Batch processing for multiple signature fields in a document.

[Jajabings63]

Dear Community,

I would like to create a Java script with documents with several signature fields can be signed by different people in batch mode. To do this, I have developed a script that adds a signature field to a stamp. This also works with multiple stamps. The signature field is given the name of the stamp. Based on this, I have developed the following script, which only sets the selected signature template for the selected signature field. Unfortunately, the script does not work and I have no idea what the problem is. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you!

Javascripts.zip

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jajabings63

To begin, Stamps cannot have dynamic content after placement, and Stamps are in practice, a separate PDF file, so (if this was possible) adding a signature field to the stamp would mean signing an unrelated document in your %appdata% folder, instead of the document you are placing the stamp on.
It sounds like you are meaning to use the existing stamps on your document as a sort of "position guide" for where to place empty signature fields though?

Out of curiosity, why use stamps to mark the signing position, instead of just using the "signature field" tool on the form tab? This somewhat sounds like a method to try and circumvent the requirement of a Plus license for form creation, by allowing users without a license to "mark" positions for later processing by one user who has a license.
For the record, if that was the intent, this is distinctly against our EULA. If the users intent with any change is to make use of a premium feature, they need a license for use of that feature. We do not allow a single user license to act as a "processing point" for a group of individuals unless all users are licensed for the functions they are benefitting from.

Beyond that, JavaScript cannot be used in the Editor for Signing documents at this time. Choosing a template to use is part of the signing process which needs to be done locally, so having that action included in your creation step would be a likely part of why this action is not working. You cannot pre-select a template to use, as the templates available (And their configuration) is dependent on what is available/customized locally to the signer, and what application they are using.

Kind regards,

[Jajabings63]

Dear Tracker Support Team,

I am in no way concerned with circumventing licence conditions. I have licensed the PDF-Xchange-Editor Plus version 10.3.1.
The need to develop a Java script comes from the fact that the batch processing for signing with signature fields in PDF tools does not distinguish which signature field is to be signed, so that the tool does not work for documents that are signed by several people.
I don't understand why the Java script commands I use don't work, as I thought that the API for PDF Exchange was the same as for Adobe.
Greetings JaJaBings

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jajabings63

Digitally signing is a restricted/Security function for JS, which we do not support at this time. With that said, PDF-Tools is smart enough to sign the document properly, provided you choose the correct action:

image.png

It can simply sign the "first-empty field" if multiple are present when performing a signing action. As long as you are placing the empty form fields in the file in the desired order during creation, than signing should go off without issue.
However, if you need people to sign a specific field out of order, you will need to have them manually open the file and sign it with the Editor.

Kind regards,

[Jajabings63]

Dear Dan,

Thank you for your comments. I will try them out.

What information/property determines the order of signing when there are multiple signature fields?

For our use case, which we want to carry out in the same way as the analogue process, the stamp of the respective person is first set by the editors and then the document is signed by the persons responsible.
As the signature is part of the digital signature, it should of course be placed where the stamp is on the document.
This is just background information to help you understand why we need this functionality.

Greetings JajaBings63

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jajabings63

By default, the signing order will be the order the empty fields are added into the file. You can also double check this from the fields panel in the Editor directly. First ensure that "order by pages" is enabled and all fields will be shown in order:

image.png

You can also open the "format" tab while the "select fields" tool is enabled, to toggle "tab numbers" on the page (the little blue numbers you see in the corners of each field:

image(1).png

Kind regards,

[Jajabings63]

Thank you!

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

[Jwam12-Hatch]

Dear Community,

I would like to create a Java script with documents with several signature fields can be signed by different people in batch mode. To do this, I have developed a script that adds a signature field to a stamp. This also works with multiple stamps. The signature field is given the name of the stamp. Based on this, I have developed the following script, which only sets the selected signature template for the selected signature field. Unfortunately, the script does not work and I have no idea what the problem is. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you!
Javascripts.zip

----------------

I see this is an old post but woundering if you ever found a solution. We are looking to do a similar thing.

FYI Notarius Consigo does allow users to select a specific field and batch sign but I am hoping to find a solution for PDF Exchange

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jwam12-Hatch

JS is not intended to be utilized for digital signing, and to my knowledge is intentionally blocked as a security feature.

With that said, the Editor is not intended as a batch processing application in any case, and should not be used for this purpose, when we already offer batch procssing and signature placement capabilities, in the PDF-Tools batch processing application.

If you need to place multiple signatures at once, or repeatedly place one or more signatures in a group of files, PDF-Tools is the application you should be using to do so. (Note that PDF-Tools is included in a PDF-XChange PRO license, if you have one)
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/product/pdf-tools

Kind regards,

[Jwam12-Hatch]

Hello, Jwam12-Hatch

JS is not intended to be utilized for digital signing, and to my knowledge is intentionally blocked as a security feature.

With that said, the Editor is not intended as a batch processing application in any case, and should not be used for this purpose, when we already offer batch procssing and signature placement capabilities, in the PDF-Tools batch processing application.

If you need to place multiple signatures at once, or repeatedly place one or more signatures in a group of files, PDF-Tools is the application you should be using to do so. (Note that PDF-Tools is included in a PDF-XChange PRO license, if you have one)
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/product/pdf-tools

Kind regards,

Hi Daniel,
I have tried using PDF-Tools to batch sign PDFs, but the functionality is currently very limited because it does not allow the user to select a specific signature field.

We need an option that allows each user to choose the correct predefined field they are responsible for signing. Examples of these fields include Designer, Checker, Responsible Engineer, and Project Manager.

With the current batch-signing process, users can batch sign documents, but there is no option to select the correct field. This makes the feature unusable for our workflow. My understanding is that the tool may sign fields in alphabetical order, but that is not a practical or reliable approach for us.
A simple enhancement, such as a drop-down list populated from the signature fields found in the PDF, would make this a much more powerful and useful tool. The user could then select the specific field they are authorized to sign before executing the batch-signing operation.
ConsignO already provides this capability, but our goal is to consolidate our PDF processing and digital signing activities within PDF-XChange rather than maintaining multiple solutions.
Is this functionality currently available, planned for a future release, or something that could be considered as an enhancement request?

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jwam12-Hatch

I see, thank you for the details of your process and needs. This is useful, and I have raised the topic with our Dev team for review. I cannot promise anything as of yet, but if they accept the proposal, I will be back here to notify you of a ticket created to see if we can implement this.

Kind regards,