Unicode C

PDF Sign Unsigned Signature Field

See more PDF Signatures Examples

Demonstrates how to sign a PDF's unsigned signature field.

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

Unicode C

#include <C_CkPdfW.h>
#include <C_CkJsonObjectW.h>
#include <C_CkCertW.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    BOOL success;
    HCkPdfW pdf;
    HCkJsonObjectW json;
    HCkCertW cert;

    success = FALSE;

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

    pdf = CkPdfW_Create();

    // Load a PDF containing an unsigned signature field.
    success = CkPdfW_LoadFile(pdf,L"qa_data/pdf/unsigned_sig_field/due_diligence.pdf");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkPdfW_lastErrorText(pdf));
        CkPdfW_Dispose(pdf);
        return;
    }

    // A PDF with an unsigned signature field appears in Adobe Acrobat as shown below.
    // (When the mouse pointer is hovered over the field, a tooltip will likely show a message
    // such as "Unsigned signature field (Click to sign)".  
    // This example code will automatically find the unsigned signature field,
    // and signs using your certificate.  It automatically sizes the text to the space alotted
    // for the signature.
    // (image:https://example-code.com/images/unsignedSigField.jpg/endImage)

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

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

    // We don't specify the page or a specific location because Chilkat will automatically
    // find the unsigned signature field and use its location and size and will scale the
    // signatures visual appearance (text + graphics) to the correct size required to fit.
    // We only need to indicate the desire to fill the unsigned signature field.
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateBool(json,L"appearance.fillUnsignedSignatureField",TRUE);

    // Starting in Chilkat v9.5.0.90, if a PDF contains multiple unsigned signature fields,
    // the field to be signed can be chosen by name:
    // To list unsigned signature fields, see this example: List PDF Unsigned Signature Fields
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"unsignedSignatureField",L"doctor_signature");

    // Note: If the PDF document contains multiple unsigned signature fields, Chilkat will 
    // sign the 1st one found. 

    // 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.
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.text[0]",L"Digitally signed by: cert_cn");
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.text[1]",L"current_dt");
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.text[2]",L"The crazy brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.");

    // This signature will include one of the built-in SVG graphics (green-check-grey-circle).
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.image",L"green-check-grey-circle");
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.imagePlacement",L"left");

    // Load the signing certificate. (Use your own certificate.)
    cert = CkCertW_Create();
    success = CkCertW_LoadPfxFile(cert,L"qa_data/pfx/myPdfSigningCert.pfx",L"secret");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkCertW_lastErrorText(cert));
        CkPdfW_Dispose(pdf);
        CkJsonObjectW_Dispose(json);
        CkCertW_Dispose(cert);
        return;
    }

    // Tell the pdf object to use the certificate for signing.
    success = CkPdfW_SetSigningCert(pdf,cert);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkPdfW_lastErrorText(pdf));
        CkPdfW_Dispose(pdf);
        CkJsonObjectW_Dispose(json);
        CkCertW_Dispose(cert);
        return;
    }

    success = CkPdfW_SignPdf(pdf,json,L"qa_output/due_diligence_signed.pdf");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkPdfW_lastErrorText(pdf));
        CkPdfW_Dispose(pdf);
        CkJsonObjectW_Dispose(json);
        CkCertW_Dispose(cert);
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"The PDF has been successfully cryptographically signed.\n");

    // The appearance of the signature appears in Adobe Acrobat as shown below.
    // (image:https://example-code.com/images/signature3.jpg/endImage)


    CkPdfW_Dispose(pdf);
    CkJsonObjectW_Dispose(json);
    CkCertW_Dispose(cert);

    }