Python Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Password-Protect a PDF with AES-256 Encryption

See more PDF Protection Examples

Demonstrates the simplest way to encrypt a PDF so that it needs a password to open. The passwords come from the UserPassword and OwnerPassword properties, and Protection with the encrypt operation and an empty JSON uses the defaults: AES-256, everything encrypted, every permission granted. Protection only records the security the PDF will be saved with. Nothing is encrypted until WriteFile is called. Chilkat2-Python

import sys
import chilkat2

success = False

# This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
# See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

# The PDF used in this example is available at two_page_memo.pdf

pdf = chilkat2.Pdf()
success = pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/two_page_memo.pdf")
if (success == False):
    print(pdf.LastErrorText)
    sys.exit()

# The passwords are taken from these two properties at the time Protection is called.
# The user password opens the PDF.  The owner password opens it too, and is the one needed
# later to change or remove the protection.
pdf.UserPassword = "user-secret"
pdf.OwnerPassword = "owner-secret"

# An empty JSON asks for the defaults: AES-256, everything encrypted, every permission granted.
json = chilkat2.JsonObject()
jsonOut = chilkat2.JsonObject()
success = pdf.Protection("encrypt",json,jsonOut)
if (success == False):
    print(pdf.LastErrorText)
    sys.exit()

# Nothing has been encrypted yet.  "pending" describes the security the PDF will be saved with.
print("algorithm: " + jsonOut.StringOf("pending.algorithm"))
print("PDF version: " + jsonOut.StringOf("pending.pdfVersion"))
print("password needed to open: " + str(jsonOut.BoolOf("pending.userPasswordRequired")))

# Writing the file applies it.
success = pdf.WriteFile("qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf")
if (success == False):
    print(pdf.LastErrorText)
    sys.exit()

# PreLoadCheck reports a file's encryption without loading it, and needs no password.
checker = chilkat2.Pdf()
info = chilkat2.JsonObject()
success = checker.PreLoadCheck("qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf",info)
if (success == False):
    print(checker.LastErrorText)
    sys.exit()

print("encrypted: " + str(info.BoolOf("encrypted")))
print("openPasswordRequired: " + str(info.BoolOf("openPasswordRequired")))

# With the password, the PDF opens normally.
reader = chilkat2.Pdf()
reader.UserPassword = "user-secret"
success = reader.LoadFile("qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf")
if (success == False):
    print(reader.LastErrorText)
    sys.exit()

print("pages: " + str(reader.NumPages))

# Sample output:

# algorithm: aes-256
# PDF version: 1.7
# password needed to open: True
# encrypted: True
# openPasswordRequired: True
# pages: 2