Advanced Sequential Signing Rules for the Form Developer

Set Signing Order

By default, the signing order of a document during the sequential signing process is that of the tabbing order of the PDF document.  The signing order can be changed through a custom tabbing order.  To set this custom tabbing order, create a hidden text field for each of the signatures with the following settings:

• Name of text field:  [signature field name]_tab
• Text field properties, General tab, Common Properties, Form Field:  Hidden.
• Text field properties, Options tab, Default Value:  Number (in sequence of signing order)

For example, a PDF contains three signature fields with the following names:  Sig1, Sig2 and Sig3.  The tabbing order is set in the following order:  Sig1, Sig2, then Sig3.  To set the custom tabbing order to Sig2, Sig3, then Sig1,

1. Create a text field with name, Sig2_tab
   • Set the field to be Hidden
   • Enter 1 as the Default Value
2. Create a second text field with name, Sig3_tab
   • Set the field to be Hidden
   • Enter 2 as the Default Value

Note

• These fields can also be programmatically set through JavaScript^®.
• Field names are case-sensitive.
• Signature fields without a corresponding hidden text field will be ignored during the sequential signing process as long as there is at least one corresponding text field for a signature.

Bypass Signatures

To bypass specific signatures during the sequential signing process, create a Checkbox for each signature to be bypassed with the following settings:

• Name of Checkbox:  [signature field name]_bypass
• Checkbox properties, General tab, Common Properties, Form Field:  Hidden. 
• Checkbox properties, Options tab, Export Value:  Yes
• Checkbox properties, Options tab, Check box is checked by default

For example, to bypass a signature field with name, Sig1:

• Create a Checkbox named Sig1_bypass
• Set the checkbox to be Hidden
• Set the Export Value to Yes
• Select the box to make the Check box checked by default

These fields can also be programmatically set through JavaScript.  Note that field names are case-sensitive. 

Packages

To begin sequential signing for a package, you must be viewing the cover page.  Otherwise, only the currently viewed page is signed.  By default, sequential signing will sign documents in a package by the document name in ASCII order.  Documents that do not contain signatures to be signed will be bypassed. If you select Cancel during a sequential signing, the signature you cancelled and all subsequent signatures will not be signed.  The signatures already entered will remain signed.

Note:  PDF packages are only supported in Acrobat^® 8 and Adobe^® Reader^® 8.

Customizing the Signing Order of Documents in a Package

The signing order of the documents in a package can be customized by creating a Text field on the cover page with the following settings:

• Name of text field:  PackageSigningFlags
• Text field properties, Options tab, Default Value: DocOrder=[DocumentName1.pdf], [DocumentName2.pdf],DocumentName3.pdf]; 

where [DocumentName1.pdf] is the name of the first document to be signed, [DocumentName2.pdf] is the name of the second document to be signed, etc.

Note

• Only documents listed will be signed.  The documents not listed will be bypassed./li>
• These settings can also be programmatically set through JavaScript.
• Field names are case-sensitive.

Clearing Signatures Signed During a Sequential Signing When the Process is Cancelled

By default, if you select Cancel during a sequential signing, the signature you cancelled and all subsequent signatures will not be signed.  The signatures already entered will remain signed.

To clear all the signatures signed during a sequential signing of a package if Cancel is selected, create a Text field on the cover page with the following settings:

• Name of text field:  PackageSigningFlags
• Text field properties, Options tab, Default Value: Cancel=CleanUp;

If this setting is used along with the signing order setting, separate the settings with a semi-colon and do not use spaces or carriage returns.  For example:

   DocOrder=[DocumentName1.pdf],[DocumentName2.pdf],DocumentName3.pdf];Cancel=CleanUp;

Note

• These settings can also be programmatically set through JavaScript.
• Note that field names are case-sensitive.
• The Cancel=CleanUp is only for sequential signing of a package, not a single PDF.