(PureBasic) 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.

Chilkat PureBasic Module Download Chilkat PureBasic Module

IncludeFile "CkCert.pb"
IncludeFile "CkJsonObject.pb"
IncludeFile "CkPdf.pb"

Procedure ChilkatExample()

    success.i = 0

    pdf.i = CkPdf::ckCreate()
    If pdf.i = 0
        Debug "Failed to create object."
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ; Load a PDF to be signed.
    success = CkPdf::ckLoadFile(pdf,"c:/someDir/my.pdf")
    If success = 0
        Debug CkPdf::ckLastErrorText(pdf)
        CkPdf::ckDispose(pdf)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ; Options for signing are specified in JSON.
    json.i = CkJsonObject::ckCreate()
    If json.i = 0
        Debug "Failed to create object."
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"subFilter","/ETSI.CAdES.detached")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateBool(json,"signingCertificateV2",1)
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateBool(json,"signingTime",1)
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"signingAlgorithm","pkcs")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"hashAlgorithm","sha256")

    ; -----------------------------------------------------------
    ; The following JSON settings define the signature appearance.
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateInt(json,"page",1)
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"appearance.y","top")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"appearance.x","left")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"appearance.fontScale","10.0")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"appearance.text[0]","Digitally signed by: cert_cn")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"appearance.text[1]","current_dt")
    CkJsonObject::ckUpdateString(json,"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.i = CkCert::ckCreate()
    If cert.i = 0
        Debug "Failed to create object."
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    success = CkCert::ckLoadPfxFile(cert,"c:/myPfxFiles/myPdfSigningCert.pfx","pfxPassword")
    If success = 0
        Debug CkCert::ckLastErrorText(cert)
        CkPdf::ckDispose(pdf)
        CkJsonObject::ckDispose(json)
        CkCert::ckDispose(cert)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ; Once we have the certificate object, tell the PDF object to use it for signing
    success = CkPdf::ckSetSigningCert(pdf,cert)
    If success = 0
        Debug CkPdf::ckLastErrorText(pdf)
        CkPdf::ckDispose(pdf)
        CkJsonObject::ckDispose(json)
        CkCert::ckDispose(cert)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ; Sign the PDF, creating the output file.
    outFilePath.s = "c:/someDir/mySigned.pdf"
    success = CkPdf::ckSignPdf(pdf,json,outFilePath)
    If success = 0
        Debug CkPdf::ckLastErrorText(pdf)
        CkPdf::ckDispose(pdf)
        CkJsonObject::ckDispose(json)
        CkCert::ckDispose(cert)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    Debug "Success."


    CkPdf::ckDispose(pdf)
    CkJsonObject::ckDispose(json)
    CkCert::ckDispose(cert)


    ProcedureReturn
EndProcedure