[hol.sten]

Unfortunately, when I try to save the file, OO says that password protection is not supported when saving files in MS Office format.

Is there a solution or workaround that enables OO to save password protected / encrypted files in MS Word format?

Short answer: No.

Longer answer from Hagar de l'Est:

But as the MS Office format is a closed one (no specification available), OOo has no way to know how to implement it. So there is no way. Either only use OOo or MS Office. Or use a third party application to encrypt the file.

Read for example this thread: http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/ ... ?f=5&t=968

[FL Guy]

Longer answer from Hagar de l'Est:

But as the MS Office format is a closed one (no specification available), OOo has no way to know how to implement it. So there is no way. Either only use OOo or MS Office. Or use a third party application to encrypt the file.

Read for example this thread: http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/ ... ?f=5&t=968

Ah, thanks. What threw me off was the fact that OO was able to open & read the file. I see the note about this in the post you pointed out which explains this, thanks.

Sigh .. I guess I'm off to go find an open encryption solution that works on a file file by basis (as opposed to an entire disk solution that requires a process running in the background - it doesn't look like the OpenPGP Corp solution matches my needs), and figure out the whole certifcate/signature process.

If anyone has any suggestions (either for single file encryptinon apps, or tutorials for getting up to speed on the certificate process for getting up to speed on this process without spending days on wading through this - can't afford that just now), I would welcome and appreciate the info.

Thanks!

[Hagar Delest]

I've also heard about Blowfish algorithm. See that page: Products that Use Blowfish. But Google has plenty of other links.

[FL Guy]

For the benefit of others who might encounter this issue and thread later, there was a discussion of single file (and disk) encryption alternatives in the CNET Help & How To newsletter in August of 2007 which may be helpful (in addition to the PGP and Blowfish options previously (kindly) mentioned.

This discussion Encrypting and password protecting files and folders on my PC includes references to some portable, standalone encryption programs which might be helpful to others who encounter this issue when switching from MS Office.