(Java) PDF Sign Under Existing Signature

See more PDF Signatures Examples

This example explains how sign a previously-signed PDF and place the signature appearance below the existing signature.

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

Chilkat Java Downloads Java Libs for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Alpine Linux, Solaris Java Libs for Android

import com.chilkatsoft.*;

public class ChilkatExample {

  static {
    try {
        System.loadLibrary("chilkat");
    } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) {
      System.err.println("Native code library failed to load.\n" + e);
      System.exit(1);
    }
  }

  public static void main(String argv[])
  {
    // This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
    // See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

    CkPdf pdf = new CkPdf();

    // Load a PDF to be signed.
    boolean success = pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/sign_testing_4/hello_signed.pdf");
    if (success == false) {
        System.out.println(pdf.lastErrorText());
        return;
        }

    // The PDF we'll be signing already has a signature added in Adobe Acrobat DC.
    // It looks like this:
    // (Notice the Adobe background logo, which is commonly what you'll see when a signature
    // is created by Adobe Acrobat.  Chilkat (obviously) does not create signatures using the Adobe
    // logo because it would be a copyright violation.)

    

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

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

    // To put our new signature underneath the existing signature, we have to specify the page
    // where the existing signature is found, and then we can specify "under" for the "appearance.y"
    json.UpdateInt("page",1);
    json.UpdateString("appearance.y","under");

    json.UpdateString("appearance.fontScale","10.0");

    json.UpdateString("appearance.text[0]","Reason: Agreement Accepted by John");
    json.UpdateString("appearance.text[1]","Date: current_dt");

    // Load the signing certificate. (Use your own certificate.)
    CkCert cert = new CkCert();
    success = cert.LoadPfxFile("qa_data/pfx/myPdfSigningCert.pfx","secret");
    if (success == false) {
        System.out.println(cert.lastErrorText());
        return;
        }

    // Tell the pdf object to use the certificate for signing.
    success = pdf.SetSigningCert(cert);
    if (success == false) {
        System.out.println(pdf.lastErrorText());
        return;
        }

    // Note: When adding an additional signature to a PDF, the existing signatures
    // are validated, and this includes validating the certificates previously used to 
    // create the existing signatures.  (A signature typically embeds the signing certs.)
    // In some cases, the certificates and/or certs in the chain of authentication for 
    // existing signatures are not present, and are not available on the current system.
    // In this case, you can skip the validation by setting this keyword in UncommonOptions:
    pdf.put_UncommonOptions("NO_VERIFY_CERT_SIGNATURES");

    success = pdf.SignPdf(json,"qa_output/hello_signed.pdf");
    if (success == false) {
        System.out.println(pdf.lastErrorText());
        return;
        }

    System.out.println("The PDF has been successfully cryptographically signed.");

    // Here's a screenshot of the 2nd signature positioned under the 1st in Adobe Acrobat:

    
  }
}