I have a site i'm setting up that has multiple file types. the adobe files files pull up wonderfully in the browser as well as my pictures. But there is one problem, my word docs and excel spread sheets are still editable. I heard there was an information resource management (IRM) feature on sharepoint, but I can not turn it on. When I do try to turn it on, the site says the rights management sever was not setup for it. I was not the one who set the site up initially, but i'm working on it now. Does any body know how to turn it on, or where I need to go for a guide? Or is there any other way I can fix this problem?

The IRM function requires the presence of a Rights Management Server. Otherwise it's just a function you can't use. From the sound of it you don't have a Rights Management Server. SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters

I'm kind of ignorant on the rights management server thing, what is it? and is it just something that i have to dowload, install, buy?

You are not the only one who is kind of ignorant on this. My feeling is that it is (Microsoft) software which runs on its own server. Also that it is not free. But no doubt a few Google/Bing searches will give you clarity.SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters

So the final question would be, I have been using a computer now for a good while now i believe, and I have never been able to not open any document with text in it and copy and paste the document with any kind of security software the develeopers use. At the same time I dont want anybody to just come into a site and view what ever they want and copy and paste it in the drop of a dime. So would this software eliminate this or will there still be an easy enough way to obtain the information and mold it? Is there another way to solve this issue?

Probably not. You can (in SharePoint) block people from accessing the document in a doc lib, but not from what they do with it if they can access it. Ditto for password-protected Office files.SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters

how would you do it in the doc lib?

Hi gazxsw3, You can give users different permissions on a library/document. Don’t give permission to the user you don’t need him to view the document. And give a user read only permission he will not be able to edit the document, but he still can copy and paste the content. IRM can achieve your requirements indeed. Refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc261728(v=office.12).aspx Or you can Convert word file to html, then add some functions on the html page (with SharePoint Document Conversions) to protect users to copy it. Like disable onmousedown function. But it is really hard to prevent users to copy the content with so many copy shortcut and you also need to add the functions to every html pages. Best regards, Emir