Unicode C

Sign a PDF (Simplest Possible Example)

See more PDF Signatures Examples

This example demonstrates how to a sign a PDF using mostly default options in the simplest way possible. 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 to be signed.
    // The "hello.pdf" is available at https://chilkatsoft.com/hello.pdf
    success = CkPdfW_LoadFile(pdf,L"qa_data/pdf/hello.pdf");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkPdfW_lastErrorText(pdf));
        CkPdfW_Dispose(pdf);
        return;
    }

    // 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);

    // Put the signature on page 1, top left
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateInt(json,L"page",1);
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.y",L"top");
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.x",L"left");

    // Use a font scale of 10.0
    CkJsonObjectW_UpdateString(json,L"appearance.fontScale",L"10.0");

    // 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.");

    // 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/hello_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 here:

    // (image:https://example-code.com/images/signature1.jpg/endImage)


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

    }