Originally written by Nikita Kobrin on April 30, 2007 9:21 PM When I deal with end clients directly I usually deliver the work after prepayment. Sometimes I send a translation before payment but in this case my client can only see a part of the translation (in non-editable form) and the rest is closed and password protected. After sending the payment the client gets the password to open the file. It works for me.

Since I posted the above in the thread called Direct job offers: Be careful! many people ask about the same thing:

Originally written by Gabrielle Kauffmann on May 1, 2007 2:06 PM Nikita, how do you send a file showing only part of the translation, and password protect it? It sounds like a great solution.

Originally written by Juliana Damia on July 18, 2007 12:29 AM I was reading the thread and wondered if you got an answer from Nikita about the file protected with a password.

Originally written by Patricia Sabau on July 25, 2007 4:27 PM Hello Nikita, I have a  question:  can you tell me how to encode the text I translate with a password, so that I'm assured that my job is secured?

There are two main ways to password protect files on a PC: with the help of your OS (here I mean Windows Me or XP) and stand-alone encryption software.

• Windows Me or XP: Put your job files and folders in a compressed folder and use that folder's built-in password protection option.

If you're using Windows Me, start by making sure that the folder compression feature is installed on your PC: Choose Start, Settings and click or double-click Control Panel. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs and click the Windows Setup tab. Select System Tools and click Details. If there is no check mark next to 'Compressed Folders', click the box to check it; then click OK and follow the prompts to add this compression feature to your system.

To compress a folder, right-click the desktop or inside any folder, and choose New, Compressed Folder (in Windows Me) or New, Compressed (zipped) Folder (in Windows XP). This adds a new folder in that location with the default name 'New Compressed Folder'. Type a name for the folder and press Enter. Double-click the folder to open it.

Now open Windows Explorer or any folder window (if you have a Windows keyboard, press Windows-E to launch Explorer), and select the folders and/or files you want to password-protect. Use the right mouse button to drag the items into the new compressed folder. When you release the mouse button, choose Move Here. (If you left-drag, only copies will be added to the compressed folders, leaving the originals unprotected.)

If necessary, click the title bar of the compressed-folder window to activate it. Choose File > Encrypt in Windows Me or File > Add a password in Windows XP. Type your desired password in the 'Password' and 'Confirm Password' boxes, and then click OK. From now on, only users who know the password will be able to open, extract, copy, or move the files and subfolders to another folder; Windows will prompt you for your password before permitting any of these operations. If you send the folder to people who don't have Windows XP or Me, they can uncompress the folder using a program such as WinZip, but they'll still need to know the password before they can access the contents.

• Stand-alone encryption software: I would recommend a free program called AxCrypt.

In the end some words on how to make that your client could see a part of the translation (in non-editable form).

For that purpose open your document, make a screen shot and save it as a picture (in .gif or .jpg format).

It may look like the following:

NK

Originally written by Dodo Kaipdodo on November 2, 2007 1:21 AM Originally written by Nikita Kobrin on November 1, 2007 4:55 AM I can decrypt practically any of them. BTW decryption of password-protected Adobe PDF files is one of the services I offer: I decrypt them for those who can't do it themselves. NK Well, what is encoded can be decoded. That`s why I use neither encrypting nor passwords. My way is very simple: when in doubt, I send in a copy with no spaces between words. Get the money - send the translation with spaces. Of course, this doesn`t work when one is asked to translate just a sentence or two...

Originally written by Dodo Kaipdodo on November 2, 2007 1:21 AM Well, what is encoded can be decoded. That`s why I use neither encrypting nor passwords.

Generally you are right Dodo: sooner or later everything what is encrypted can be decrypted. But the methods described above (especially the one with the help of AxCrypt) are quite reliable: only highly qualified decryption specialists can do it. I do doubt any of your clients will manage to succeed with the task...

NK

Hi Nikita,

I can not thank you enough for the good piece of advice. I installed the program (it took me less than 5 min) and it works great. I am planning on using it every time.

Thanks again.

Krassi

Hello, I have a question about this topic: if we use AxCrypt, wouldn't the customer need to same program to decrypt the files? and if the file is password protected... how will the customer see a part of it, or even trust that it is the translation and not any other file without being able to open it?

I'm new on it, thanks for your help.

Hi, Juan!

Originally written by Juan Macarlupú Peña on November 10, 2007 6:12 AM if we use AxCrypt, wouldn't the customer need to same program to decrypt the files?

I'm afraid you are not the most attentive reader in the world as the answers to both of your questions are already in the posts so I have just to quote myself:

Originally written by Nikita Kobrin on July 29, 2007 4:46 PM In the end some words on how to make that your client could see a part of the translation (in non-editable form). For that purpose open your document, make a screen shot and save it as a picture (in .gif or .jpg format). It may look like the following:

Originally written by Juan Macarlupú Peña on November 10, 2007 6:12 AM if the file is password protected... how will the customer see a part of it

Originally written by Nikita Kobrin on June 25, 2004 7:28 PM To encrypt to a self-decrypting .exe program, right-click and select 'AxCrypt | Encrypt Copy to .exe' . You can send these files to anyone, they do not need to have AxCrypt installed.

NK

Thanks Nikita!! I had seen the part of making a screenshot, but I didn't know that AxCrypt generated a self-decrypting file. most of the encryption programs I tried do not work that way. And I still can't find the part on which you explained that about the EXE file before I asked. I guess I need to learn to surf this forum better.

Thanks for taking the time to answer!

Forgive me if I am being dense, but, I cannot imagine any decent client accepting this!  Shouldn't we vet the client in advance (in all the ways possible) or at worst, ask for a deposit (the check gives you their account number in case you need to take them to court later and then levy their bank account). 

Usually, the terms are net 30 days - not payment on delivery even though that is what we might  like.  Other than retail, immediate payment or payment in advance (which is what this is) is highly unusual.  I wouldn't work with a client of whom I was this suspicious.  I vet them first, then  start with small jobs and see the payment history before moving to bigger jobs.

Can this be a serious way to conduct your business in this industry?