(C#) Sign PDF with Long-Term Validation (LTV Enabled)

See more PDF Signatures Examples

This example demonstrates how to a sign a PDF with long-term validation (LTV) enabled.

Note: This example requires Chilkat v9.5.0.85 or greater.

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// This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
// See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

Chilkat.Pdf pdf = new Chilkat.Pdf();

// Load a PDF to be signed.
// The "hello.pdf" is available at https://chilkatsoft.com/hello.pdf
bool success = pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/hello.pdf");
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// Options for signing are specified in JSON.
Chilkat.JsonObject json = new Chilkat.JsonObject();

// In most cases, the signingCertificateV2 and signingTime attributes are required.
json.UpdateInt("signingCertificateV2",1);
json.UpdateInt("signingTime",1);

// Add the "ltvOcsp" instruction to the JSON passed to SignPdf.
// This is what causes Chilkat to create an LTV-enabled signature.
// 
// If we are signing a PDF that already has signatures, then the existing signatures
// are automatically verified, and Chilkat will do OCSP certificate status checking (if possible) 
// for those certs in existing signatures (including certs in the certificate chains) 
// that do not yet have a valid OCSP response in the DSS (Document Security Store).
// Chilkat will add the OCSP responses to the /OCSPs in the Document Security Store (/DSS).
// Also, and certificates from existing signatures not yet in the DSS are added to the /Certs 
// in the DSS.
// 
// Also, the "ltvOcsp" causes Chilkat to add the pdfRevocationInfoArchival authenticated attribute
// to the CMS signature.  The pdfRevocationInfoArchival attribute (1.2.840.113583.1.1.8)
// contains OCSP responses and the CRL for the issuer of the signing certificate.
// Therefore, Chilkat will send an OCSP request to the signing certificate's OCSP URl (if one exists)
// and will download the CRL from the issuer certificate's CRL Distribution Point (if one exists).
json.UpdateBool("ltvOcsp",true);

// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Note: If Chilkat produces a signed PDF, but the signature is not LTV-enabled,
// the cause might be related to a failure to download CRL's or OCSP requests.
// See Possible Solution for Failure to Produce LTV-enabled PDF Signature
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// You can add the following to UncommonOptions to get detailed information about the CRL and OCSP requests
// You shouldn't set the following logging options unless there is a need, because it adds a large amount of information to the LastErrorText.
pdf.UncommonOptions = "LOG_OCSP_HTTP,LOG_CRL_HTTP";

// Define the appearance of the signature.
json.UpdateInt("page",1);
json.UpdateString("appearance.y","top");
json.UpdateString("appearance.x","left");
json.UpdateString("appearance.fontScale","10.0");
json.UpdateString("appearance.text[0]","Digitally signed by: cert_cn");
json.UpdateString("appearance.text[1]","current_dt");
json.UpdateString("appearance.text[2]","This is an LTV-enabled signature.");

// Load the signing certificate. (Use your own certificate.)
Chilkat.Cert cert = new Chilkat.Cert();
success = cert.LoadPfxFile("qa_data/pfx/myPdfSigningCert.pfx","pfxPassword");
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(cert.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// Tell the pdf object to use the certificate for signing.
success = pdf.SetSigningCert(cert);
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

success = pdf.SignPdf(json,"qa_output/hello_ltv_signed.pdf");
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

Debug.WriteLine("The PDF has been successfully cryptographically signed with long-term validation.");

// If you open the Signature Panel in Adobe Acrobat, it will indicate that the signature is LTV enabled
// as shown here: