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Maggie273917322dhj
Participant
December 5, 2022
Answered

How to insert a signature field that requires a certificate to sign

  • December 5, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 42080 views

Hello! I am creating a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro and want to be able to insert a signature field that you must use a certificate to sign. The "digital signature field" allows candidates to draw a signature in, which we can't allow. I've seen a ton of government forms that do this (attached an example of a publically available government form that does this), but I haven't been able to recreate it myself.

 

I also know that under the Certificates tool you can insert a certificate signature somewhere on the PDF, but I would like it to be mandated as well as the default setting when someone clicks on the signature box.

 

Quick note, in order for the example I uploaded to reflect the intended behavior, you have to view it in Adobe, not a browser!

    Correct answer Austin36034497jjgg

    I found a solution!  It appears that the certificate option is not a default option in my case possibly because I  converted a word document to a PDF.  The signature form field would not allow a certificate signature, just a normal field that behaved just like a normal text box really.  I have a different pdf from a bank which does allow me to create signatrue form fields with a certifcate.   It's in the same place on the left bar as the other signature form field with my converted word doc, except that it produce a form field with a certificate.   The only workaround I found was I had to click on the small tool bar to the left, its like a shortcut bar with only about 4 options on it that are symbols.  I clicked on the "..." at the bottom, and it gave me the option to "customize tool bar".  I selected that option.  Then I scrolled down to "prepare a form", opened up its options, and there was the option to add "Digital signature" which was the same title as the digital signature i already had that wasn't working but the symbol was like the digital signature from the bank PDF that was working.  So i clicked the "+" to add it to the toolbar and it works!  When i click on it as a user, not an editor, it pops up a box asking me to add a certicate signature with a time stamp, just like I wanted. 

    2 replies

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    JR BoulayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 13, 2024

    Things have changed in the last two years, you must use a "Digital Signature" field instead of a "Signature" field:

     

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
      JR Boulay
      Community Expert
      JR BoulayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 5, 2022

      You must use a digital signature form field:

       

      Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
      A
      Austin36034497jjgg
      Participant
      March 12, 2024

      The suggestion does not work.   It instead provides a text box where someone can simply type in their signature.  It does NOT create a certifate with a time stamp.  I also cannot find how to do this on my forms. 

      E
      eileen_6309
      Participant
      September 24, 2025

      I found a solution!  It appears that the certificate option is not a default option in my case possibly because I  converted a word document to a PDF.  The signature form field would not allow a certificate signature, just a normal field that behaved just like a normal text box really.  I have a different pdf from a bank which does allow me to create signatrue form fields with a certifcate.   It's in the same place on the left bar as the other signature form field with my converted word doc, except that it produce a form field with a certificate.   The only workaround I found was I had to click on the small tool bar to the left, its like a shortcut bar with only about 4 options on it that are symbols.  I clicked on the "..." at the bottom, and it gave me the option to "customize tool bar".  I selected that option.  Then I scrolled down to "prepare a form", opened up its options, and there was the option to add "Digital signature" which was the same title as the digital signature i already had that wasn't working but the symbol was like the digital signature from the bank PDF that was working.  So i clicked the "+" to add it to the toolbar and it works!  When i click on it as a user, not an editor, it pops up a box asking me to add a certicate signature with a time stamp, just like I wanted. 


      This was SO helpful, thank you!  I was spending a lot of time trying to find the answer but none of the solutions were about the certificte type of digital ID.  Your explanation guided me to the (very not obvious) spot to find it. 

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