1 Reply Latest reply: Mar 2, 2012 8:43 AM by Joel_Geraci RSS

    Merge/Combine Two PDFs with Signatures

    RAOmilctr Community Member

      I have distributed a PDF with multiple signature fields and distributed it via email.

       

      I can gather in the responses via adding a file and see the signed blocks on each separate PDF.

       

      What I need to do is to combine the two files into one. When I add the responses, the Tracker says "Your form has been successfully distributed. Responses will be combined into a single file."

       

      What I cannot figure out is how this is accomplished. The signature blocks are on one page (three blocks). I want to have each signature on the same page, just as if the PDF had been handed to each person to sign. When I try to combine the files into a single file, I get warnings that the digital signatures will be removed. This defeats the purpose. When I try to create a PDF portfolio, I get two files displayed; two full complete versions of the 30 page document with a signature from each respondant on a page. Also defeats the purpose.

       

      Right now, the only thing that I can see to do is to ask the respondants to send their signed copy to the next person in line, but this also defeats what I believe the purpose for "distributing" the files is in the first place.

       

      I'm sure that I'm missing something. Any ideas or help out ther to steer me in the right direction, please?

       

      MacOS 10.6.8, All updates, Acrobat Pro X, v10.1.2, recently updated.

       

      Thanks!

      Rich

        • 1. Re: Merge/Combine Two PDFs with Signatures
          Joel_Geraci Community Member

          When a didital signature is created, (signed) Acrobat runs a calculation (checksum) across the whole document so that when you examine the validity of the signature, you can detect if the document has been changed between the time it was signed and when you ar elooking at it. Because of this fact, you are never going to be able to combine multiple signed document into a continuous paged PDF file... only a Portfolio, which actually still treats them as separate files but just puts them in a wrapper.

           

          When the Tracker says "Your form has been successfully distributed. Responses will be combined into a single file." - it means a Portfolio.

           

          J-