Restricting editing
Restrict a Nixt Writer document to read-only, comments only or tracked changes, with an optional password, and lift a restriction.
A restriction tells the next person what they may do with a document: nothing, add comments, or edit with every change tracked. Writer reads restrictions set in Word, honours them, and can set and lift them.
Restrict editing
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On the Review tab, in the Protect group, click the lock button (Restrict what the next person can change).
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In the Restrict editing dialog, click one of the three choices:
Choice What it asks “This document is marked read-only by whoever wrote it.” Nothing may be changed. “This document is marked for comments only: remarks may be added, the text may not be changed.” Comments may be added; the text may not be changed. “This document is marked so that every edit is recorded. Tracking cannot be turned off while it is.” Edits are allowed, and every one is recorded as a tracked change. Read-only is selected when the dialog opens.
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Optionally, type a password in the box (A password, if you want one (optional)). The password is hidden as you type.
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Click Restrict.
The status bar says Editing restricted — followed by the description of the choice. A banner appears above the page describing the restriction, followed by “It is a request, not a lock — the text is in the file either way.” The lock button on the Review tab is highlighted.
Choosing the tracked-changes restriction turns track changes on.
Save the document to keep the restriction in the file.
What each restriction does in Writer
| Restriction | In Writer |
|---|---|
| Read-only | You can’t type, delete, or change character or paragraph formatting. |
| Comments only | You can’t type, delete, or change character or paragraph formatting. Comments can be added in the reviewing pane. |
| Tracked changes | You can edit. Track changes is on and can’t be turned off. |
A document restricted in Word to filling in forms is treated as read-only in Writer. The banner says “This document is marked so that only form fields may be filled in.” followed by an explanation that nothing here can be edited.
A restriction that Word recorded but didn’t switch on is ignored, as Word ignores it.
Lift a restriction
- Click Stop restricting in the banner, or the lock button on the Review tab (Stop restricting editing).
If the restriction has no password, it is lifted straight away and the status bar says Editing is no longer restricted.
If it has a password:
- In the Password dialog, type the password the restriction was set with.
- Click Unlock, or press Return.
The dialog explains that Writer asks for the password because the author asked for it — not because the document is protected by it.
| Result | Status bar message |
|---|---|
| The password is right | Editing is no longer restricted |
| The password is wrong | That is not the password this was set with |
Word has used several ways of storing a restriction’s password over the years. Writer checks the ones current versions of Word use. If a document uses one Writer can’t check, Writer doesn’t lift the restriction, and the status bar tells you to open the document in Word to do that.
Save the document to remove the restriction from the file.
Restrictions and other features
- While a restriction is on, the banner stays above the page, including in documents you open from Word.
- The Stop restricting button’s tooltip says Needs the password it was set with when there is a password, or Lift the restriction when there isn’t.
- To keep a file from being opened by the wrong people, use your operating system’s file protection or an encrypted disk.
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