Where does DocumentPermissions live in the IronPDF API?

DocumentPermissions is a class in the PdfToSvg namespace, shipped in IronPdf.dll. It derives from Object and surfaces the nine permission flags encoded in a PDF's security dictionary as readable bool properties.

How do you check whether a PDF allows content extraction in C#?

Read the AllowExtractContent property on DocumentPermissions. If it is false but AllowExtractAccessibility is true, assistive-technology access is still permitted. If HasOwnerPermission is true, all restrictions are lifted regardless of the other flags.

What is the difference between AllowPrintFullQuality and AllowPrintLowQuality?

AllowPrintFullQuality indicates the document may be printed at full resolution. AllowPrintLowQuality covers draft or degraded output, which some PDF owners permit even when high-resolution printing is restricted. Check both before selecting a print path.

How do you determine whether a PDF was opened with its owner password?

Check the HasOwnerPermission property on DocumentPermissions. When it is true, the document was opened with the owner (full-control) password and all permission restrictions are effectively inactive.

Class DocumentPermissions

Inheritance

System.Object

DocumentPermissions

Namespace: PdfToSvg

Assembly: IronPdf.dll

Syntax

public class DocumentPermissions : Object

Every permission flag encoded in a PDF's security dictionary is surfaced through DocumentPermissions. When a PDF is protected by an owner password, the document's access rules travel with it, and this record exposes each rule as a readable bool property so application code can branch on what the current viewer is actually allowed to do before attempting an operation.

DocumentPermissions lives on the PDF object returned by IronPDF's rendering pipeline. Rather than parsing low-level PDF encryption tables directly, you read the nine properties on this class and act accordingly. The nine members split cleanly into three functional groups:

**Printing:** AllowPrintFullQuality indicates whether the document may be printed at full resolution. AllowPrintLowQuality covers degraded or draft-quality output, which some owners permit even when full-quality printing is locked.

**Content extraction and accessibility:** AllowExtractContent controls whether text and graphics may be copied out of the document. AllowExtractAccessibility is the narrower carve-out that permits assistive technologies (screen readers, for example) to access content even when general extraction is denied.

**Editing and interaction:** AllowAnnotations governs adding or modifying comments and form-field annotations. AllowFillForm covers interactive form completion without broader editing rights. AllowModifyContent reflects whether the page content stream itself may be altered. AllowAssembleDocument indicates whether pages may be inserted, rotated, deleted, or bookmarked.

**Ownership:** HasOwnerPermission is true when the document was opened with the owner (full-control) password, meaning all restrictions are effectively lifted regardless of the other flags.

Checking HasOwnerPermission first is the recommended pattern: if it is true, the remaining flags are moot. Otherwise, inspect the specific capability before invoking a corresponding IronPDF operation.

using IronPdf;

using var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("protected.pdf", ownerPassword: "secret");
DocumentPermissions perms = pdf.SecuritySettings.Permissions;

if (perms.HasOwnerPermission || perms.AllowExtractContent)
{
    string text = pdf.ExtractAllText();
    Console.WriteLine(text);
}
else if (perms.AllowExtractAccessibility)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Accessibility extraction only; full text copy is restricted.");
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine("Content extraction is not permitted by this document.");
}

For background on PDF security settings and how to apply permissions when creating documents, see the PDF security how-to, the PDF permissions example, and the IronPDF get-started guide.

Properties

AllowAnnotations

Declaration

public bool AllowAnnotations { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowAssembleDocument

Declaration

public bool AllowAssembleDocument { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowExtractAccessibility

Declaration

public bool AllowExtractAccessibility { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowExtractContent

Declaration

public bool AllowExtractContent { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowFillForm

Declaration

public bool AllowFillForm { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowModifyContent

Declaration

public bool AllowModifyContent { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowPrintFullQuality

Declaration

public bool AllowPrintFullQuality { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

AllowPrintLowQuality

Declaration

public bool AllowPrintLowQuality { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean

HasOwnerPermission

Declaration

public bool HasOwnerPermission { get; }

Property Value

Type	Description
System.Boolean