Permission Requirements for Merging Docs You Do Not Own
Understanding what access level you need before starting a merge saves time. The short version: Viewer access is enough. Here is the full picture.
Minimum required access
Viewer access (view only) is the minimum needed to export a Google Doc as PDF. If someone has shared a document with you at Viewer level, the extension can export it and include it in a merge. You cannot edit the document, but you can export it.
What Commenter and Editor access add
Commenter and Editor access levels also permit export. These are strictly more permissive than Viewer for export purposes. If you have either of these levels, you can merge the document.
When access is blocked
Some documents are restricted: the owner has turned off download and print access. If this restriction is enabled, the extension cannot export the document even if you have Viewer access. Only the owner can remove this restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a document has download restrictions?
Open the document. If File > Download is grayed out, the owner has restricted downloads. Contact the owner and ask them to allow download access.
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