How to Create a Noneditable Document in Word

A noneditable document in Microsoft Word is a read-only document. Read-only documents are Microsoft Office documents in which typing, editing commands, and proofreading symbols are disabled or switched off. Generally, Microsoft Office users create read-only documents to let other PC users know that no changes need to be made on a particular Word document. Read-only documents can be created using "Mark as final." The "Mark as Final" tool, available for the first time in Office 2007, enables Office users "to make the document read-only and prevent changes to the document."

Instructions

1. Open the Word document you would like to make noneditable/read-only. Be sure that you have made all final edits and corrections to the document.

2. Click on the "Office" button, select "Prepare" and then choose the "Mark as Final" command found under the "Prepare" submenu.

3. Make the Word document noneditable/read-only by clicking on the "Mark as Final" command located under the "Prepare" menu. Your Word document is now read-only.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that even though the "Mark as Final" command turns Word documents into read-only documents, a Word document may not be read-only if opened by older versions of Microsoft Office.

• Also, note that Office 2007 users have the option of removing a "Mark as Final" command in a document, which will allow them to make changes to your Word document.

References

• Microsoft Office Online: Prevent Changes to a Final Version of a Document
• Microsoft Office Online: Restrict or Permit Formatting Changes