(DataFlex) Certify a PDF and Lock the Entire Document

See more PDF Signatures Examples

This example demonstrates how to a sign a certify a PDF and lock the entire document. Normally this is intended to seal the document with a final approving (or dissapproving) signature; usually after a review workflow is completed and normally reserved for the creator or author of a document.

Chilkat ActiveX Downloads ActiveX for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows

Use ChilkatAx-win32.pkg

Procedure Test
    Handle hoPdf
    Boolean iSuccess
    Variant vJson
    Handle hoJson
    Variant vCert
    Handle hoCert
    String sTemp1

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

    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatPdf)) To hoPdf
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoPdf))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoPdf
    End

    // Load a PDF to be certified and locked.
    // The "hello.pdf" is available at https://chilkatsoft.com/hello.pdf
    Get ComLoadFile Of hoPdf "qa_data/pdf/hello.pdf" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    // Options for signing are specified in JSON.
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatJsonObject)) To hoJson
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoJson))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoJson
    End

    // In most cases, the signingCertificateV2 and signingTime attributes are required.
    Get ComUpdateInt Of hoJson "signingCertificateV2" 1 To iSuccess
    Get ComUpdateInt Of hoJson "signingTime" 1 To iSuccess

    // The only coding difference with certifying and locking a PDF
    // as compared with an approval signature (also known as recipient signature)
    // is to add the "lockAfterSigning" and "docMDP.add" to the json.
    Get ComUpdateBool Of hoJson "lockAfterSigning" True To iSuccess
    Get ComUpdateBool Of hoJson "docMDP.add" True To iSuccess

    // Put the signature on page 1, top left
    Get ComUpdateInt Of hoJson "page" 1 To iSuccess
    Get ComUpdateString Of hoJson "appearance.y" "top" To iSuccess
    Get ComUpdateString Of hoJson "appearance.x" "left" To iSuccess

    // Use a font scale of 10.0
    Get ComUpdateString Of hoJson "appearance.fontScale" "10.0" To iSuccess

    // In this example, the appearance of the digital signature will contain three lines:
    // 1) The signing certificate's common name
    // 2) The current date/time
    // 3) Some arbitrary text.
    // The keyword "cert_cn" is replaced with the Certificate's Subject Common Name.
    // The keyword "current_dt" is replaced with the current date/time.
    // Any number of appearance text lines can be added.
    Get ComUpdateString Of hoJson "appearance.text[0]" "Digitally signed by: cert_cn" To iSuccess
    Get ComUpdateString Of hoJson "appearance.text[1]" "current_dt" To iSuccess
    Get ComUpdateString Of hoJson "appearance.text[2]" "The crazy brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." To iSuccess

    // Load the signing certificate. (Use your own certificate.)
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatCert)) To hoCert
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoCert))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoCert
    End
    Get ComLoadPfxFile Of hoCert "qa_data/pfx/myPdfSigningCert.pfx" "secret" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoCert To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    // Tell the pdf object to use the certificate for signing.
    Get pvComObject of hoCert to vCert
    Get ComSetSigningCert Of hoPdf vCert To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Get pvComObject of hoJson to vJson
    Get ComSignPdf Of hoPdf vJson "qa_output/hello_signed.pdf" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Showln "The PDF has been successfully certified and locked."


End_Procedure