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Participant
January 4, 2022
Question

Certify multiple pdf pages at once

  • January 4, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 7446 views

I am hoping and praying there is a way to apply a single SSL Certificate signature to multiple pagesof a pdf at one time.  I have read threads and understand why you shouldn't do it or need to do it, but my case is different from theirs.  I mail merge certificates from Word to pdf.  This creates multiple (and many) individual certificates in the same pdf file, which then need to be individually signed using my certificate. I then split them and send them out to each individual. 

Signing each certificate individually is INCREDIBLY time consuming and inefficient. Is there a way to apply the certificate signature to the same location on multiple pages at once within the same pdf?  I am not looking for other methods, or reasons why I shouldn't have to do this (it is a government policy they are signed using the certificate and I am not going to be able to convince them otherwise). I cannot download add-ins or software from the internet to help.  Is there a way, within Adobe Acrobat DC, to do this?  Thank you!

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4 replies

Participant
September 4, 2024

you can't do this with Acrobat, use Foxit instead. Thank me later.

Participating Frequently
March 7, 2023

I'm actually having the same trouble. I have multiple files that needs to be signed by multiple persons and then be merged in one files which needs to be certified (governmental instructions). I tried merging the files and sent them out for signature (which works on several pages by several people) but I cannot make them certify it afterwards. Certify all files seperately is not an option either ever since I cannot merge them anymore afterwards and we must create one single file (certified on multiple pages by multiple people).

Is there any workaround I can try?

ls_rbls
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 7, 2023

There is no requirment for a workaround.

 

You (or  those superiors above you) may have employed the incorrect method all along.

 

The proper way of grouping together PDF documents that are already digitally signed is as a  PDF binder.

 

Also, most government users seem to confuse interchangeably how the Certificates tool is employed versus how to sign a certificate-based digital signature field, or from how apply a stamp or an electronic signature with the Fill & Sign tool.

 

These are entirely different methods from actually signing a portion of a PDF document with a certificate-based electronic digital signature (requires a digital signature ID associated with a root certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority) .

 

As mentioned, PDF files are signed once and this signing action is performed with the Certificates tool; only the last signing authority should certify the entire file .

 

Every other subordinate signer should be sign their portions using digital signature fields that should've been provided by the producer of that PDF throughout that document to avoid this signing versus certifying mess (specifically on oudated XFA  government forms).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technical Generalist
Legend
January 4, 2022

This doesn't seem to make sense. You can do multiple signatures to a file; you ONLY SIGN A FILE, NOT A PAGE. There is no opt out from this rule. Yes, you see a mark on a page, but that's not the signature, it's just a useless stamp.


If you split up a signed document, you don't have signed pages, you have nothing but the useless stamps. You need to first split, then sign.

Amal.
Legend
January 4, 2022

Hi there

 

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble. As described you want to apply the certificate signature on multiple pages of the same PDF file.

 

The certificate signature applies to the complete document and not to a specific page. You may create the stamp of your signature and then apply the stamp to multiple pages of the PDF file. For more information please check out the correct answer marked in the similar discussion https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-sdk-discussions/how-can-i-stamp-multiple-pages-of-the-same-pdf-with-a-batch-stamp/m-p/10406220#M13267 and see if that works for you.

 

Regards

Amal

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