Digitally sign secured PDF

[Oto1549]

Unable to digitally sign secured PDF with certificate.

Under permmisions it shows that signing is allowed but sign using certificate is greyed out.

https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s8430/Appendix 

[Bernd Alheit]

The document doesn't have a signature field. At Signature you can enter your name.

[Oto1549]

I mean digital invisible signature not electronic representation of physical handwritten signature of no use.

You can read about differences between signatures here.

[Bernd Alheit]

This setting allows the signing of signature fields.

[Oto5F93]

And where it shows reason why it doesn't allow to digitally sign? Seems like bug.

[Bernd Alheit]

Because the document has no signature field.

[Oto1549]

Do you have any understanding how digital signatures work? It has nothing to do with having or not having a signature field.

[try67]

It does, actually. In order to sign the form with a hidden certificate you must be able to modify the file's contents, which the security policy doesn't allow for, despite it allowing for signing in general. In this case "signing" only means signing using existing digital signature fields, but there are none in this file, so you can't sign it. You can only fill in your name into the text fields it contains. If you think that's not how it should work then report this issue to the authors of the form.

[try67]

PS. Do not insult others if you want to get any help around here. The people who post here are experts in this field and usually know what they're talking about, although anyone can make a mistake, of course.

For example, the link you provided above has nothing to do with this issue, as it refers to Adobe Sign signatures, which are very different to signature fields and certificates.

[Oto1549]

For example, the link I provided above clearly explains 3 types of signatures:

1. Electronic signatures
2. Advanced Electronic Signatures (AdES)
3. Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)

What it fails to mention is how to verify which can be used and why signing options are greyed out. There is no requirement to have signature field. 

[magical_Lily5DEA]

I'm having the same issue! I need to digitally sign a form for a visa application which is a secure document, and it says I should be able to sign it but when I go to sign it the option is greyed out. Is this an adobe issue or an issue with the document security settings? Can someone help me?! 

[Bernd Alheit]

You can sign the document when it has a signature field.

[Test Screen Name]

Don't use Fill & Sign if the form was already fillable. Yes, I know, it's weird. Just start filling it.

[magical_Lily5DEA]

How do I not use fill & sign? It automatically opens in adobe acrobat in the fill & sign section

[magical_Lily5DEA]

I don't understand, there is a signature field isn't there? Do you mean because theres no blue shaded box next to where it says 'signature' there is no signature field in this particular document?

[Test Screen Name]

Is this passport form public? Please share the URL (web page address) where we can find it to try it out.

[magical_Lily5DEA]

I'm not sure if it's accessable to anyone, but here is the URL

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5707e.pdf

[Bernd Alheit]

You can print the filled form and sign the printout.

[Bernd Alheit]

A signature field looks like this:

[Oto1549]

Adobe have made signing in most confusing way possible. You need to try certificate option also. Try to fill all fields before trying to sign.

In case nothing works what I done is remove the secure lock and then you can sign as you like it. The secured option renders the purpose of locking document revision for signing unuseful it is not possible to sign it afterwards.

BTW where did you find the Document Extensions tab?

[Oto1549]

Oh look. Another Secured document but it is possible to sign and to "certificate" it without issues. So it is not required to have signature field as it can be drawn.

[try67]

Because this file has the Commenting and Changing the Document set to Allowed, while your original file did not.

[Oto1549]

Why Adobe can't make it more clear? Where can I report such issue?

So is it possible to create secured document which can be digitally signed with certificate?