Signing a Document

You can sign PDF files only when those files are assigned usage rights with the Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions software. Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions is a server-based utility that allows organizations to extend the functionality of PDF documents within Adobe Reader. Among the usage rights that can be applied to PDF files is the ability to digitally sign PDF documents and save form data from within Adobe Reader.

NOTE

To learn more about Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions, visit www.adobe.com/products/server/readerextensions/main.html.

Use the REeSupportForm.pdf document you can download from www.peachpit.com/adobereader7 for all steps in this chapter. This PDF document is provided courtesy of Adobe Systems and was prepared using Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions. Many thanks to Charles Myers and Lori DeFurio of Adobe Systems for adding usage rights to this document.

To digitally sign a PDF file:

1.	Open the REeSupportForm.pdf file you downloaded.
2.	Notice that the Sign tool is available in the Adobe Reader Toolbar Well (Figure 17.17). Figure 17.17. PDF documents enabled with usage rights provide a tool and menu commands for signing documents.
3.	Select Document > Digital Signatures > Sign this Document. Note: If you don't see this submenu, the document you're working with doesn't have the usage rights for adding a digital signature.
4.	You will receive a warning dialog if the document is not certified. Click OK. A second dialog informs you that Reader has scrolled to the digital signature field on the form and highlighted the field for you. Move the cursor and click the signature field. A dialog informs you that you are about to sign a document. Click OK to dismiss the dialog. The next dialog appearing is the Apply Digital Signature dialog (Figure 17.18). Figure 17.18. Click the cursor in a digital signature field to open the Apply Digital Signature dialog box.
5.	Select your Digital ID in the Apply Digital Signature dialog and click OK. The Apply Signature to Document dialog opens (Figure 17.19). Figure 17.19. After selecting your ID and clicking OK in the Apply Digital Signature dialog, the Apply Signature to Document dialog opens.
6.	Click Show Options in the Apply Digital Signature dialog. The dialog expands to reveal more options and the button name changes to Hide Options.
7.	Type your password in the Confirm Password text box.
8.	Open the Reason for Signing Document pull-down menu. Make a selection that describes why you are signing the document.
9.	From the Signature Appearance pull-down menu, select an appearance option you configured in the Security preferences. All the appearances you create appear in the pull-down menu.
10.	Click Sign and Save As. This saves a copy of the file without overwriting the original.