Working with Sign-it

Adding a Sign Now Signature

  1. From the Sign-it menu, select Sign Now.  Note:  You can only add signatures in the Model space, not Layout. 
  2. Draw a box at the location you wish to add a signature box.  If the signature box position is not to your liking, you can Undo it.  This Undo will not list this signature in the history.  If you erase this signature box later, it will appear in the history log.
  3. The Sign-it for AutoCAD Signature Preferences window will appear.

  4. Check the box to Enable Layer-Based Signing.
  5. Select All, Include Checked Layers, or Exclude Checked Layers under Layers to Sign.
  6. The creator of the signature box can select to include or exclude specific layers of the drawing.  Once the signature box is signed, the selected layers will be bound with the signature.  If changes are made to the layers that are bound to a signature, the signature will invalidate.  Select OK to continue.
  7. The Ceremony screen will appear.  

    Select a signing method:  Live Signature, Voice Recording, Signature Stamp, Verified Signature, Password, ePad-ink Signature or Click2Sign.  Enter a User ID, Title, First Name, Last Name, Reason and Location.  Key Words can be inserted into the Reason field.  For example, enter [Name], to display the First and Last Name.  See the list below for possible key words. 

    Key Words for Reasons Display
    [Name] First and Last Name
    [Location] Location
    [FirstName] First Name
    [LastName] Last Name
    [UserId] User ID
    [Title] Title

    Note:  Key words are case sensitive.  They must be entered exactly as shown.

  8. Browse to select an eSeal to display with your signature.  File formats supported are JPEG, TIF, BMP, GIF and PNG.  Note:  Only GIF and PNG files support transparency. 

    If you have a supported eKey connected to your system, you will be prompted to select either from an eKey or from File.  Sign-it only supports one eKey at a time.  If you have more than one connected to your system, please disconnect all but the one you wish to select from.  

  9. Browse to select a third-party Digital ID.  A Digital ID store will be displayed.

    You can select a Digital ID from one of the following options:

    • Digital ID store
    • From File -- Browse your computer system for a .PFX or .P12 file 
    • From eKey

    The Digital ID is used to encrypt or digitally sign the signature data.  No attempt is made to validate the signer's identity or check the revocation status of the certificate.  The certificate was valid at the time of signing. 

  10. For other options, select Advanced.  

    The Field Name is the name assigned to this signature block.  It is currently not used by Sign-it and is reserved for future functions.  Select to require the User ID, Name, Reason, Location, Title, eSeal and/or Digital ID.  You can lock the signature method and/or the Ceremony information.  You can select to not display the Ceremony dialog when signing.  Select Show Only Required Fields to display the selected fields in the Ceremony dialog.

    Select items to display in signature field. 

    Select an Invalidation Symbol.  This symbol appears over an invalid signature.

    Select Text for Unsigned Signature Field to show text in a non-signed signature box that has been placed in a drawing.  This text can be customized to display a text message of your choice by over-writing the 'Sign Here' statement in the box with your own message.

    Select OK to continue.
     

  11. Select Sign to enter your signature.   The Sign button may be grayed if you have not provided all required data.

Creating a Signature Field to be Signed at a Later Time

  1. Prepare a drawing for adding signatures.  Make sure you save the drawing before adding any signature fields.  
  2. From the Sign-it menu, select Create Blank Signature Field.  Note:  You can only add signatures in the Model space, not Layout. 
  3. Draw a box to represent the signature field. You can control the size of the signature box to fit into your drawing and to display the signature. The signature will automatically scale to the physical dimensions of the box defined.   
  4. Select the preferences for the current signature field.  
    1. General

      • The Field Name is the name assigned to this signature block.  It is currently not used by Sign-it and is reserved for future functions. 
      • Select to require the User ID, Name, Reason, Location, Title, Digital ID and/or eSeal. 
      • Lock the signature method if you do not want the signer to change the selected method.  You can also select to lock the Ceremony information and not display the Ceremony dialog when signing.  When locking the Ceremony information, the eSeal and Digital ID are not locked.  The signer can still select his own eSeal and Digital ID.  To not allow the signer to select these features, check box to Don't Show Ceremony Dialog Before Signing. 
      • Select Show Only Required Fields to display the selected fields in the Ceremony dialog. 
    2. Display

      • Select the display properties for the signature.  Check the boxes to see samples of the properties in the display window.  The eSeal will only display if Require eSeal (from General tab) and/or an eSeal file is selected in the Ceremony tab.  If an eSeal file is selected, a faded version of that seal will be displayed.
      • Select an Invalidation Symbol.  This symbol appears over an invalid signature.
      • Select Text for Unsigned Signature Field to show text in a non-signed signature box that has been placed in a drawing.  This text can be customized to display a text message of your choice by over-writing the 'Click to sign' statement in the box with your own message.
    3. Import

      • You can import data from User Settings. 
      • The imported data overrides any data manually entered in the ceremony page for the same field.  
      • Importing of data is not available with Sign Now signatures. 
         
    4. Ceremony

      • Select a signing method and enter Ceremony data for the current signature field.  
      • Browse to select an eSeal to display with your signature.  File formats supported are JPEG, TIF, BMP, GIF and PNG. 
      • If you have a supported eKey connected to your system, you will be prompted to select either from an eKey or from File.  Sign-it only supports one eKey at a time.  If you have more than one connected to your system, please disconnect all but the one you wish to select from.
         
    5. Layers

      The creator of the signature box can select to include or exclude specific layers of the drawing.  Once the signature box is signed, the selected layers will be bound with the signature.  If changes are made to the layers that are bound to a signature, the signature will invalidate.
       

    6. Security

      Select box to protect the preference settings.  Enter and confirm password.  This will not allow the signature information to be altered without first entering a password.  
       

  5. Select OK to complete inserting the signature box.

Note:  An unsigned signature field and a signed signature field with no text or a signature (i.e. Voice or Click2Sign) contain an outlined box.  A signed signature field containing text (Ceremony data) or a signature will not contain this outlined box.  This outline allows you to select the signature field if no text or signature is available for selection.

Adding, Editing and Removing Reasons and/or Locations

Both reasons and locations are important when signing a drawing electronically. The Location information denotes a physical presence at the time of the signing and the Reason makes clear your intentions when signing.    

You can enter the reason and location at the time you are signing.  To make this data persistent the next time you create a new signature field, enable persistency in System Preferences.  If you prefer to maintain a list of reasons and locations to select from, you can store the list in Sign-it.  From the Sign-it menu, select Tools/Edit Reasons or Tools/Edit Locations.  Select Add, Edit or Remove to maintain your list.  

Examples of Reasons: "I am signing to approve this form." or "I agree to the terms and conditions herein."
Examples of Locations: "San Francisco, CA", "Office" or "New York Branch"

Signing an Unsigned Signature Field

  1. Select the signature field in one of the following methods:
  • Click on the signature bounding box.
  • Click on the text in the signature box.
  1. Right-click and select Sign.
  2. Select your signature method and input your signature.  

Re-signing a Signature Field

  1. Select the signature and right-click.
  2. Select re-sign.
  3. Select Sign and input your signature.

Erasing a Signature

To erase a signature box, select the signature box, right-click and select Erase.  The signature box is removed from view, but it remains in the history log when signatures are validated.  

Note:  A signature box cannot be moved or re-sized.

Adding Multiple Signatures to Drawings

If you expect to have multiple parties sign a drawing, be sure to have place-holders for their signatures when you create the drawing.  Adding a signature field after the drawing has been signed will indicate a change in the drawing.  

Viewing Signature Properties

  1. To view the properties for a Sign-it signature, select the signature and right-click.
  2. Select Signature Properties.  
  3. The Signature Method, User ID, Title, Name, Reason, Location, and Timestamp are shown.


     

  4. Select Show Certificate to display the Digital ID certificate.  This certificate contains information used to validate your digital signature.