Can you save it as a pdf file? That might require another program.

I have definitely copied and pasted from read only docs to make new ones.

The very essence of SHARING a document includes the ability to make changes. Once a document is out of your hands, you have essentially lost control of it as far as I know. Even if what you ask is possible, nothing could possibly prevent someone from manually retyping if they wanted to. I'm curious to know what you're thinking of sharing that you think should not be changed?

Click on File at the top of the Word 2010 page, Ginny. Click on Permissions on the page the opens and read the options available to you under Protected Document. That should give you enough info.

As to C,C+P'ing a doc...I've never "protected" a document so I can't attest to whether C,C + P'ing it once a document is protected/locked is possible. Adobe PDF docs that are locked/protected cannot be edited or plagiarized in any manner so I'm assuming that Word 2010 is offering the same option. Therefore...I would say that your document will be safe from plagiarism or editing of any sort.

Thanks for these helpful replies. I have never made a pdf but will look into that. And I have explored Permissions in Word 2010 but will do so again. The doc is a creative work--that's why I want it to stay as I created it--may be impossible. Thanks again.

I think pdf is the easiest way to go.

On my PC with Microsoft Office, under Print, there's a field with a drop-down to the right of where it says "Printer Name". What shows first in that field is my default printer. If you click on the pointer to open it, another choice given is "Microsoft Print to PDF". Choosing that will create a PDF, you'll be prompted for what folder to put it into.

In LibreOffice, there's an "Export as PDF" item on the Menu Bar under "File" (the first choice on the left). Similarly, you'll be prompted to specify the folder to write the pdf file to.

Word will make a pdf from your doc, or docx, if when you save it, you click "save as" and then scroll down the extensive list of choices until you come to "pdf." Click the "pdf" option and there you have it.

Thank you Elmer and Jean. I have tried both these tips multiple times and I am not getting the options you mention. I have Microsoft Office 2010 on my PC. Clicking on the pointer next to the printer name does not offer 'MS print to pdf'. And in Word, 'save as' does not give me a list of choices--just the name of the file to keep or change. What am I doing wrong? or is it my version of Office? Thanks again.

You didn't post what version of Windows you're using, Ginny. I have a sneaky suspicion that both Jean and Elmer use Windows 10. Windows 7 does not offer the options that they mention. At least I've never seen them on my Windows 7 system. If you are using anything other than Windows 10...that may be why you're having problems with their directions.

You are right, Anne. I am using Windows 7. But I just figured out how to do this. File--save and send--file types--create pdf--publish. I'm sorry I left out that critical piece of info and I thank you all for your help.

Hurray! :-) Congratulations!

" The doc is a creative work--that's why I want it to stay as I created it--may be impossible."

It is impossible. If I can VIEW the document on screen or as paper, I can get the text out of it.

If you send me a edit-locked PDF to try to make copy and paste impossible, I can just retype it off the screen into a new doc. And there are PDF tools that can rip open file protection.

You are right. It is impossible. I had to find out the hard way but at least I learned something.

Here's another thought, Ginny. Add a watermark to your document. The how-to directions are at the site below. This would add another layer of "individuality" to your document and make it less likely for someone to steal it. Of course...as mentioned above...someone can always retype the document but with this watermark, you can always prove that the writing originates/belongs to you.

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Insert-a-watermark-in-Word-f90f26a5-2101-4a75-bbfe-f27ef05002de

Both Word 7 and Word 10 can save a doc (or docx) as a pdf.