Guide to Signing PDFs with Metadata Using GroupDocs.Signature

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will learn how to sign a PDF document and add metadata using GroupDocs.Signature for .NET. Adding metadata enhances the document by providing essential information such as authorship, creation date, document ID, and more.

Prerequisites

Before we start, ensure you have the following:

1. GroupDocs.Signature for .NET: Download it from here.
2. A PDF Document: Have a sample PDF file ready for signing.
3. Basic Knowledge of C# Programming: Familiarity with C# syntax is necessary to understand the code examples.

Import Namespaces

Start by importing the required namespaces to access the necessary classes and methods:

using System;
using System.IO;
using GroupDocs.Signature;
using GroupDocs.Signature.Domain;
using GroupDocs.Signature.Options;

Step 1: Load the PDF Document

Specify the path of the PDF document you want to sign:

string filePath = "sample.pdf";

Step 2: Specify Output File Path

Define where the signed PDF with metadata will be saved:

string outputFilePath = Path.Combine("Your Document Directory", "SignPdfWithMetadata", "SignedWithMetadata.pdf");

Step 3: Create a Signature Instance

Initialize a Signature instance with the path to the PDF document:

using (Signature signature = new Signature(filePath))
{
    // Signature related code will go here
}

Step 4: Define Metadata Options

Create MetadataSignOptions and add the metadata fields along with their values:

MetadataSignOptions options = new MetadataSignOptions();
options
    .Add(new PdfMetadataSignature("Author", "Mr. Sherlock Holmes")) // String value
    .Add(new PdfMetadataSignature("CreatedOn", DateTime.Now))       // DateTime value
    .Add(new PdfMetadataSignature("DocumentId", 123456))            // Integer value
    .Add(new PdfMetadataSignature("SignatureId", 123.456D))         // Double value
    .Add(new PdfMetadataSignature("Amount", 123.456M))              // Decimal value
    .Add(new PdfMetadataSignature("Total", 123.456F));              // Float value

Step 5: Sign the Document

Sign the PDF document with the specified metadata options and save the signed document:

SignResult result = signature.Sign(outputFilePath, options);
Console.WriteLine($"\nSource document signed successfully with {result.Succeeded.Count} signature(s).\nFile saved at {outputFilePath}.");

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered how to sign a PDF document with metadata using GroupDocs.Signature for .NET. By following these steps, you can easily enrich your PDF files with valuable metadata, improving their traceability and utility.

FAQ’s

Can I add custom metadata fields to my PDF documents?

Yes, you can add custom metadata fields by specifying the field name and its corresponding value using GroupDocs.Signature for .NET.

Is GroupDocs.Signature for .NET compatible with all versions of the .NET Framework?

GroupDocs.Signature for .NET is compatible with various versions of the .NET Framework, ensuring flexibility and ease of integration.

Does GroupDocs.Signature support signing other document formats apart from PDF?

Yes, GroupDocs.Signature supports a wide range of document formats, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Can I sign multiple documents in bulk using GroupDocs.Signature for .NET?

Absolutely! You can sign multiple documents in bulk by iterating through a list of files and applying the signature process programmatically.

Is technical support available for GroupDocs.Signature users?

Yes, GroupDocs provides dedicated technical support through its forums. You can access the support forum here.