(PowerBuilder) 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.

Chilkat ActiveX Downloads ActiveX for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows

integer li_rc
integer li_Success
oleobject loo_Pdf
oleobject loo_Json
oleobject loo_Cert
string ls_OutFilePath

li_Success = 0

loo_Pdf = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Pdf.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.Pdf")
if li_rc < 0 then
    destroy loo_Pdf
    MessageBox("Error","Connecting to COM object failed")
    return
end if

// Load a PDF to be signed.
li_Success = loo_Pdf.LoadFile("c:/someDir/my.pdf")
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    return
end if

// Options for signing are specified in JSON.
loo_Json = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Json.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")

loo_Json.UpdateString("subFilter","/ETSI.CAdES.detached")
loo_Json.UpdateBool("signingCertificateV2",1)
loo_Json.UpdateBool("signingTime",1)
loo_Json.UpdateString("signingAlgorithm","pkcs")
loo_Json.UpdateString("hashAlgorithm","sha256")

// -----------------------------------------------------------
// The following JSON settings define the signature appearance.
loo_Json.UpdateInt("page",1)
loo_Json.UpdateString("appearance.y","top")
loo_Json.UpdateString("appearance.x","left")
loo_Json.UpdateString("appearance.fontScale","10.0")
loo_Json.UpdateString("appearance.text[0]","Digitally signed by: cert_cn")
loo_Json.UpdateString("appearance.text[1]","current_dt")
loo_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.
loo_Cert = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Cert.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.Cert")

li_Success = loo_Cert.LoadPfxFile("c:/myPfxFiles/myPdfSigningCert.pfx","pfxPassword")
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Cert.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    destroy loo_Json
    destroy loo_Cert
    return
end if

// Once we have the certificate object, tell the PDF object to use it for signing
li_Success = loo_Pdf.SetSigningCert(loo_Cert)
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    destroy loo_Json
    destroy loo_Cert
    return
end if

// Sign the PDF, creating the output file.
ls_OutFilePath = "c:/someDir/mySigned.pdf"
li_Success = loo_Pdf.SignPdf(loo_Json,ls_OutFilePath)
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    destroy loo_Json
    destroy loo_Cert
    return
end if

Write-Debug "Success."


destroy loo_Pdf
destroy loo_Json
destroy loo_Cert