Java

Sign PDF using PAdES-Baseline-B

See more PDF Signatures Examples

PAdES-Baseline-B is the most basic, entry-level profile of the PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures (PAdES) standard.

It means:

• A PDF contains a CMS/PKCS#7 detached signature over the document’s byte range.
• /SubFilter must be ETSI.CAdES.detached.
• The signer’s X.509 certificate is included inside the signature.
• The signature uses recognized secure algorithms (e.g., SHA-256 with RSA/ECDSA).
• It proves document integrity (no changes since signing) and signer authenticity (certificate identifies who signed).
• It does not include time-stamps, revocation data (CRL/OCSP), or long-term validation information — those appear only in higher levels (PAdES-Baseline-T, -LT, -LTA).

In short: Baseline-B = a standard PDF digital signature that ensures integrity and origin, but without time or revocation guarantees.

Chilkat2 Java

import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.Cert;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.ChilkatException;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.JsonObject;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.Pdf;

public class ChilkatExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pdf pdf = new Pdf();

        // Load a PDF to be signed.
        try {
            pdf.loadFile("c:/someDir/my.pdf");
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }

        // Options for signing are specified in JSON.
        JsonObject json = new JsonObject();

        json.updateString("subFilter", "/ETSI.CAdES.detached");
        json.updateBool("signingCertificateV2", true);
        json.updateBool("signingTime", true);
        json.updateString("signingAlgorithm", "pkcs");
        json.updateString("hashAlgorithm", "sha256");

        // -----------------------------------------------------------
        // The following JSON settings define the signature appearance.
        json.updateInt("page", 1);
        json.updateString("appearance.y", "top");
        json.updateString("appearance.x", "left");
        json.updateString("appearance.fontScale", "10.0");
        json.updateString("appearance.text[0]", "Digitally signed by: cert_cn");
        json.updateString("appearance.text[1]", "current_dt");
        json.updateString("appearance.text[2]", "Hello 123 ABC");

        // --------------------------------------------------------------
        // Load the signing certificate. (Use your own certificate.)
        // Note: There are other methods for using a certificate on an HSM (smartcard or token)
        // or from other sources, such as a cloud HSM, a Windows installed certificate,
        // or other file formats.
        Cert cert = new Cert();
        try {
            cert.loadPfxFile("c:/myPfxFiles/myPdfSigningCert.pfx", "pfxPassword");

            // Once we have the certificate object, tell the PDF object to use it for signing
            pdf.setSigningCert(cert);
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }

        // Sign the PDF, creating the output file.
        String outFilePath = "c:/someDir/mySigned.pdf";
        try {
            pdf.signPdf(json, outFilePath);
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }

        System.out.println("Success.");
    }
}