Online vs Desktop Reading
Online vs Desktop Reading
What is the difference between online reading and desktop reading?
Re: Online vs Desktop Reading
While reading online using a web browser, your user access restrictions will be governed by the user login management system provided by the website. That means that users can share logins. Copysafe PDF documents for web display do not include provision for DRM because it can conflict with the user access already provided by the website. If DRM is required (to prevent sharing) then desktop reading can be a simpler option that does not require customization of your website.GClarke wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:04 am What is the difference between online reading and desktop reading?
Desktop reading not only provides DRM to prevent sharing, but it also provides more control over available settings for limiting expiration by calendar date, expiration by number of days/hours from each user's first opening on a document, limit of printing and views by number of visits. Our DRM is based on an algorithm derived from the user's computer hard drive and the document author has the option of locking to 1-3 computers and allowing/disallowing changes to that ID (requiring author intervention).
Documents for desktop reading can be distributed by email, download and on disk. With DRM applied they cannot be shared.
DRM permissions are managed from your dashboard at copysafe.net where you have total control over all aspects with immediate effect on any changes made, even to documents out in the wild on USB or already saved to a user's computer. When you change a document's settings or user's permissions it will take effect the next time they try to open it.
From your Copysafe dashboard you can upload a single file for distribution to an unlimited number of subscribers. Then you can add the user by nominating their email address (as the username) and which book they are entitled to for the DRM portal to create a DRM token and email the instructions.
Re: Online vs Desktop Reading
A common mistake is making the assumption that when reading online that the visitor does not download the document. This is a mistake made by newbies and also some developers.
In all cases, the document is downloaded and saved to the user's computers, because that is where it is read from. The concept of "reading online" is a misnomer however there is a difference... between opening a web page that has a document embedded and downloading a file directly; when downloading, one gets to save the file to a location of choice (can be permanent), whereas opening from a web page, the file is obscurely saved to the web browser cache which may or may not be cleared at any time.
Needless to say, copy protecting the documents in these instances differ somewhat and the more secure solution will be using encrypted files that cannot be displayed via normal readers or viewers. This is the main reason that generic eBook readers are hopeless for copy protection.
In all cases, the document is downloaded and saved to the user's computers, because that is where it is read from. The concept of "reading online" is a misnomer however there is a difference... between opening a web page that has a document embedded and downloading a file directly; when downloading, one gets to save the file to a location of choice (can be permanent), whereas opening from a web page, the file is obscurely saved to the web browser cache which may or may not be cleared at any time.
Needless to say, copy protecting the documents in these instances differ somewhat and the more secure solution will be using encrypted files that cannot be displayed via normal readers or viewers. This is the main reason that generic eBook readers are hopeless for copy protection.
