[tkmd]

is there any freeware (or embedded ) options in MS word to encode the document so its locked (or scrambled) and can only be opened and read and modified if the receiver knows a password?

Caveat : I'm on Office v.X (not 2004) and the receiver is on a PC using MS office

[Mithras]

You can use the command-line zip application to encrypt it (weakly) with a password.

zip -e archivename.zip filename.doc

[mduell]

Document security (passwords/encryption) have been included in Office for a while now.

Tools menu->Protect document

[tkmd]

mduell - thats not what I want - by doing what you suggested; anyone can open the document and see it- they just cant make changes. I want something that wont allow the document to be viewed unless the correct password is given.

Mithras- I tried to do what you said but it said "zip error: Invalid command arguments (encryption not supported)"

[Shades of Gray]

You can do this in another way. Save under another name. When the Save As dialog is open, click on the Options button in the Save As dialog box. That brings up another window that gives you either "Save" or "Security". Click on the "Security button on the left. Then on the right you will see a place where you place a password to open.

[tkmd]

Sweet thats the ticket!!! Thank you.

[mduell]

Oops. I was thinking of what Shades of Gray mentioned (adding a password just to open the thing), but wrote the wrong menu. Glad you found your solution.