Cannot clear digital signature

[hunt telecommunications, llc]

Ver. 5.5

I have a form which I have signed using the Place Signature function. The signature is just a graphic, no text (a scan of my signature) and I am using a Certificate file that I created in PDF-XChange Editor.

Despite the fact that I created the signature, I cannot Clear it - the function is greyed out on the toolbar. While it is not greyed out on the menu, or in the sidebar, when I select it the signatures will not clear even though I get the warning that it is a "permanent" change.

[Patrick-Tracker Supp]

Hello hunt telecommunications, llc,

Thank you for the post. Could you please send us the document you are seeing this issue with?

If you are not comfortable posting it to this public forum, please send it to support@pdf-xchange.com with a link back to this thread.

Thank you!

[hunt telecommunications, llc]

Done.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Billy,

I am afraid that we still haven't seen the e-mail, so can you please try to resend that?

Thanks,
Stefan

[hunt telecommunications, llc]

E-Mail re-sent.

Thanks!

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Thanks Billy,

We got the file and I've passed it to our devs for investigation.
It seems like your file has other form fields (apart from the ones where the signatures are), and we do not currently allow such files to be modified (to prevent breaking the form), so maybe the same thing is affecting the signatures clearing tool. I just need to get a confirmation from the devs on that.

We are working on a forms creation/manipulation tool, and once that is available, we should make such files like yours editable again, and then removing signatures will also work. But for the moment I can not think of any workaround solution.

Regards,
Stefan

[hunt telecommunications, llc]

I just created a new blank document, signed it in the same manner, and I have the exact same issues - the signature cannot be cleared.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Billy,

I had a conversation last night with the Editor Project leader, and he told me that in fact your file can not be cleared of it's signatures in neither the Editor nor Adobe's Acrobat, so it seems like there is some general issue with that file and not with the "Clear Signatures" feature we offer.

We've made it available and are trying to offer the same functionality as Adobe, but the feature might still need further improvements.
For the moment the entry in the main menu is always active (even if the signature can not be removed), but if you right click the signature - the entry in the context menu will be correctly inactive as this signature can not be removed.

Regards,
Stefan

[hunt telecommunications, llc]

I don't completely understand your answer, given that I set up a New File (a blank page), signed it in the same manner as I did the form, and then could not Clear the signature.

Your answer implies that there is some issue with the form I signed, which I can live with.

But it does not explain why I cannot clear the signature from the new file that is nothing more than a blank page with a digital signature.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Billy,

I managed to reproduce that behaviour as well - so will need to check back with our devs and get back to you after that.

Regards,
Stefan

[claude vidal]

Just purchased Pro 5.5 (build 316.1) and am having the same issue as initial poster. I'm a bit concerned that it's been 4 months without an answer.

If I'm the author of a document (not sure how I can attest to that within PDFXchange editor), I should be able to clear my own digital signatures.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi guys,

Thanks for waiting - here's what we've heard back:

Digital signature can be cleared only by the owner of the certificate that was used to create the signature. If the certificate was created in the Windows Certificate Store, our application can track the availability of this certificate, and the signature signed with this certificate can be cleared.

If the certificate was created as file on disk, our application is unable to track it, thereby signatures created with file certificates can not be cleared. The feature that allows for the tracking of file certificates is already in our to-do list and will be implemented as soon as possible.

Were these certificates created as a file on the disk, rather than within the Windows Cert. Store? If so, that is why they cannot be cleared, for now.

Thanks,

[claude vidal]

Thanks for the explanation. I am using local certificates. so that explains it. I'll be waiting then for the next release.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi Claude,

No worries, glad to help! I cannot guarantee implementation in the next release at this time, as the Dev. Team have no definite implementation date, but it will be implemented at the earliest opportunity.

Cheers,

[tschlicht]

Hello,
Has the ability to clear a digital signature that was created as file on disk been added to PDF-XChange Editor? I see the option but it's grayed out.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello tschlicht,
To be able to remove signatures, the corresponding certificate with a private key must be available in system storage. Otherwise a signature cannot be removed from a document.

I hope this helps!

[tschlicht]

Yes it did help. I got it working. However, the signature field remains there after cleaing the signature with a red signature arrow (The signature field is unassigned). Is there any way to get rid of that?

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

You should be able to remove the field by using the Select fields tool, under the Form tab.
Simply select the field with that tool, and press delete.

[highlander's]

Hi!

I can not delete the signature field: after pressing the Delete button the usual error sound is heard.

signature field.png

Win 10 (64b), Pdf-Xchange Editor portable (64b also; last ver.).

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello highlander's,

Please check the file's security properties whether such operation is allowed:

image.png

Regards.

[highlander's]

Hi!

No security, as per Your screenshot.
As far I remember, last time I had to remove signature/form field, about 1,5-2 years ago - it worked then flawlessly.

Regards

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, highlander's

Sorry for the confusion, I just wanted to note that, the "signature" pane would not be the location to look for removing the field. If you need to delete a field, you either need to open the fields pane (Ctrl+i) or click on the offending field directly in the document and then push delete.

The signature pane only offers the option to remove a signature from a signed field, but it is intended to leave the field in place so others can sign it later.

Kind regards,

[highlander's]

Hi!

And thanks! It's working.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]