Adobe Community: How do I prevent the use of a digital signature?

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Aug 11, 2002

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1. George Johnson,

Jul 19, 2012 10:44 AM in reply to EdwardsMike

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I believe the problem (prompting to use digital signature) is with the new EchoSign capabilities. I'm not sure how you'd prevent that but still allow Reader users to fill-in and save the form...

You can prevent the other type of digital signature (form field) in Reader by enabling the form with Acrobat Standard, as opposed to Pro. Standard does not include the digital signature usage right when it enables a form. Unfortunately, this would mean an additional expense.

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2. brogers_1,

Jul 19, 2012 11:22 AM in reply to EdwardsMike

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There isn't enough detail in the post to properly respond (such as version, what kind of "prompt", etc.), but here are some tips:

EchoSign features can be disabled via a registry pref if the users are all in your organization.
DigSigs that rely on certificates are not allowed by default for Reader: Acrobat users must extend usage rights to the doc.
Don't add a signature field to the document.
If you can't avoid adding a signature field, use the field properties to lock it.

Ben

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3. George Johnson,

Jul 19, 2012 12:10 PM in reply to brogers_1

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brogers_1 wrote:

DigSigs that rely on certificates are not allowed by default for Reader: Acrobat users must extend usage rights to the doc.
Don't add a signature field to the document.
If you can't avoid adding a signature field, use the field properties to lock it.

The problem is Reader users can add a digital signature even of the creator of the form did not add a signature field, as long as the digital signature usage right is present. There's no way to remove it (that I'm aware of) when the document is enabled with Acrobat Pro.

Do you know what the registry entry is to disable EchoSign?

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4. EdwardsMike,

Jul 19, 2012 12:14 PM in reply to brogers_1

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@George Johnson:

I tried to edit and save the form from within Acrobat Standard X, but it didn't seem to make any difference.

@brogers_1:

I am not familiar with EchoSign, but since the end-users are not part of my organization, nor my customer's, I won't have access to their registry settings.
I don't want DigSigs at all.
There is no signature field in the document--unless it is somehow hidden.

When a user either left- or right-clicks any form field (in Reader X at least), a window pops up titled "Form Can Be Filled and Signed Electronically" with a note to click "Sign" etc.:

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5. George Johnson,

Jul 19, 2012 1:30 PM in reply to George Johnson

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George Johnson wrote:

Do you know what the registry entry is to disable EchoSign?

Nevermind, I found it.

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6. George Johnson,

Jul 19, 2012 1:34 PM in reply to EdwardsMike

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Mike,

That is EchoSign related. I'm not sure if that's avoidable apart from the registry setting. Although using Standard won't help with the specific problem you're asking about, it will prevent the users from using the other method of signing.

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7. brogers_1,

Jul 19, 2012 1:34 PM in reply to EdwardsMike

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With 10.1.3 and a doc that's right's-enabled using the bottom option in the menu (allow additional. . . ), I see this in Reader:

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8. EdwardsMike,

Jul 19, 2012 1:36 PM in reply to brogers_1

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Right. It won't allow you to sign OR fill in the form. It's looking like there is no way around it.

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9. brogers_1,

Jul 19, 2012 1:40 PM in reply to EdwardsMike

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Despite what the dialog says, I can fill out and save this form.

Try it.

Ben

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10. EdwardsMike,

Jul 19, 2012 1:43 PM in reply to brogers_1

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I thought I had. In which Acrobat version did you create and save the form? And exactly which security settings did you use?

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11. brogers_1,

Jul 19, 2012 1:46 PM in reply to EdwardsMike

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10.1.3

Save As > Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features

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12. EdwardsMike,

Jul 19, 2012 2:03 PM in reply to brogers_1

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Acrobat Standard or Pro?

EDIT: Maybe it doesn't matter. I Enabled from 10.1.3 Standard and Huzzah! No nagging Signature prompts in Reader.

Thanks!

Mike

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13. EdwardsMike,

Jul 19, 2012 2:14 PM in reply to brogers_1

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One last thing, is saving as a Reader Extended PDF new to the 10 series, or should our designer who is running 9, be able to do this as well? (I couldn't find it in his menu options.)

EDIT:

Nevermind! I RTFM'd and discovered how to do it in 9. http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/9.0/Standard/WS58a04a822e3e50102bd 615109794195ff-7e0d.w.html

Thanks again, everybody!

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14. George Johnson,

Jul 19, 2012 2:18 PM in reply to EdwardsMike

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In Acrobat 9 it's under: Advanced > Extend Features in Adobe Reader

You can use either Standard or Pro, but it really should be the client who does this with their own licensed copy. The Acrobat License Agreement doesn't allow you to Reader-enable documents for others. You can create an unenabled form for them though.

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15. EdwardsMike,

Jul 19, 2012 2:33 PM in reply to George Johnson

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Thanks for the licensing info. I will discuss it with our crew and have our rep talk to our client.

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Security & Electronic Signatures

How do I prevent the use of a digital signature?

Jul 19, 2012 10:26 AM

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