Page with no Save As or Print capabilities

[wingman89]

I need to create a page that when viewed on the Internet will not allow the viewer to Save the file, do a copy/paste, or print the file.

Any help is appreciated.

Ted Miller

[Farix]

Short answer: Not possible.

[wingman89]

Well that was short and sweet and to the point! But I understand what you say.

Here is why I ask. I am creating an online training module. The viewer using a password opens up a training manual and reads it. Then at the end he clicks on a link that opens up a test. What I need to happen is that he cannot print a copy or save the training module so that he can refer to it when taking the test. Using a PDf document will allow me to disable the print function, but they can however save a copy and print it out otherwise.

I would think there is a way around this, but haven't come across anything.

Many thanks for your help and input. This is the first time I have used this forum and as a web developer will ceratinly bookmark it for future reference.

Thanks again.

Ted Miller

[Leosghost]

Make it work only in IE 5 and later ..and it can be done

[Farix]

The only two ways I know you can accomplish what you are intending to do is to use Flash or Java and prevent them from being able to log in twice. But there is no way you can actually protect a HTML page.

[Leosghost]

Can be done but requires very very carefull page serving/sniffing .. and thus disabling all clipboard etc features in IE5upwards and the later IE toolbars ..javascript is required to "view" and in the same script file you kill the "undesired capabilites" for the session by forcing activeX to run using the unsecure aspects of doze implementation of certain javascript commands ...

very impolite ..works tho ..user has to reboot to get their clipboard etc etc back ..

Exploit /Hack ...

[buckworks]

Testing procedure is an issue that the curriculum designers need to deal with before it ever gets to the stage of coding pages.

I used to be involved in online course design for a community college. In some cases we would arrange for local proctors to supervise the students' exams, but in other cases we would say that the tests were open book and students could refer to whatever sources they chose. They're going to make notes one way or another; it's easier just to be realistic about that.

A tight time frame to answer the questions can distinguish between those who truly know their stuff from those who have to look up too many things they're not sure of.

[garann]

Could you do something with AJAX? Load a blank page, then get the training manual content from the server? I'm afraid I don't know much more than that it should be possible, but it might be worth looking at...

[henry0]

He He
Print screen :)

I do not think that you can disallow print screen?

[Leosghost]

Ted ..a more simple answer may be to get /make yourself a pdf file which actually causes the buffer overflow problem that adobe recently say they fixed ( they almost did but not quite ;- ) ..analysis will show you how to freeze the "veiwing machine" and so remove your problem ( you or whomesoever ..cant print when your spooler is locked up by the OS )...'n' reboot wipes the file in question ..
Agree with buckworks however ..basically a student who doesn't understand that "cheating" ( discuss elsewhere ..like foo! ) by whatever means is not actually going to help them personally when they really need to know the info is too dumb to be worth worrying about ..you may need to instill this idea into their crania with a large dose of sledgehammer ...however ..
( I actually personally question and dissagree with the criteria of any examination system which actually tests the memory.. as opposed the knowledgse and comprehension of the students ..and I say that as someone whith near photographic memory ..and who always found exams real easy ..yes i won easy ..did that improve the system? did it allow me to goof off? ..Spell dichotomy ..look away spell it again ..see ;-).. ( dichotomy.. I can spell ..some other stuff ..i karnt be posteriored ..)

Any more details about "revengineering " on this subject ..wingman only ..sticky ..

PS ..I'm' already ...even in my sometimes "loose" interpretations of the TOS here flying somewhat close to the seagulls ..( note to mods ..I will not be in the slightest offended if this post is not there when I log on again ..) ..subject has come up before ..can be done ..but is impolite ..usually self defeating ( I remember Tedsters advice ...:)...plus for now ..I'd have no idea how to do it to someone using a mac or most flavours of penguin ...so what's really the use?

[Leosghost]

In IE I can ..;)( if it agrees to run javascript )

[wingman89]

Thanks everyone for your input. After a long discussion with my client, we have determined that this issue will not be resolved in the manner that we thought of orginally.

So they will rely on honesty and integrity on the part of their students. Hopefully they will retain most of what they need before the tests are taken.

You guys have been great and so prompt with your responses. this is my first time on this forum, but for sure it is bookmarked for future use. Sometime I will take some time to browse the subjects and pick up some pointers. Even developing for eight years, you can always learn something new.

Thanks again.

Ted

[texasville]

Can't be done...screen shots with utilities will let you snap a pic, save it as a jpg for seeing later.