protect an image in a Word Document

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WE have letters that halfway through will be an image of a signature (wrapped to show dotted line below).

I have used continous section breaks above the image and below the image and protected that section.

However, the image can still be seleccted. Is there anyway to stop this. I tried using the the image content control but that wouldn’t wrap and could still be selected.

Any help greatly received.

Thanks

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Have you tried the following?:

[*] Insert a picture content control.
[*] Click on the ‘insert picture’ icon and insert your signature image.
[*] Then back in the Ribbon, in the Controls group, click on Properties.
[*] Put checkmarks next to: ‘Content control cannot be deleted’, and ‘Contents cannot be edited’.

27466-PictureContentControlProperties

– That locks the picture content control and avoids the need to protect sections.

Gary

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Gary’s answer is correct but you should be aware that anything that can be displayed on screen can be plagiarised and edited. In this case, a simple PrintScreen will enable a user to copy the image into a graphics editor and use it. So just a few extra steps and it can easily be used.

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Another cautionary follow-up: Terry’s post prompted me to go back and play around some more with the locked picture control – even though you can’t delete it, or modify its contents, you can still select and copy the picture, which makes it simple to then paste an (unlocked) copy of the picture somewhere else – I’d previously assumed that a locked picture control could not be copied, but that’s not the case. And this appears to be the case with the other content controls when they’re locked against editing. (Tested this in Word 2007/2010.)
Not sure what the rationale was for allowing the contents of content controls that are locked for editing, to still be copied!

Gary

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Hi meames,

If you palce the image and its anchor in a Section that has forms protection applied, the image cannot be selected. Your mention of wrapping suggests you have the image laid out with something other than the in-line format. In that case, if the image can be selected, it’s anchor must be outside the protected Section. Drag the anchor to a location within the applicable Section before protecting it and everything should be OK.

In addition to the caveats about print-screen copying, do bear in mind that forms protection is fairly weak.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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Hi thanks for all your replies.

I had tried Garys method before I posted and found that I could still select. The client insists he needs to have the picture above a dotted line so it looks as if it is a signed form.

I’ll try the anchor. personally i think as this is stored on a network drive and access from a system, the would be better to just email this as a pdf. I know the signature can still be seleted and anyone with a tiny bit of knowlege can copy and paste a screen dump. but at least he may be a bit happier.

Thanks!

meames

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Well advise the user that he/she should use a completely different signature for any document that is going to be emailed or placed on line. Never use a signature you use for contracts or signing cheques!

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