In Adobe 2017, when digitally signing the document is always locked, regardless of whether the "Lock document" box is checked. I've gone through all the security settings and can't figure out what's causing this.
In previous versions, you could edit and verify your signature afterwards. In 2017, I receive a message stating "This document has been signed and can not be edited." What's stranger is that when this error message pops up, a revision is noted on the signature, and it requires verification. This behavior makes me think I'm missing something that is keeping the PDF locked, when "Lock document is unchecked."
If I understood your workflow correctly, you are applying "Digital Signature" to a PDF document and not selecting "Lock this document" to keep it unlocked for further editing?
Once document is Signed it can not be edited. Signing is the final process, which keeps a document secure. After adding signature, document gets locked and can not be modified further.
Note: selecting "Lock this document" would lock all the further changes (edit,comment etc) to the document. However, unchecking it wouldn't let commenting restricted. In both the cases "Edit" feature would be restricted.
Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately, this also seems to prevent the document from being countersigned if someone hasn't already created signature fields which seems like a serious oversight.
I am now forced to print as PDF every time we get one of these from a vendor in order to sign it, bypassing the entire point of having an adobe signature.
/t5/acrobat-discussions/unchecked-quot-lock-document-after-signing-quot-still-locked/m-p/12722540#M348518Feb 01, 2022
Feb 01, 2022
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We are also experiencing this issue. Eventhough I have two signature lines and need the document signed by one person first and then go to a second person to sign, the second person cannot sign it since the document gets "locked" by the first signator. This is happening on a web form for us. I have not discovered how to forward a PDF for the second signature. VERY frustrating.
There is no checkbox when the first person signs. It is a webform, so maybe that makes a difference and why there is no option to check the box. I may have discovered a workaround though. I set myself up as a delegate on the web form, so I then get an email to sign the document in the second spot. I can then re-delegate that by entering the email of the person to apply the second signature. I have not found this solution anywhere in the community, but will test this more.
I highly recommend saving the document to your desktop to complete your step. Opening the document from your desktop will allow you to place your signature without locking the document. We have seen issues with opening the document in a Web Browser then the system locking the form, not allowing the next person to sign.
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