Section:

Decrypt & read a PDF document using JavaScript

To read a PDF document with password protection.

1<html>
2  <script src="../lib/core/webviewer-core.min.js"></script>
3  <script src="../lib/core/pdf/PDFNet.js"></script>
4  <script>
5    (async function() {
6      Core.setWorkerPath('../lib/core');
7      const securedDoc = await PDFNet.PDFDoc.createFromURL(filename);
8
9      // At this point MySecurityHandler callbacks will be invoked.
10      // MySecurityHandler.GetAuthorizationData() should collect the password and
11      // AuthorizeFailed() is called if user repeatedly enters a wrong password.
12      if ((await securedDoc.initStdSecurityHandlerUString(password))) {
13        // The password is correct! Document can now be used for reading and editing
14      }
15    })()
16  </script>
17</html>

Related Links

Encrypt and Decrypt PDF Files
Full sample code which illustrates some of our encryption support.

About reading a secured document

Apryse SDK fully supports the reading of secured and encrypted PDF documents. To test whether a document requires a password, check the return value of PDFDoc.InitSecurityHandler() as shown above. Because InitSecurityHandler() doesn't have any side effects on documents that are not encrypted you should always invoke this method, or InitStdSecurityHandler(), after constructing a document.

If a document doesn't require authentication data (such as a user password) in order to view its content, InitSecurityHandler() is enough to work with encrypted documents. If, on the other hand, the document requires a password, InitStdSecurityHandler allows you to provide one.

After the document's security handler is initialized, you can access it using the doc.GetSecurityHandler() method. You can edit permissions and authorization data on an existing handler, or set a completely new security handler using the doc.SetSecurityHandler(handler) method.

Removing security from a document

To remove PDF security, call the RemoveSecurity() method:

1<html>
2  <script src="../lib/core/webviewer-core.min.js"></script>
3  <script src="../lib/core/pdf/PDFNet.js"></script>
4  <script>
5    (async function() {
6      Core.setWorkerPath('../lib/core');
7      const doc = await PDFNet.PDFDoc.createFromURL(filename);
8      await doc.initSecurityHandler();
9      doc.removeSecurity();
10    })()
11  </script>
12</html>

Related Links

A document may have both a current and a new security handler associated with it because a PDF document is not fully loaded in memory and decrypted when it is loaded. To fully decrypt the document, even after applying a new security handler, the original security handler is still required.

PDF security permissions

The security mechanism for the high-level document works in the same way as with an SDF document. To secure a document, use the PDFDoc.SetSecurityHandler() method. To open a secured document, call PDFDoc.InitSecurityHandler(). To open a document with a password, call PDFDoc.InitStdSecurityHandler().

The following table lists security permissions available through the standard security handler:

Permission

Description

e_owner

All permissions are granted.

e_doc_open

A permission to open a document.

e_doc_modify

Modify the contents of the document.

e_print

Print the document.

e_print_high

Print the document to a representation from which a faithful digital copy of the PDF content could be generated. When this permission is not set, printing is limited to a low level representation of the appearance, possibly of degraded quality.

e_extract_content

Copy or otherwise extract text and graphics from the document.

e_mod_annot

Add or modify text annotations, fill in interactive form fields.

e_fill_forms

Fill in existing interactive form fields (including signature fields).

e_access_support

Extract text and graphics (in support of accessibility to disabled users or for other purposes).

e_assemble_doc

Assemble the document (insert, rotate, or delete pages and create bookmarks or thumbnail images), even if e_doc_modify is not set.

Did you find this helpful?

Trial setup questions?

Ask experts on Discord

Need other help?

Contact Support

Pricing or product questions?

Contact Sales