Set Up Digital Signature

This Wiki Page describes how to validate a digital signature.

1. Mac OS X

Adobe Reader

Import Certificate

Youc can download Adobe Reader for Mac OS X here.

Start up the programm 'Adobe Reader DC' and click on Preferences.

Choose Signatures from the dropdown menu.

Click on More in the Identities & trusted Certificates section.

Choose Digital ID Files and click on Attach File in order to import a certificate.

Choose your certificate file.

Enter the password that was previously set, when exporting the certificate.

Note: If no password was set, during the exportation of the certificate this step can be skipped.

The Certificate is now imported and kan be used for digital signatures.

You can also synchronize Adobe Reader with Keychain Access and import all certificates at the same time.

Using Digital Signature

In order to sign a file with your digital signature, click on the blue field.

Choose your certificate.

Enter the password set during exportation.

Click on Sign.

Next, save the File. This will confirm the digital signature.

The digital signature looks as follows:

2. Windows 10

You can download Adobe Reader here.

Adobe Reader

Import Certificate

The setup for digital signatures in Windows is parallel to Mac OS.

Go to the Preferences Pannel.

Click on Signatures and then on More.

You can now import your certificate. Choose Digitale ID Files on the left hand side and Attach File in order to do so.

Once the certificate has been chosen, enter the corresponding password, set during the exportation process.

Note: If no password was set, during the exportation of the certificate this step can be skipped.

Using Digital Signature

In order to sign a file with your digital signature, click on the field to which you wish to add the signature.

Choose your certificate.

Next, save the File. This will confirm the digital signature.

JSignPdf

You can download this tool here. It will download an .exe file.

Open it with a double click and install it:

Start the program.

Choose the Keystore Type PKCS12-DEF-3DES-3DES and the certificate you wish to use. Enter the corresponding password below and choose the file you wish to sign digitally. Click on Settings.

Note: If no password was set, during the exportation of the certificate, no password needs to be entered here.

Click on Preview and Select.

Highlight the field in which to use the signature

You can adjust the position of the signature with these parameters.

Click on TSA/OCSP/CLR and activate Use Timestamp Server.

Finally, click on Sign It.

You can see the details in the Output Console of the program.

The digital signature looks as follows:

The digitally signed file is automatically saved as a new file in the directory of the original file.

3. Linux

JSignPdf

You can download the tool here. This will download a .zip file. Unpack the file.

Install Java via the console.

sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jre

Go to the directory jsignpdf-1.6.4:

cd ~/jsignpdf-1.6.4/

and use this command:

 java -jar JSignPdf.jar

This will launch the program. Choose the Keystore type PKCS12-3DEF-3DES-3DES , the desired Certificate, the corresponding Password set while exporting it and the file to be digitally signed.

Note: If no password was set, during the exportation of the certificate, no password needs to be entered here.

Click on TSA/OCSP/CRL.

Activate Use Timestamp Server.

Open Settings.

Click Preview & Select.

The PDF-File should open. Choose the filed in which you wish to insert your digital signature and click on Close.

*Signaturename and Description*

Choose font size 6, in order to have enough space for the date to be displayed.

*Only Description*


Choose Only Description and click on Close.

Click on Sign.

You can see the details in the Output Console of the program..



The digitally signed file is automatically saved as a new file in the directory of the original file.

The digital signature with the setup Signaturename and Description and font size 8 in Adobe Reader looks as follows:

The digital signature with the setup Signaturename and Description and font size 6 in Adobe Reader looks as follows:

The digital signature with the setup Only Description and font size 8 in Adobe Reader looks as follows: