(Go) Sign PDF using PAdES-Baseline-B

See more PDF Signatures Examples

PAdES-Baseline-B is the most basic, entry-level profile of the PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures (PAdES) standard.

It means:

• A PDF contains a CMS/PKCS#7 detached signature over the document’s byte range.
• /SubFilter must be ETSI.CAdES.detached.
• The signer’s X.509 certificate is included inside the signature.
• The signature uses recognized secure algorithms (e.g., SHA-256 with RSA/ECDSA).
• It proves document integrity (no changes since signing) and signer authenticity (certificate identifies who signed).
• It does not include time-stamps, revocation data (CRL/OCSP), or long-term validation information — those appear only in higher levels (PAdES-Baseline-T, -LT, -LTA).

In short: Baseline-B = a standard PDF digital signature that ensures integrity and origin, but without time or revocation guarantees.

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    success := false

    pdf := Pdf_Ref.html">chilkat.NewPdf()

    // Load a PDF to be signed.
    success = pdf.LoadFile("c:/someDir/my.pdf")
    if success == false {
        fmt.Println(pdf.LastErrorText())
        pdf.DisposePdf()
        return
    }

    // Options for signing are specified in JSON.
    json := JsonObject_Ref.html">chilkat.NewJsonObject()

    json.UpdateString("subFilter","/ETSI.CAdES.detached")
    json.UpdateBool("signingCertificateV2",true)
    json.UpdateBool("signingTime",true)
    json.UpdateString("signingAlgorithm","pkcs")
    json.UpdateString("hashAlgorithm","sha256")

    // -----------------------------------------------------------
    // The following JSON settings define the signature appearance.
    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]","Hello 123 ABC")

    // --------------------------------------------------------------
    // Load the signing certificate. (Use your own certificate.)
    // Note: There are other methods for using a certificate on an HSM (smartcard or token)
    // or from other sources, such as a cloud HSM, a Windows installed certificate,
    // or other file formats.
    cert := Cert_Ref.html">chilkat.NewCert()
    success = cert.LoadPfxFile("c:/myPfxFiles/myPdfSigningCert.pfx","pfxPassword")
    if success == false {
        fmt.Println(cert.LastErrorText())
        pdf.DisposePdf()
        json.DisposeJsonObject()
        cert.DisposeCert()
        return
    }

    // Once we have the certificate object, tell the PDF object to use it for signing
    success = pdf.SetSigningCert(cert)
    if success == false {
        fmt.Println(pdf.LastErrorText())
        pdf.DisposePdf()
        json.DisposeJsonObject()
        cert.DisposeCert()
        return
    }

    // Sign the PDF, creating the output file.
    outFilePath := "c:/someDir/mySigned.pdf"
    success = pdf.SignPdf(json,outFilePath)
    if success == false {
        fmt.Println(pdf.LastErrorText())
        pdf.DisposePdf()
        json.DisposeJsonObject()
        cert.DisposeCert()
        return
    }

    fmt.Println("Success.")

    pdf.DisposePdf()
    json.DisposeJsonObject()
    cert.DisposeCert()