'Why is my word document suddenly read only?' This situation always occurs when downloading word documents online or receiving files from friends. If you need to edit or add some texts into the document that has Read-only attribute, you must know how to change a Word document from Read-only to normal first. In this article, we will tell you 6 effective ways to do that.
Method 1: Disable Protected View in Word Document
As the inventor of the PDF file format, Adobe makes sure our Acrobat Word to PDF conversion tool preserves your document formatting. When you use the online tool, your fonts, images, and alignment will look as expected on Mac or Windows.
Protected View is a default view set by your Operating System when you download word documents from the internet. The latest versions of different Microsoft Word shows all downloaded documents as protected files to protect the system including Office 2019, Office 365 and others. To disable protected view from the word document, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Navigate to the downloaded word document. Select the document and double-click to open it.
- Install New File Menu and enable it as a Finder extension. To do so, open the Settings app, go to Extensions and enable it. Right-click inside a Finder window and you will see options to create a new text file, a new RTF document, a new Pages document, etc.
- Nov 02, 2018 A.txt file is one that contains plain text without any special formatting, fonts or images. Most computer operating systems include multiple tools that can be used to generate such a file. On an Apple Macintosh computer, you can create a text file with TextEdit for Mac, which ships with the operating system.
- See full list on dummies.com.
Step 2: Microsoft Word will start soon opening the selected document and you will see a yellow bar on the top of the opened word document. Moreover, all editing options will be disabled and hidden on the Microsoft Word menu.
Step 3: Locate and click on Enable Editing.
Now, the document will reload in a normal view and you will be able to edit the document. Meanwhile appearing all the top menus available to use.
Method 2: Stop Marked as Final Status in Word Document
Another similar type of message appears on the Microsoft Word program when the document is Marked as Final. Marked as Final is a feature used to protect documents when sending or giving access to others to read. So, if you get a file from someone who has enabled Mark as Final before sending it to you, you might end up having a problem to edit the document.
In this case, double click to open the file and click Edit Anyway from the top of the word document. The Microsoft Word page will refresh and will be editable in a matter of time.
Method 3: Unrestrict A Word Document
Unlike Protected View or Marked as Final, if your document is restricted, it won't allow you to make any changes unless you find a way to unrestrict it. It will also show you the message 'You can't make this change because the selection is locked'. Here, we have listed the step-by-step guideline and you can follow it to change your word document from Read-only.
Step 1: To enable the editing or unlock the document, open the document and click the Review tab from the Microsoft word options.
Step 2: Then click on Restrict Editing from the right side of the Review panel and click on the Stop Protection button.
Step 3: This will immediately allow you to edit the file. However, if the file is password-protected, a relatively small window will appear to insert the password. Input the same password that was used to protect the document and click OK to unrestrict the Word document.
However, If you can not remember or don't have the password, you can not unrestrict the document. So, what to do now? How to change a word document from read only when it is password protected and you don't have the password? Isn't there any way to do so?
Yes, there is, see Method 4 to know more!
Method 4: Remove Editing Restriction from Word Document without Password
Call of duty black ops 1 mac. When a word document is password protected and you don't have the password, you can get access to the document using a third-party application. If you are looking for a faster solution that guarantees high success rate, consider using Passper for Word. Passper for Word is a powerful tool that allows you to access locked word documents and remove all restrictions on your word document with ease.
Some Features of Passper for Word are:
All kinds of restrictions on your word document can be removed even you know nothing about the correct password.
The program uses advanced technology to ensure a 100% success rate.
The whole removal process will be finished within seconds with one simple click.
The tool has a broad compatibility. It supports Word versions from 97 to 2019, and supports all word file types.
Follow the steps below to use Passper for Word to change a word document from Read Only to unrestricted:
Step 1: Once installation, run Passper for Word. Choose Remove Restrictions on the home page of the program.
Step 2: Click 'Select a File' to import your restricted word document.
Step 3: After selecting the document you want to remove restrictions, click Remove and the restrictions will soon be removed. You can edit the word document after the process.
Method 5: Change File's Properties to Remove Read Only
File Properties are generally used to change the default program to open a document, to change the sharing settings, and file customizations. However, using properties, you can also set your documents as protected and remove protection. To do that, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Select the document you want to remove Read Only protection. Right-click and select Properties.
Step 2: Uncheck Read-Only from General tab and Apply. Then click OK to finish.
At this point, your document will be unrestricted from Read Only protection and allow you to make necessary changes.
Method 6: Copy and Paste to A New Word Document
If you have a text-only document and want to edit or use the text that is protected and doesn't allow you to, you can use this method to make changes to your word document. With this method, you can copy and paste the needed text into a new Word document. However, this does not help to remove read only from the original Word document but makes a new document. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Select the file you want to edit and double click to open it. Download ms office 2010 for mac.
Step 2: Select the texts you need and right-click to choose Copy. Or use the Ctrl +A button on the keyboard to select all contents.
Step 3: Create a new blank Word document and open it.
Step 4: Then press Ctrl + V button to paste the copied texts into the blank Word document.
Step 5: Finally, save the new document with your own requirements and changes. Now, you can edit the new word document as you wish.
Conclusion
We use different types of documents every day. Whether you are a student or an entrepreneur, you will end up getting documents from people nearby. While interacting with different types of documents written on different platforms, you will eventually end up seeing Read Only files on your Microsoft Office program. The above solutions tell you how to change a word document from Read Only to a normal document. You can choose one to try.
2020-12-01 11:49:38 • Filed to: MS Word Features • Proven solutions
Here, you will learn how to create fields in Word. Most people often underestimate the importance of fields — crucial placeholders working behind the scenes in a document to facilitate the processes involved with several of extremely powerful features in Word like indexing, mail merging, automatic generation of tables of contents, etc. To create fields in Word, it is pertinent to note that they are of various types, with each type serving a particular function. Read on to benefit from the tips shared below on how you can create form fields in Word:
- Part 1: How to Create Fields in Word
- Part 2: Advantages of PDF Format
- Part 3: How to Create Fields in PDF Documents
How to Create Fields in Word
This information is only applicable to Word 2013 and above. Adding a Legacy Text Field in Microsoft Word:
Step one: Under the 'Developer' tab, go to the Word 'Ribbon', click the icon for 'Legacy Tools'. Then, you will see a drop-down menu.
Step two: Under the 'Legacy Form' section on this drop-down menu, select the icon for 'Text Form Field.
Step three: You can modify the text field properties in the 'Design Mode'. To go to this mode, click the icon for 'Design Mode'.
Step four: In your document, double-click the text field. Word brings the dialog box for 'Words Form Field Options' then you can choose the 'Type' of the text field (like regular text, current date, date, number, and others), maximum field length and so on. Then press 'OK'.
Step five: To protect your document, carry out the following steps:
- Under the tab 'Developer', click the 'Protect Document' icon, which is displayed under the 'Protect' group. You will then see a drop-down menu.
- Choose the option 'Restrict Formatting and Editing' from the menu. You will see a pane on the right-hand side.
- On this pane, which is beneath the heading 'Editing Restrictions', choose the checkbox, then choose the option 'Filling in Forms', displayed on the drop-down list.
- Click the button 'Yes, Start Enforcing Protection'.
- Create a password, and you're all set to make use of text fields.
Please bear in mind that the 'Yes, Start Enforcing Protection' will be inactive if you don't disable the 'Design Mode' feature. For all other fields in the form, you can repeat the steps highlighted above. But the difference is the field type entered (which depends on the kind of information you intend entering) as well as the options you select for each of the fields.
Create A New Word Generator
Advantages of PDF Format
PDF, Portable Document Format, represents a file format useful for presenting and exchanging documents dependably and without employing hardware, software, or operating system (OS). Adobe invented it in 1992, and the format has now evolved into an open standard, which is maintained by the ISO (the International Organization for Standardization). PDF documents can contain form fields, buttons, links, video, audio as well as business logic.
Since 1991, when PDF was birthed from The Camelot Project, it has grown in popularity dramatically and has become one of the universally accepted file formats in modern times, along with Word. Though PDF can perform a number of tasks, which Word can also do; it has a few advantages over the latter format. First, PDF is the best format if you want high-quality print-outs. Second, it is great for creating business and legal documents, in addition to forms, which have to retain their precise appearance. There are numerous programs for creating documents in Portable Document Format, and PDFelement is one of the best File Management tools available.
PDFelement is loaded with spectacular features for creating, annotating, converting, editing, and sending PDFs. It is also perfect for creating fields in PDF documents.
How to Create Fields in PDF Documents
Step 1. Create PDF Form from Templates
Word Generator
Create PDF field using templates by downloading a form template from the program itself.
Step 2. Create PDF Form from Other Formats
If you have a Word document with Forms, or other office format files, you can just click the button 'Create PDF' shown on the main tab and select the file you want create to PDF.
Step 3. Create a Blank PDF Form
Create a PDF field using a blank PDF by opening the PDFelement; then go to 'File' > 'New' > 'Blank Document'.
Step 4. Create Fields in PDF Forms
You should click the 'Add Text Field' in 'Form' tab; toggle the cursor over the page in the PDF document so as to add an interactive field.
Right-click the field to choose properties, then you can set its colors, style, appearance and actions etc.
You should create a dropdown list. To do this, click the 'Combo Box' and put your cursor on the section you intend placing the dropdown in. Then, click to put it there.
You should align your field elements. To make sure every field element is aligned properly, click the 'Dropdown' so as to deselect it.
The, click as well as drag to select of every one of the items which has been added. Immediately every component is selected, click 'Align' which you can see in the sidebar. This option will correctly align all your field elements. Learn more details about how to create fillable fields in PDF here.
Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
Buy PDFelement right now!
Buy PDFelement right now!