how to lock the contents of dwg or block so that no one can edit it

[Anonymous]

I want to lock attributes and geometry used in block or dwg file so that no one can edit drawing, what can I do?

If I want to change settings of block as it can not be exploded what is to be done?actually I created a block and now I want to change settings so that it can not be exploded.Is there any option in "Block Editor"?

[M_Hensley]

When in the block editor the properties palette has a section at the bottom named Block with the option to pick yes or no for allow exploding.

[kasperwuyts · Accepted solution]

Open the block editor: In the properties pallette, without having anything selected, you can find a property called 'allow exploding', set this as 'no'.

If you want to write-protect an entire drawing, just make the drawing file read-only.

[Anonymous]

I did as you told and it works, but I have one more doubt; If I can change properties "allow exploding" as "no" then reverse of it is also possible.

So any one can edit block by changing properties from "no" to "yes". What to do in that case?Is there any other solution to lock block permanently?

Thank you for reply.

[JULIANCRESPO]

how do you make a .dwg file "read only"???

[Kent1Cooper]

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@Anonymous wrote:

.... If I can change properties "allow exploding" as "no" then reverse of it is also possible.

So any one can edit block by changing properties from "no" to "yes". What to do in that case?Is there any other solution to lock block permanently?

....

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The short answer is No.  This has come up several times before -- some Searching [of the Community at upper right, not just of "this Board" farther down] will reveal various threads about it, in which you will find assorted suggestions and workarounds and discussion of why it's not possible to do so in any absolute way.

[Anonymous]

There is no viable way to permanently lock a block, what ever lock you apply can be picked and unlocked.  You could use XREF's instead of blocks and leave the referenced files in a write-protected access controlled folder, but you could still bind it as a block and edit it.

Why are you trying to lock blocks??  

If you have errant users who muck with stuff, training is the best solution, locking never works.

If you're trying to protect the blocks from use by others outside the organization, can't happen in any real way that would not back-fire on clients and end up costing you business.

[pendean]

>>>...how do you make a .dwg file "read only"???...<<<

Put it on the server in a folder, ask your IT to make that folder read-only for everyone, and no one in your office can ever edit it.

For anyone outside of your office, you have no choices at all. None. Nada. Nyet. Zip. Forget-about-it. Except with a binding contractual agreement drawn up by your lawyers and theirs and your/their country's legal system to protect your copyright.

[Anonymous]

Allow or not allow block exploding is not a solution for this problem because anyone can open my non-explodable block and make it explodable. 

[JPomeroy]

I was taught that if you suspect someone may be misusing your IP, don't do business with them.  If that isn't an option, avoid sending the actual .dwg, just send .pdf files to them.  

As others have said, if someone is interested enough, these things can always be reversed or "picked."  

There will always be unscrupulous people in the world: no security system can prevent that.  Hopefully the issue isn't actually dishonesty as I am assuming, and is (as @Anonymous suggested) possibly just a training issue with less-knowledgeable associates.  That is frustrating, but eminently solvable!

[tcorey]

Six years later, thanks to the thread for your insight. I wonder about the possibility of using Undefine to disable the BlockEditor command. Has anyone out there done this, successfully?

[Kent1Cooper]

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@tcorey wrote:

.... I wonder about the possibility of using Undefine to disable the BlockEditor command. Has anyone out there done this, successfully?

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I have not done that, but....

UNDEFINE is not drawing-specific, but affects all drawings worked on in the current AutoCAD session, whether already open at the time of Undefining, or opened subsequently, or newly created.

UNDEFINE doesn't survive past the end of the current AutoCAD session.  So once AutoCAD is closed and later started again, the command will be back to normal.

And even if you can find a way to work within those difficulties, as with just about anything along these lines, a knowledgeable User can easily overcome the prohibition.  They can use REDEFINE, or use the command name with a period prefix to "reach" the Undefined command.