Sign multiple pages at once

[patrickb47948697]

‌Hi,

I'm trying to sign a pdf on multiple pages at once. All signatures have to be placed at the exact same place on every page.

Right now I have to place my signature on every page, with saving in between. With document larger then 5 pages, this takes too much time.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

I'm using version 10.1.3 from Adobe Acrobat X.

[Guest]

Hi ,

This would be possible by creating a new action however even in this case you would have to scroll down to each page to and manually place signature.But this would not require saving each time you sign a single page.

You could also go through the following document once.This might help.

Signature Applied to Multiple Pages (Sign and Send PDFs)

Regards

Sukrit Dhingra

[Tal_Yasur]

this is an odd answer.

given the fact that the PDF specification allows a single digital signature field with multiple widgets or annotations.

and given the fact that there are solutions out there that provide the capability of signing multiple pages with a single digital signature object which let the user to benefit from all worlds - from a visual perspective, it looks as if you have a signature on every page, but practically there was only one signing operation, there need to be only one verification task, and the file size didn't grow dramatically.

it is true that a digital signature covers the entire document, but as someone who sells digital signature solutions for years, I can tell you that it is easier to provide the customer with what he asks for, rather than convince him he is wrong

[YossiD]

Actually, this was possible up to Acrobat Pro 5. Signature fields could be duplicated on multiple pages just like other kinds of fields. Signing any of the fields would sign them all. I don't know if there actually multiple digital signatures in the document, or if the signature just appeared in multiple places.

In any event, this was a very useful feature when signatures were required on every page, and I wish that Adobe would put it back.

I understand that a digital signature applies to the entire file, but once a document is printed on paper that can't be seen, and only the appearance of a physical signature provides evidence that each page is signed.

Applying one digital signature and then using stamps to give the appearance of signatures on additional pages is certainly a workable workaround, but it's also less convenient.

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

This is a fundamentally wrong this to do. Digital signatures sign the WHOLE DOCUMENT, always, every time. And they have a huge overhead. Trying to sign the document many times will leave you with something that may not work.

This often arises when trying to carry paper-based signature workflows into digital signatures, not realising that you are signing off on the whole thing, by definition (and by law in some places).

For heritage and transition reasons it may be necessary to leave a mark on each page. You can do this with a stamp or similar, and only then do a real signature.

[Ahmet24969201ts3d]

It is fundamentally wrong to say that "This is a fundamentally wrong this to do." when somebody simply wants to put his/her initials on everypage. You cannot limit and state wrong when someone wants to do something with their document. You are supposed to find solutions and create limitations. Sincerely, 

[Ron30664839eww8]

How do you comfirm a page in a printed out hardcopy of a document hasn't been switched with a modified page if not all pages have the certified signature?

[Test Screen Name]

This is EXACTLY why I say it's fundamentally wrong. You (or your users) are looking at the pages to see if they were tampered with. No, really, no! I could take out that signature and add it to a faked page. I'd be surprised if it took as long as a minute! You are wide open to fraud. The way to check digital signatures is to use the Signatures Panel, and make sure the document is still signed, that it's the right signature, and the signature is validated.

[Ron30664839eww8]

"I could take out that signature and add it to a faked page."  That's the point, you can't do that with a hand written signature, or it will be much harder, and more obvious.  

[Test Screen Name]

" you can't do that with a hand written signature, or it will be much harder, and more obvious.  "

No, it won't be harder. No "signature on paper" is worth anything at all (from the point of view of fraud protection) in today's world. This is why digital signatures were invented.

[Ron30664839eww8]

"No "signature on paper" is worth anything at all (from the point of view of fraud protection) in today's world."  Well, it's worth quite a bit in terms of Good Documentation Pratice in pharmaceutical industry (amongst others), and that's the gold standard you're competing against. 

[Ron30664839eww8]

I don't see why it would be so hard for Adobe to be able to apply the signature image, possibly with anti-copy features, with a time and date stamp, to each page before locking the document. 

[Test Screen Name]

There is no such thing as an "anti copy feature" nor can there be. That's just imaginary words. And they don't need to, because digital signatures give all the info that you need.  Unfortunately, digital signatures can also mark the page, which I feel is a terrible error on their part, but too late now...

[Ron30664839eww8]

"There is no such thing as an "anti copy feature""  Currency printers in nations all over the world would disagree. 

[Test Screen Name]

These solutions sound useful. While they might be rivals to Acrobat, probably worth mentioning them.

I counsel people strongly against multiple signatures otherwise, because each one adds a lot of overhead to PDF processing. This becomes quite noticeable by about 10 signatures, and round about 50 it may become impossible to open the file. It's a slippery slope and some workflows could go easily from 2 to 50, even if it requires manual processing and patience.

[אנונימוס]

I wonder what do you think of the following file:

Dropbox - 4pages.new.pdf

it is a 4 page document.

looks as if it has 4 digital signatures - one in each page, while actually there is only 1.

Adobe Reader opens it with no problems, I just wonder if it violates any of the PDF basic rules, and one day it won't be opened by the new Adobe reader versions

[tomy63638720]

Hi, I am looking a solution like this.  Is this sample file 4Pages.new.pdf still downloadable?  I got error while doing direct download.  I don't have the iCloud account and need to direction dowlard to my office PC.  Thank you.

[David Ruana]

Very nice example! Thanks for sharing. Which product/toolkit did you use to create it?

[Richard236063578u7x]

when signing engineering plans-- in addition to a PE Stamp---  signatures are required by law on each plan sheet as well.

[John and Mari26322371t7ai]

I had found the following process efficient for sealing multiple drawings in a set:

1. Create a PDF of your seal with your signature overtop of it. Ideally this should be a vector graphic you export from AutoCAD or Revit (Trace your signature with the spline tool).  Be sure the graphic is to actual scale.
2. In a new PDF file containing your title block go to add Background under the tools / Pages sidebar. 
3. Set your source as the graphic PDF image you created in step 1.  set the absolute scale to 100%
4. Adjust the appearance settings as you prefer for the sheet by rotating the stamp, and uncheck "Scale relative to target page".
5. adjust the position settings so that the seal graphic aligns with your sheet's title block.
6. Click on Save Settings at the top and name the background setting as preferred.
7. click OK and zoom in to verify your seal is appearing correctly.  go back to steps 4 thru 6 as necessary.
8. The graphical seal and signature will appear on all drawings as a background.
9. The final step is to certify the PDF document to lock it down to your preferences.  I use "Certify without visible signature" so that the PDf cannot be unlocked, nor have the seal and signature extracted (even though it is just a easy to screen capture the image all the same).

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

A small point: it is better to apply the stamps, then sign once, since signing then stamping will invalidate the signature.