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ethan.starkweather
Participating Frequently
May 21, 2020
Question

Activate "Sign document by typing or drawing a signature" With Button

  • May 21, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 2044 views

I've created a PDF form in InDesign using the Digital Signature form field, but that field's requirement to create and configure a Digital ID will likely be confusing and onerous to users, and that level of security is unnecessary in this case.

 

I would prefer a behavior like Acrobat Reader's "Sign document by typing or drawing a signature" > "Sign" > "Add Signature" where the user can just generate and place their typed or drawn signature in the proper spot.

 

I've read elsewhere that functionality may be achieveable by replacing the Digital Signature field with a button that uses JavaScript to activate that tool, but I don't know the right syntax to activate that tool. After a ton of searching around, I've tried:

app.execMenuItem("OpenApp_FillSignApp")

... on a button's Mouse Up event, but that doesn't want to work. As may be obvious, I don't know JS nor how to attempt debugging.

 

Ideally, I'm hoping clicking/tapping that field would be able to go straight to the Type/Draw/Image "Type your name here" modal overlay (see attached screenshot). Is there a JavaScript action that can do this, or otherwise remove the requirement for a Digital ID? Would this cause compatability issues on other devices mobile devices?

 

Thanks for your time.

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Participating Frequently
May 22, 2020

Check this Adobe tutorial of how to fill and sign PDF forms.

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 21, 2020

This functionality is only available in Adobe Sign as a built-in feature. That said, there are a couple of clunky ways to do this in a reguar Acrobat form. 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 21, 2020

Use Fill & Sign