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.

PureBasic

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