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@Snarp
Last active May 10, 2024 19:41
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Script to allow copying from a protected Google Doc
/*
<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40296831/is-it-possible-to-force-a-copy-of-a-protected-google-doc>
NOTE - 2021-05-24
-----------------
The script below isn't the fastest way to copy-and-paste from a protected
Google Doc. Before trying it, I'd suggest following MikoFrosty's advice from
the comments:
1) Change the end of the document url from `/edit` to `/mobilebasic`.
2) Disable Javascript (as described in steps 2 and 3 below).
3) Keeping the console open, reload the page.
That should be enough to allow you to copy freely. The script here is
*probably* only necessary if the /mobilebasic view isn't rendering something
correctly.
HOW TO USE
----------
1) Open the protected Doc using Chrome. Scroll all the way down to the bottom
to make sure that it is entirely loaded.
2) Open Chrome Developer Tools (<Ctrl+Shift+I>), and click "Console" to open
the Javascript Console.
3) Open the Command Console (<Ctrl+Shift+P>). Type "javascript", and select
the option "Disable Javascript" when it appears.
4) Copy the script below into the Javascript console.
5) Leaving the Javascript Console open, you may now copy-and-paste from the
document as normal. (Some formatting may be broken. Closing the console may
re-lock copy-and-pasting.)
6) (OPTIONAL) To copy the entire document as plain text (no formatting), type
the following into the console:
document.body.innerText
The text will be loaded into the Console itself; copy it by clicking the
gray-highlighted "COPY" at the end.
*/
function rtcScript() {
document.oncontextmenu = null;
document.onselectstart = null;
document.onmousedown = null;
document.onclick = null;
document.oncopy = null;
document.oncut = null;
var elements = document.getElementsByTagName('*');
for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
elements[i].oncontextmenu = null;
elements[i].onselectstart = null;
elements[i].onmousedown = null;
elements[i].oncopy = null;
elements[i].oncut = null;
}
function preventShareThis() {
document.getSelection = window.getSelection = function() {
return {isCollapsed: true};
}
}
var scripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script');
for (var i = 0; i < scripts.length; i++) {
if (scripts[i].src.indexOf('w.sharethis.com') > -1) {
preventShareThis();
}
}
if (typeof Tynt != 'undefined') {
Tynt = null;
}
}
rtcScript();
setInterval(rtcScript, 2000);
@Akshay6890
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Hi! i tried using the script but it wasn't working. the middle pages were all missing and blank. Is there any updated script i could use?

As MikoFrosty says, for this script to catch the whole document without any blanks, you need to manually scroll down very slowly to let everything load, which is pretty slow and annoying; so, as an alternative, you can change the end of the document URL from "/edit" to "/mobilebasic".
As far as I can tell, the mobilebasic interface always loads the whole document automatically. I think it may sometimes drop some complex formatting, but that's probably not going to transfer perfectly regardless.

i've done that too. scrolling until the last page. when i try to change the edit into mobilebasic i can see every page's text but can't highlight and copy any.

Another workaround that worked for me: (For Chrome) once you have to document in mobilebasic view, use F12 to open the inspector, then F1 to get to the Preferences tab, scroll to the bottom of the tab and select "Disable Javascript." Once that is done leave the inspector open and reload the page, then you should be able to highlight and copy the entire doc.

This worked like a charm! 😃

@MikoFrosty
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Any updates? None of the afforementioned steps work for now.

The mobilebasic method still works for me
(copied from @mitar)

  • Change the end of the document url from /edit to /mobilebasic.
  • Disable Javascript (as described in steps 2 and 3 below).
  • Keeping the console open, reload the page. Select all + copy.
  • Create a new blank Google Doc. Paste.

What part of this process is not working for you?

@thankventi
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hi, does anyone know how to copy it not on mobile view? the doc i want to copy a table that appears differently on mobile and desktop (i cannot figure it out on my own :P)

@dasunherath10
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does that still works on google spreadsheet , when i do this it gives a random number

@deadcoder0904
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@DamiJJJ
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DamiJJJ commented Jul 12, 2023

Works perfectly fine. Script not needed. Just change URL and disable JS ;)

@onurogut
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onurogut commented Aug 8, 2023

Simply use
image
Reading mode button on MacOS, works as well maybe anyone needs it.

@senhalil
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senhalil commented Aug 8, 2023

@onurogut I get a page that only shows the file name as a title and File/Edit/View/Tools/Help/... as subtitles 🤔

@VHAE04
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VHAE04 commented Aug 20, 2023

@onurogut
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@senhalil I tried with example that @deadcoder0904 shared and I'm attached a screenshot:

command+shift+r to switch reading mode:

image

As you can see, I can select all text/images by just simply command+a, copy and paste it into notes:
image

@falconwoods
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I would update the instructions to:

  1. Change the end of the document url from /edit to /mobilebasic.
  2. Disable Javascript (as described in steps 2 and 3 below).
  3. Keeping the console open, reload the page. Select all + copy.
  4. Create a new blank Google Doc. Paste.

That retained all formatting for me perfectly.

It works!!

@SMPSERVERS
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IT WORKED

@Mohammed-Nalwala
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  1. Change the end of the document url from /edit to /mobilebasic.

when I add "mobilebasic" end of url for google sheet it says
"Sorry, unable to open the file at present.Please check the address and try again."

@GBG7
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GBG7 commented Dec 2, 2023

  1. Change the end of the document url from /edit to /mobilebasic.

when I add "mobilebasic" end of url for google sheet it says "Sorry, unable to open the file at present.Please check the address and try again."

same

@sheenk09
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it works!

@010DevX101
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I found a workaround in /mobilebasic without having to disable JavaScript. You just have to rename the docsshared-no-select class to anything else and the script that prevents you from copying stops working.

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