Plug-in configuration

The signotec Adobe Acrobat plug-in is highly customizable. The following sections explain how to perform the configuration via the UI or via a configuration file and what configurations and options are available.

Configuration UI

All of the plug-in’s settings can be configured easily from the graphic configuration interface.

The configuration UI can be started in Adobe Acrobat from “Files → Plug-ins → signotec Acrobat plug-in configuration,” Alternatively, the application for configuration can be started by means of “PDFPluginCfg.exe” in the installation directory (standard: %PROGRAMFILES%\signotec\Adobe PlugIn\Configuration).

When the graphic interface is called for the first time, the file “stsignpdf.ini” is copied to “%APPDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plugin”. All changes are saved in the file in the %APPDATA% directory and are therefore user-specific. If the user has administrator rights, the changes are also saved in the main file in the %PROGRAMDATA% directory.

When the plug-in is installed, it can be configured that changes to the settings are fundamentally only possible with administrator rights.

Configuring the file manually

Fully manual configuration of the signotec Adobe Acrobat plug-in is possible by means of the file “stsignpdf.ini”. The configuration file is installed in “%PROGRAMDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plug-In” and when the graphic interface is called for the first time, it is copied to %APPDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plug-In and loaded from there. This means that the settings are user-specific.

When the plug-in is installed, it can be configured that changes to the settings are fundamentally only possible with administrator rights.

Settings

Option	Description
ShowUserName / Name	Specifies whether the text entered in the input field “Name” during the signing process will also be displayed in the signature field. 0 = no display in the signature field 1 = name displayed in the signature field Default value: 1 \| Fallback: 0
DefaultUsername / default name	Specifies the text displayed as the default entry in the “Name” input field during the signing process. The plug-in saves the last 20 entries and makes them available in a drop-down list. The values are saved in the registry under the following key: HKCU\SOFTWARE\signotec\PDFPlugin\Usernames\stsignpdf\NameItems. This information is displayed in the signature field if “ShowUserName=1” or the setting “Name” has been set to “Display name in the signature field”. The name is only added to the certificate and the signature overview if a temporary certificate is used under “SigningMode”. Otherwise the name (“cn” entry) of the certificate is used. This is intended by the PDF standard and cannot be changed. Default value: empty
UsernameRequired / mandatory field	Specifies whether a entering a name during the signing process should be mandatory. 0 = disabled: Entry is optional (not a mandatory field). 1 = enabled: The field is a mandatory field. Default value: 0 \| Fallback: 0
ShowReason / reason	Specifies whether the text entered in the input field “Reason” during the signing process will also be displayed in the signature field. 0 = no display in the signature field 1 = reason displayed in the signature field Default value: 0 \| Fallback: 0
DefaultReason / default reason	Specifies the text displayed as the default entry in the “Reason” input field during the signing process. The parameters “ReasonItem0” to “ReasonItem4” (or the “+” button in the UI) can be used to add up to five different additional reasons which can be selected during the signing process. Default value: empty
ShowTimestamp / timestamp	Specifies whether a timestamp is displayed in the signature field. 0 = no display in the signature field 1 = timestamp displayed in the signature field Default value: 1 \| Fallback: 0
LockFormfieldsAfterSigning / lock form fields	Specifies which form fields are locked after a signature has been captured. 0 = as defined in the document: locks all fields that are to be locked in accordance with the signature field’s “Lock Dictionary”. 1 = All: Locks all the document’s form fields. 2 = filled out or as defined in the document: locks all form fields that are to be locked in accordance with the signature field’s “Lock Dictionary” and all form fields that have been filled out. Default value: 2 \| Fallback: 2
SigningMode / signature mode	Specifies which certificate is used for the digital signature. 0 = temporary certificate: the plug-in creates a temporary certificate and then deletes it. 1 = certificate from signature pad: the signature pad’s certificate is used. If no signature pad can be used, signing is not possible. 2 = certificate from signature pad if possible, otherwise temporary: the signature pad’s certificate is used. If not signature pad can be used, the plug-in creates a temporary certificate. 3 = certificate from digital ID: a digital ID is used. The digital ID is selected in the setting “Digital ID” / the parameter “DefaultDigitalID”. You can create your own certificate by selecting “Create new digital ID” from the UI. The certificate is created in the Windows certificate store (certmgr.msc) under “Own certificates” and saved automatically under “DefaultDigitalID” in the plug-in. Default value: 2 \| Fallback: 0
DefaultDigitalID / digital ID	Specifies which digital ID is used for signing if SigningMode=3 or signature mode “Certificate as digital ID” is configured.
BioEncryptionMode / biometrics mode	Specifies which certificate is used for encrypting the biometric date of the signature. 0 = do not save biometric data: no biometric data is saved in the document. 1 = encryption always in PC: the standard certificate “signotec_GmbH_Biometric_Encryption.cer” is used from the installation directory (standard: %PROGRAMDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plugin). 2 = encryption in the signature pad: the signature pad’s certificate is used. If no signature pad can be used, signing is not possible. 3 = encryption in the signature pad if possible, otherwise in the PC: the signature pad’s certificate is used. If no signature pad is used, the standard certificate is used. 4 = encryption with digital ID: a digital ID is used. The digital ID is selected in the setting “Digital ID” / the parameter “BiometricEncryptionKeystoreID”. You can create your own certificate by selecting “Create new digital ID” from the UI. The certificate is created in the Windows certificate store (certmgr.msc) under “Own certificates” and saved automatically under “BiometricEncryptionKeystoreID” in the plug-in. As standard, the plug-in contains a public key certificate for the encryption of the biometric data with the private key stored at a notary’s office. Even signotec, as the vendor, does not have access to this private key, so that only the notary is able to decrypt signatures. Default value: 3 \| Fallback: 1
BiometricEncryptionKeystoreID / digital ID	Specifies which digital ID is used for encryption if BioEncryptionMode=4 or biometric data mode “Encryption with digital ID” is configured.
ShowAGB / mode	Specifies whether a confirmation text is displayed on the signature pad before signing. 0 = do not display a confirmation text on the signature pad 1 = display a confirmation text on the signature pad If a signotec Sigma Lite is used with firmware older than 2.4, the confirmation text must be deactivated. Default value: 1 \| Fallback: 1
AGBTextHead / header (optional)	Defines the header of the confirmation text. Default value: “Note”
XFADataFieldX / X.XFA field (optional)	The parameters XFADataField1-4 are used to specify whether content from the XFA form fields within the document are displayed in the confirmation text. The assignment is made via the name of the form field. If “ShowAGB=0” or the selection “Do not display confirmation text on the signature pad” is defined, this option is ignored. Default value: empty
AGBTextTail / text (optional)	Specifies whether confirmation text should be displayed. If “ShowAGB=0” or the selection “Do not display confirmation text on the signature pad” is defined, this option is ignored. Default value: “As part of the signature capture process, dynamic characteristics such as pressure and writing speed are processed. The secure storage of these biometric data in the document is done in order to later prove that the document has been signed by you.”
TabletPCPenForced / tablet PC: Signature with pen input only	Specifies whether the signature can be captured exclusively with an electronic pen (digitizer) when Windows tablet PCs or pen displays are used. 0 = disabled: On Windows tablet PCs and pen displays, the signature can be provided by pen or by touch or mouse input. 1 = enabled: On Windows tablet PCs and pen displays, the signature can be provided exclusively with the electronic pen. Default value: 0 \| Fallback: 0
TextSpaceInPercent / size of text in signature field in percent	Defines the size of the additional information (name, reason and timestamp) within the signature field. The value entered defines in percent (1–100) the height within the signature field that is used for the additional information. Default value: 30
Logging / create error log file	Specifies whether an error log file should be created. The log files are stored with the file name “STSignPDF-{Datum}.txt” in the %USERPROFILE% directory. 0 = disabled: No error log is created. 1 = enabled: An error log is created. Default value: 0 \| Fallback: 0
PenSignatureColor / signature color	Determines the color of the signature. 0 = blue 1 = black 2 = red 3 = green Default value: 0 \| Fallback: 0
USERNAME_FROM_SIGNATUREFIELDS	This parameter can be used to specify a value for each signature field that is automatically used in the “Name” input field during the signing process. This setting can only be configured via the technical configuration file. The assignment is made via the technical name of the signature field. (“TU” entry), not the display name (“QuickInfo”). Default value: Inactive

Reset settings

To reset the settings to default, the following steps must be taken:

Delete “stsignpdf.ini” under “%PROGRAMDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plug-In”
Delete “stsignpdf.ini” under “%APPDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plug-In”
Copy backup of “stsignpdf.ini” from the installation directory (standard: %PROGRAMFILES%\signotec\Adobe PlugIn\Documentation) to “%PROGRAMDATA%\signotec\Adobe Plug-In”