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A
Anonymous
June 17, 2016
Answered

Unable to Sign PDF with Military CAC (smart card)

  • June 17, 2016
  • 6 replies
  • 339654 views

I have a Military CAC that I am trying to use to sign a PDF document with.  I created the document and have tried multiple signature fields.  I have my CAC connected via an ActivCard reader and my computer is correctly reading the card.  I have verified that the certificate is present in the computer and that Adobe Acrobat Pro can see the certificate.  I am not given the option to sign with the card.  Am I missing something?

 

Thanks,

Alex

    Correct answer Lyle W

    Same. Any one have success?


    So I had the same problem.  I followed the following from above:

     

    Click Preferences

    Under Categories, scroll down to Signatures

    In the Creation and Appearance section, click More

    Make sure Enable CryptoTokenKit framework support is checked.

    You might also need to change the Default Signing Format to CAdES-Equivalent

     

    This did not work for me.  I changed the Default Signing Format: back to PKCS#7 - Detached and now it does work.  I wanted to post this in case it helps anyone.  Took me about 20 minutes to update my profile and everythign so I could post.  Haha.

    6 replies

    N
    Nancy25629533kgla
    Participant
    August 12, 2022

    How can I sign my document using my CAC card?

    F
    Fuseini244900803nv4
    Participant
    May 17, 2022
    RANK_LAST_NAME,_FIRST_NAME_Leave_Balance_Counseling_CP_NYC.pdf
    MikelKlink
    MikelKlink
    Participating Frequently
    May 17, 2022

    @Fuseini244900803nv4 

    As you only attached a file but did not explain what about it, it's hard to help.

    One observation, though: There is an error in your file, the program that saved the original revision (containing the usage rights signature) created a broken PDF object cross reference table. PDFs with such errors usually fail validation if signed; if not immediately, then after an incremental update, e.g. for form fill-ins.

    D
    devCSM
    Participant
    January 12, 2022

    These are the instructions for Adobe Acrobat Pro DC as of 20220112.

     

    1. From the menu bar select the Tools tab (next to the Home tab).

     

    2. Scroll down until you see Forms & Signatures.

    3. Select Certificiates.

    Note. Selecting Add will add the shortcut to the Tools Pane. Click and drag the shortcut to the top of the Tools Pane for faster access to this feature. 

    4. The Certificates tool bar should now be visible on the document you want to sign. Select Digitally Sign.

    5. Follow the instructions from there.

    Note. To create an empty signature field, sign the document first following the steps above, right-mouse-click on the signature and select Clear Signature, and save the document.

     

     

     

     

     

      M
      M28932497vjhr
      Participant
      March 17, 2023

      More details because this reply doesn't go any further.

      Once you get to this point, you will be given choice to sign digitally. One of the prompts will give you option to "create". From there you can pick "draw" to manually sign. You can draw your signature and then 'save'. 

      A
      Alex297210530rx2
      Participant
      May 3, 2023

      MORE details because I found the digital sign option for those who couldn't when suggested. In help, search for it and follow the pop-up instructions. This will also you to manually select the area to sign and allow you to pick which certificate the document is signed with.

      J
      JLPUELLO
      Participant
      September 2, 2021

      Hey, I found a solution to your (our) problem. The problem resides with Catalina not having the PKCS#11 module installed. To fix this, you need to go to the OpenSC github and download the MacOS tool. Once installed and back in adobe, go to Adobe Acrobat Preferences > Identity & Trusted Certificates > More. You'll need to attach the PKCS#11 module. To do this, input the file location where OpenSC installed your PKCS#11 module the file should be /Library/OpenSC/lib/opensc-pkcs11.so. Drag and drop (or type) this in the empty field to configure your PKCS module. From here you'll need to add an signing ID and your DoD email should available. Sorry if the steps aren't clean. I need to type this up for work purposes, but wanted to get the answer posted. Hope this helps everyone.

      N
      Notboredyet
      Participant
      August 5, 2020

      For those of you having issues to this problem try the following steps.

       

      1. Open Document using the right click followed by Edit with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

      2. Click on the "Tools" Option located on the editing bar above

      3. Scroll down and click "Open" under "Certificates" 

      4. Below the "Tools" bar you will now see a "Certificates" Menu 

      5. Click on "Validate All Signatures"

      6. Make sure your CAC is plugged in and sign the signature portion as requested

      7. Pray that you don't have to go into work just to use the Office Computer

      Hope this helps! Fly, Fight, Win!

        R
        RH59
        Participant
        August 7, 2020

         Nope. Still not successful in either Adobe Pro or Reader. Followed guide on Military CAC. Won't synch with my CAC certicificates in reader

        D
        Daniel.edu
        Participant
        August 19, 2020

        I am in the same exact boat.  I can access CAC enabled websites just fine however, I can't sign using my Hardware Token (SCR-3310v2) CAC Reader.  When I try to add via Adobe it says:

         

        "Adobe Acrobat could not find any new digital IDs. If your digital ID is on a hardware token, please make sure it is plugged in and the token interface is properly configured. Contact your system administrator for further assistance."

         

        Adobe Acrobat Pro DC:  2020.009.20074

        Mac OS: Catalina 10.15.2

        CAC Reader: SCR 3310v2  and I've tried an HP CAC enabled keyboard

        J
        jackieh4481
        Participant
        April 30, 2018

        how do I sign electronically with my cac card

        AnandSri
        Community Manager
        AnandSriCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        May 27, 2018

        Hello Jackieh,

        Sorry for the delayed response and inconvenience caused. As per the description above, you want to sign a PDF using your CAC card, Is that correct?

        The CAC card stores your digital id on an embedded microprocessor chip. Use the digital ID on a smart card to sign and decrypt documents on computers that can be connected to a smart card reader.

        You can access your digital ID by connecting the token to a USB port on your computer or mobile device. If you store your digital ID on a smart card or hardware token, connect it to your device to use it for signing documents.

        For detailed information, please refer to Adobe article Digital IDs in Acrobat

        You can also refer to Certificate-based signatures, Adobe Acrobat DC

        Feel free to update this discussion for any further assistance.

        Regards,

        Anand Sri.

        g36hickey
        g36hickey
        Participant
        June 29, 2018

        in the Adobe program it doesnt give us the option to select to sign via digital ID

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