Pdf encryption in C# and VB.NET

PDF encryption enables you to securely protect the content of your PDF file from unwanted viewers and against unwanted actions such as printing, selecting text, and modifying annotations.

GemBox.Spreadsheet will encrypt the output PDF file if you specify any permission different than PdfPermissions.All or if the user password (DocumentOpenPassword) or owner password (PermissionsPassword) is not null and empty.

You can read more about this on the PdfSaveOptions.Permissions remarks.

The following example shows how you can convert any workbook to an encrypted PDF file in C# and VB.NET with restricted permissions, which requires a password to be decrypted, viewed, and optionally modified.

Encrypting workbook as PDF file with permissions restriction — Screenshot of PDF document's encryption

C#
VB.NET

View on GitHub

using GemBox.Spreadsheet;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

        var workbook = ExcelFile.Load("%InputFileName%");

        var password = "%Password%";
        var ownerPassword = "%OwnerPassword%";

        var options = new PdfSaveOptions()
        {
            DocumentOpenPassword = password,
            PermissionsPassword = ownerPassword,
            Permissions = PdfPermissions.None
        };

        workbook.Save("PDF Encryption.pdf", options);
    }
}

Imports GemBox.Spreadsheet

Module Program

    Sub Main()

        ' If using Professional version, put your serial key below.
        SpreadsheetInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY")

        Dim workbook = ExcelFile.Load("%InputFileName%")

        Dim password = "%Password%"
        Dim ownerPassword = "%OwnerPassword%"

        Dim options = New PdfSaveOptions() With
        {
            .DocumentOpenPassword = password,
            .PermissionsPassword = ownerPassword,
            .Permissions = PdfPermissions.None
        }

        workbook.Save("PDF Encryption.pdf", options)
    End Sub
End Module

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If you want to try the GemBox.Spreadsheet yourself, you can download the free version. It delivers the same performance and set of features as the professional version, but with some operations limited. To remove the limitation, you need to purchase a license.

Published: December 13, 2018 | Modified: March 22, 2022 | Author: Stipo Rubic