In the world of educational content distribution, protecting digital intellectual property while maintaining ease of use for educators and students is essential. At VeryPDF, we understand the challenges that organizations like learning centers face when distributing secure workbooks in PDF format. A recent inquiry from David raised several important questions regarding how customers can view and print protected PDFs efficiently, without compromising security.
Below, we share his questions along with our detailed answers, which may also help others in similar situations.
Q1: Will our customers need to use two separate software programs — one to open and view, and another to print? That would be inconvenient.
A1: No, a single software solution is sufficient.
You can use VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows to both view and print protected PDF files. This application supports secure viewing and printing in one convenient package.
Alternatively, if you prefer a web-based solution, our Web PDF Viewer allows users to view and print directly in their browser. However, due to browser limitations, Web PDF Viewer cannot block virtual printers (e.g., “Microsoft Print to PDF,” “Adobe PDF,” etc.), which may pose a security concern.
If your priority is preventing users from saving or redistributing your content via virtual printers, we strongly recommend using VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows, which includes built-in protection against printing to virtual PDF printers.
Q2: As our customers (learning centers) will be printing hundreds of workbooks each month, I am concerned about the user-friendliness.
A2: VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows is designed to be user-friendly and efficient.
Your customers only need to download the software and open the protected PDF files. From there, they can print as needed without navigating any complex settings. Importantly, virtual PDF printers will be blocked automatically, reducing the risk of unauthorized file saving or sharing.
The user experience is streamlined to ensure that even non-technical users can print with ease while maintaining document security.
Q3: What if our customers don’t need to view the files, only print them?
A3: That’s perfectly fine — printing without viewing is supported.
In cases where your customers already know which workbooks to print and don’t need to preview them (e.g., via a Google Drive DRM system), they can use VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows purely as a printing tool. Viewing is optional. The software will enforce the print restrictions you require while offering an easy interface for bulk printing needs.
Q4: Isn’t Windows Reader discontinued? How does your software track and control print activity if it’s not built into the OS?
A4: Yes, Microsoft’s Windows Reader is discontinued — but we provide our own replacement.
Our VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows is entirely developed and maintained by VeryPDF. It is not dependent on Microsoft’s Windows Reader or any external software. Because it is our own product, we can track and log printing activity, customize features, and modify the behavior to meet your exact needs.
If you require specific logging or printing controls, we are happy to work with you to develop a custom-built version of the software.
Summary and Recommendation
To ensure secure, convenient printing of protected PDF workbooks for your learning centers:
- Use VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows for both viewing and printing.
- This software blocks printing to virtual PDF printers.
- It is user-friendly and suitable for high-volume printing environments.
- Viewing is optional — users can print directly if they already know the file content.
- The software is fully supported and customizable by the VeryPDF development team.
You can download the latest free version of VeryPDF PDF Viewer for Windows here:
https://www.verypdf.com/dl2.php/VeryPDF-Reader.zip
If you have further questions or would like to discuss custom modifications, feel free to contact us anytime.
About VeryPDF
VeryPDF is a trusted developer of PDF tools and document security solutions. We specialize in PDF viewing, DRM protection, watermarking, encryption, and printing control technologies for businesses, educators, and publishers worldwide.