Sheets - Remote API (disable all export except .pdf?)

Sheets - Remote API (disable all export except .pdf?)

Is there a way to embed a spreadsheet in a website that maintains document security, privacy, and allows anonymous access? i.e. Users are already logged into a private website, (some of these users are ZOHO members, some are not).

I've tried using the Viewer API, SHARE, Publish, etc... nothing seems to allow you to share a private document (and provide anonymous access) or embed it in an .html or .asp page while maintaining document security for simple file viewing? It seems the user must either have a ZOHO account, or you must manually create and maintain an organization, or it works, but you can't limit export etc...
  • The closest I can get to this functionality is using the SHEETS - Remote API, but using that creates the following issue: (similar to using Viewer, etc...) When using the Sheets Remote API can i selectively disable the export functions.
For example, I would like users to be able to export a .pdf but would like to disable all other export functions when I am using the Remote API to embed a spreadsheet within a website.
  • Alternatively, If you can not selectively disable export: Can you simply disable all export functions when setting the Sheets Remote API to "output=view, mode=view".

i.e. I would like to enable view only access with the ability to export as .pdf, (setting the form to VIEW works and I get a note on the top right of the spreadsheet that the document is opened in View Only mode): HOWEVER
  • when view only is enabled, this does not disable the export function.
  • Any ideas why the export function remains active when choosing to use view only with the Remote API?
  • I can get this working by publishing to a public url, but this is not an option because of document security!
Note: I am calling a private document if that helps, i.e.
  1. <form method="POST" action="https://sheet.zoho.com/remotedoc.im" target="foo" onsubmit="window.open('','foo','width=1024,height=768,status=0,titlebar=0,toolbar=0,directories=0,location=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1')"><input type="hidden" name="url" value="mysheet.xls">
    <input type="hidden" name="apikey" value="mykey">
    <input type="hidden" name="output" value="view">
    <input type="hidden" name="mode" value="view">
    <!--<input type="hidden" name="filename" value="">-->
    <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="en">
    <input type="hidden" name="skey" value="">
    <input type="hidden" name="id" value="12345678">
    <input type="hidden" name="format" value="xls">
    <!--<input type="hidden" name="saveurl" value="">-->
    <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Open/Edit">
    </form>











We are trying limit the number of "Working" copies of the worksheet so everyone is always working on the same worksheet and changes are logged through ZOHO Docs. Creating a "viewable copy" within the project site is desirable for all users - ZOHO Docs lets us define user roles that are subsequently ignored using the Remote API  however because the export function remains enabled? (i.e. some users have View Only access, some have Collaborator Access, some do not have access to ZOHO Docs at all [thus the problem with creating and maintaining an organization using DOCS, and Publish] - but in using the Remote or Viewer API, i no longer have control over that access as anyone can export a copy?)

We are trying to create a quick view for (all) project members to open a spreadsheet directly within the html project site we have built for their project, without having to log into ZOHO Docs, so they can quickly view, or run a quick calc on a spreadsheet that is not intended as an update to the working document. We are using ZOHO Docs workspace for that functionality and it works great, but often people don't need to go to the trouble of logging into the workspace if they just want a quick view or printout of current worksheet and i just can't seem to figure out why the export function keeps working when setting to "View Only" mode?

see below



















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