Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How do I lock a file?

This is topic How do I lock a file? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 10-21-2006, 01:19 PM:

Is there any way to password protect a text or excel document? I am in the process of writing a raunchy pornographic romance novel and I don't want anyone to see it.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 10-21-2006, 01:38 PM:

On a Windows NT-based machine such as WinXP using separate user logins, your entire My Documents folder can only be accessed by you and an administrator.

You could also use WinZip and password protect the .zip file. (Moving the file into the .zip instead of just adding it) Anyone can see the filenames in the .zip file, but can't open it without the password.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-21-2006, 01:45 PM:

(lol...funny) One cute trick that I used to do when I want to hide files is to change the three digit extendor after the period to something completely different (e.g.- filename.exe to filename.xxx) so the program can't see it, nor even open it unless the extendors was changed back to its original state.

I used to do this with a friend of mine back east. He was at work and their computers had filters on them that any file that had .mp3. .wav. .mid, or any sound extendor on them couldn't be opened. I got around that and renamed the extendors with the .pdf extendor since it was a place of business that used Adobe quite extensively.

He'd received the files and renamed them back to what I told him the extendors were and he'd get his sound files.

-monte

Posted by Ross Oba (Member # 3433) on 10-21-2006, 02:27 PM:

Not sure if this will help, but you can check Tools > Options > click on the Security tab. You can set a password to open the document and to modify the document (so no one changes it).

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-21-2006, 02:50 PM:

Don't do that Chris! I've been reading it and that book is HHOT!!! I never in my wildest dreams would've figured that a romance novel with Phil Hill as the main character could be so sexy. [Razz]

You can always make yourself a hotmail account specifically for this purpose and just email it to yourself whenever you come to a stopping point, then delete the file from the computer you are working on. Those sort of files shouldn't have hardly any file size, so you can actually keep a work in progress archive of the emails too on that hotmail account.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-21-2006, 04:08 PM:

Using something like a Hotmail account as a kind of safety deposit box is a good suggestion.

You can secure data on small removable USB flash thumb drives. Several different models, such as the SanDisk Cruiser Titanium, offer password protect access modes.

If you have a full version of Adobe Acrobat, you can convert things like MS Word documents into password protected PDFs. You can apply 128-bit RC4 encryption to the document in both the file open and file edit commands. There are ways to break the encryption if the file can be viewed and editing is only restricted. If the file open command on a PDF is password protected very little can be done to defeat it. I often use this to protect art files.

quote: Monte L Fullmer
One cute trick that I used to do when I want to hide files is to change the three digit extendor after the period to something completely different (e.g.- filename.exe to filename.xxx) so the program can't see it, nor even open it unless the extendors was changed back to its original state.

That doesn't work for all Windows programs. I have several different graphics applications where I can simply drag and drop the un-suffixed file into the program window and it will open just fine. Various Adobe and Macromedia programs have that capability to accomodate Mac users who don't have to put dot-suffix extensions on file names.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 10-21-2006, 05:29 PM:

Why not jsut change the attributes of the file and hide it. People can't read what they can't find.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 10-21-2006, 05:37 PM:

The only sure way to keep oters from reading your files is to keep them in a place where nobody can access them, physically. Put the computer in a locked area. Store your data on a removeable storage device and take it with you when you leave.

But, if you want to store files on the computer and limit access only to those who don't want to take the time to dig into them, you can encrypt.

There are several programs that encrypt. Many .zip compressors encrypt. Adobe Acrobat PRO can encrypt. Then there are programs to encrypt generica files.

Mac OS has built-in file encryption if you so choose: It will encrypt your whole hard drive! Just don't forget your freakin' password or else NOBODY will be able to get your data back! (Except for, maybe, the FBI! [Wink]

)

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 10-21-2006, 08:17 PM:

I went with Ross' idea.

I like to have the file on the desktop so when an idea pops into my head I can type it in real fast before I forget it.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-21-2006, 08:22 PM:

Zip file encryption is useless. I suggest looking into something like PGP (and keeping the private keys on removable media).

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-21-2006, 09:01 PM:

If you're really paranoid there's TrueCrypt.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 10-21-2006, 09:24 PM:

It doesn't need to be under maximum security, just enough to keep prying eyes away.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 10-22-2006, 12:45 AM:

quote: Chris Hipp
I am in the process of writing a raunchy pornographic romance novel

Are you going to send out galleys for peer review? [Cool]

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 10-22-2006, 02:46 PM:

There is no porn, I was just saying that for misdirection so no one knows what I am really doing.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-22-2006, 02:49 PM:

Wait, wait, wait, then were those love letters to Phil? I'm so confused! [Razz]

Posted by Jason Winn (Member # 3568) on 10-28-2006, 05:38 PM:

quote: Chris Hipp
I am in the process of writing a raunchy pornographic romance novel

Chris, nobody wants to read about your homosexual fantasies!

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 10-29-2006, 12:05 AM:

Oh! THAT was tactful! [Roll Eyes]