Presets: Layout - Signatures

The Signatures presets section allows you to manage the existing default presets or add new ones. Using this option you can apply a signature to a created PDF file even if the original document does not have any signatures or copyright protection. The signature will be applied automatically when the file is converted. All you have to do is to enable and customize it and all the created PDF files will contain the signature applied afterwards. The option can be disabled at any time or a separate Profile containing the option can be created and used when needed.

A digital PDF signature is a code that can be embedded in a portable document (PDF) so that the sender will be uniquely identified. Its main purpose is to attest that the document was indeed created by the individual/organization claiming to be the author. A digital signature contains several encryption techniques to guarantee its security. Digitally signing PDF documents is useful when using it for branding, protecting and copyrighting information in the resulting PDF file. A preset can be used by multiple printing profiles and whenever a preset is updated, it will be modified automatically in all profiles that use it.

Manage presets

New

This will create a new preset based on the default one. You can change its settings and use the Save button to record your changes and create the preset. It is created only after you click on the Save button, if you click on Cancel or select a different preset the current one will be discarded.

Copy

This allows you to duplicate an existing preset. To do so, just select an existing preset and click on Copy. Unlike the New option, when you copy an existing preset the duplicate is automatically saved with a different name (original name of the preset plus the word Copy ). Removing the original preset doesn't affect in any way the existing copy of it.

Delete

Deletes the preset selected from the list of presets. You cannot delete the default presets that are included in the application.

Browse

You can use the left/right arrows in the top-right section of the window to navigate back to the profile manager page or forward to the preset window. You can also access quickly the presets by clicking on the Profile text next to the navigational arrows and selecting the preset section you want to read more about.

Presets List

When the novaPDF is installed, a default set of presets is included for each section that uses presets. These presets have predetermined unchangeable settings that are taken into consideration when creating the PDF files.

However you can create custom presets based on the default ones that when used, will create PDFs using the options you've chosen. In novaPDF there are two types of presets, private and public:

This list shows the presets (both private and public) that were defined. The icon on the right of the preset name shows what type of it is (public or private). You can filter the shown profiles by starting to type in the search field and also use the Public/Private checkboxes to filter them by type.

Default Presets

The default signatures presets are automatically included in the application and available right after installation. These are presets created based on the most used scenarios for this section.

Basic signature

When this preset is used, the resulting PDF will be signed with a sample file certificate. This is meant for test purposes to see how this feature could be used. The layout of the overlay can be modified from the Profile Manager -> Layout section.

Sample

This is a demonstrative sample file certificate that should be used only for test purposes (as the signature won't be valid). The layout of the overlay can be modified from the Profile Manager -> Layout section.

Signatures

Name

You can type a name for the default preset you are editing/creating.

Description

Add a description for the default preset you are creating/editing.

Author

Optionally you can set the author for this default preset.

Private preset

When the novaPDF is installed, a default preset is created. This preset uses its own default printing settings to create the PDF files. However you can change those settings and create a custom preset, that when used, will create PDFs using the options you've chosen. For each newly defined preset you can choose to have it as Private or Public by checking or unchecking the Private checkbox.

Visibility

You can enable or disable in which situations the signature will be shown by checking/unchecking the checkboxes:

You can do combinations of the visibility checkboxes (i.e. showing a watermark only when the PDF is printed, not when is viewed).

Certificate

Use system certificate

You can use an existing system certificate or create a self-signed one:

Use file certificate

If selected you have to use the File name field to point to a certificate stored on your local computer (or in your network). Personal Information Exchange (*.pfx, *.p12) certificates are supported.

File name

Use the Browse button to find and select an existing certificate. This certificate will be used to sign further created PDF files. If the file where the certificate will be used from is password protected, enter it in the user name / password field. If the certificate is password protected, enter the password in the Certificate Password field. To ensure you're using the correct one, verify how it looks in the Preview section.

You can also enter network paths (UNC) in the File Name field in case the file containing the signature you want to use is not on the local computer. Only a full path is allowed. For example, suppose \\PDF_Server\PC1 is mapped on your workstation as drive X, then the following paths are both valid and indicate the same folder: \\PDF_Server\PC1\PDF or X:\PDF. If the network file requires authentication (different from your user login) you have to enter the username/password.

Optionally you can add macro names for the file name that will be generated (i.e. add the conversion date to the file name).

Use timestamp

Digital timestamps can include in a PDF signature the time and date when it was signed. The timestamp will show when the PDF will be opened in the PDF reader, and offers a proof of integrity that the contents of the PDF document existed at a point in time and are unchanged.

For added security, you can include a timestamp from an independent trusted authority to certify the digital signature of your PDF file. You can either type in the URL of the independent timestamp server or click on Predefined to use one of the free timestamp servers we included in the app. Using a timestamp server ensures that the timestamp is precise and secure, since the system clock could be modified by a user.

Right now you can choose one of these Predefined timestamp servers:

NOTE: You can use timestamps only for local file certificates, not server stored ones.

Text options

You can set different properties for the text to be used in the certificate.

Select a font from the list of the TrueType and OpenType fonts installed on your computer (by default Arial is used).

Select the height of the text to be used in the signature if you want to change the default (8px).

Show

Options in this section will let you customize the main details about the PDF signature.

If checked, inserts the Name of the certificate in the details section.

If checked it will display in the signature details about the certificate, such as: name of signer, email address, organization, location,.... Since many of these can be displayed by enabling them in the Show section, using them checked in combination with the Certificate details option will be redundant.

This option will display in the certificate details section the labels for the information it contains. Example:

You can add the current date to the certificate (in the PDF it will add the date/time when the signed PDF was generated).

When checked, it will add in the certificate details the information entered in the Contact info field (you can add any information you consider useful in case the recipient of the digitally signed PDF wants to contact you - i.e. the email address).

If checked, the reason field will become enabled, and you can enter a reason for digitally signing the PDF file, so that the recipient has a better understanding of why this operation was needed. Example of reasons you could use:

When checked, it will add in the certificate details the location entered in the Location info field.

If checked this will show as an enlarged image in the left part of the certificate, the name of the certificate (Common Name). In the Graphic name section you can also select a color for the text and its opacity.

If this is checked you have the option to select an image to be used as a background for the signature. You can check the option Keep aspect ratio to ensure the image won't be disproportionate. When this is checked, options under the Graphic image section will be enabled. Enter a path to the image in the File name field (or use its browse button) as well as the username/password if the image is located on a protected network folder. Optionally you can add macro names for the file name that will be generated (i.e. add the conversion date to the file name).

Preview

In the Preview section you'll see an automatically generated view based on the signature selected.

Note: Some of the features mentioned on this page might not be available in your edition. The Professional edition includes all the features, while Standard and Lite have limited functionality. For a comparison between editions, please check feature matrix topic.