How can I configure Google Docs Viewer to restrict users from downloading files? Specifically, I want to disable the last icon on the viewer’s toolbar that allows downloading PDFs and opening documents in a new window. Is there a way to make documents view-only with this tool, or is there an alternative viewer that provides similar functionality to Google Viewer with a focus on view-only access?
As of my experience, Google Docs Viewer doesn’t allow you to completely disable all download options directly if you’re sharing the document via a link. However, the document visibility settings can be adjusted to increase control. You can share it as ‘Viewer Only,’ which prevents downloads and edits for normal users, but they can still find ways around this. Another method is to use Google Workspace where you can enforce these policies more strictly if your audience is within an organization. For external sharing, PDF submissions to a different service might be more secure for view-only purposes.