How to Add Multiple Certification Signatures in Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017
Question details
The user wants to find out how to allow multiple people to add digital certification signatures to a single PDF document in Acrobat Pro 2017 without restricting subsequent signers.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Routing a secure PDF document to multiple stakeholders who all need to digitally sign the file without invalidating prior signatures.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat Pro 2017 restricts later changes and prevents multiple people from applying certification signatures once the first certification is placed.
Before applying the very first signature, check the document's security settings to ensure you are not locking the file. You will need to explicitly configure the certification settings to permit further digital signatures.
Setup an Approval-Signature Workflow by Adjusting Permissions
Modify the initial certification settings to permit form fill-in and digital signatures so subsequent users can add their approval signatures without locking the document.
A PDF document can technically only hold one true 'Certification' signature, which dictates the security settings for the entire file. If multiple people need to sign, the first person applies the Certification signature and must set permissions to allow subsequent signers to apply 'Approval' signatures.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 and open the PDF file you intend to route for signatures.
Navigate to the 'Certificates' tool from the right pane. Select 'Certify (Visible Signature)' or 'Certify (Invisible Signature)' from the top toolbar.
Draw your signature box. When the 'Save as Certified Document' or 'Sign Document' dialog box appears, locate the drop-down menu labeled 'Permitted Actions After Certifying'.
Change the dropdown selection to 'Form fill-in and digital signatures'. This critical step ensures that subsequent signers are not blocked from signing the document.
Enter your digital ID password, sign, and save the document. You can now send the PDF to the next stakeholders, who will be able to apply their approval signatures normally.
Pre-Place Multiple Digital Signature Fields
Use the Prepare Form tool to create placeholders for every required signature before initiating the certification workflow.
Add and Manage PDF Signatures Easily in WPS Office
If setting up multi-signature workflows feels too restrictive or complex in your current software, WPS Office provides an intuitive, lightweight solution. With WPS PDF, you can easily insert, manage, and verify digital signatures across all your documents securely.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Access the Protect tab: Navigate to the 'Protect' or 'Fill & Sign' tab on the top ribbon menu to access signing options.
- 3. Create or import signature: Click on 'Sign' to securely import your digital certificate or draw a new signature.
- 4. Apply signature to document: Place your signature anywhere on the document. You can add multiple signatures effortlessly without locking the file unnecessarily.
- 5. Save and share securely: Save your newly signed document. It is now ready to be forwarded to other team members for additional signatures if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a certification signature and an approval signature in a PDF?
A certification signature is placed by the document creator to attest to the document's contents and specify what types of changes are allowed. An approval signature is placed by subsequent reviewers to signify their consent or approval, without altering the document's underlying certification permissions.
Why does my PDF lock completely after adding the first digital signature?
The document locks because the first signer restricted all changes during the certification process. To prevent this, the certifier must change the 'Permitted Actions After Certifying' setting to allow 'Form fill-in and digital signatures' before finalizing their signature.
Can a single PDF document have multiple certification signatures?
No. By design, a PDF file can only contain one true certification signature. If multiple people need to sign the document, the first person certifies it, and all subsequent people must use standard approval signatures.
How do I verify if multiple digital signatures in a PDF are valid?
You can open the 'Signatures' panel on the left side of your PDF viewer. This panel lists all applied signatures in chronological order and will explicitly indicate whether any unauthorized modifications have invalidated them.
