>David, are you going to prevent a user from launching Word and modifying your docs outside your app, if so how?

The docs are stored using a sequential file numbering system and access to the cross reference (mapping doc number to it's contents) is hidden.

This system cannot (and is not intended to)prevent a knowledgeable, determined employee from gaining access. It's function is to act as an impediment to someone attempting to violate policy to satisfy an expediency, or inadvertently create a modified version of a released document (latter more likely).

If all I do is print the selected document, I don't even have to make Word visible and my requirements are satisfied. Once I make word visible (for previewing purposes) the user has all sorts of control I'd rather he not have ('Save As' comes to mind).

My only requirement is to print the document....being able to preview an electronic copy was a nicety I was trying to add, but doing so in the fashion we've discussed, and still maintaining the security requirements, may be too troublesome for what it's worth.