Sign PDF Documents

Digitally Sign and Certify Mail Merge Output Files

What is Digital Signature?

A digital signature is a cryptographic technique used to validate the authenticity of a digital document. A digital signature can be used to verify that a document was created by the person who claims to have sent it and that it has not been tampered with after it was signed. You need to have a digital ID in order to sign documents electronically. Digital IDs are issued by third-party security providers or the government.

What is Digital ID?

Similar to a passport in electronic form, a digital identity (digital ID) provides strong evidence that you are who you say you are when e-signing a document. Each digital ID is backed by a digital certificate issued by a trusted third party, such as a bank, government or established security authority, after thoroughly verifying your identity. Using a digital ID to authenticate your identity and apply a digital signature during the document signing process provides a higher level of assurance that you agreed to the terms listed and have authorized your signature on a specific document.

Why Sign Documents?

Provide authenticity and verification
Protect documents from unauthorized modifications
Increase customer confidence
Legal compliance
Better company image

Signing Documents with AutoMailMerge

AutoMailMerge plug-in for Adobe can automatically sign and certify output documents produced during mail merge process. The plug-in uses one of the user’s digital IDs installed on the computer to sign output PDF files. If an input PDF form has a signature field, then this field will be automatically signed with a visible signature. If a PDF form does not have a signature field, then an invisible signature field can be automatically added to the output documents and certified with digital ID making the signing process completely automated.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Introduction: If you want to have a visible digital signature added to the output PDF documents, then make sure to add a signature form field to the input PDF template. Please see the following tutorial for explantion how to add fields to PDF forms. If you do not need a visual signature, then no changes necessary to the input PDF form.
Edit AutoMailMerge Settings: You need to enable digital signature option in AutoMailMerge settings and select a digital ID. Start Adobe Acrobat and open a PDF form you are going to use for the mail merge via File > Open menu. Next, open AutoMailMerge by selecting “Plug-ins > Mail Merge” from the main Acrobat menu. Press Edit Settings button to access settings wizard.; Configure mail merge settings screen by screen ( see complete list of tutorials) until you arrive to Sing and Certify screen.
Enable Document Signing: Once you arrive to Sign and Certify screen, turn on Sign and certify output documents with digital signature option. Press Select Digital ID... button.
Select Digital ID: Select a digital ID from the My Digital ID's list of IDs installed on your computer and press OK button. If you do not have a digital ID then you will need to obtain one from a third-party provider.; Digital ID overview will be displayed in the settings screen. This ID will be used to sign all output documents while using this mail merge settings configuration.
Finalize Settings and Run Mail Merge: Press Next>> button to finalize the rest of the mail merge settings Press OK button on the main AutoMailMerge screen to run mail merge process. Please refer to other tutorials for instructions on how to run and configure mail merge jobs. Once you run mail merge, all output documents will be certified. If you open one of the output files in Adobe Acrobat, then you should see blue digital signature bar added to the top of the page view.
Signing Reader Extended PDF Forms: It is possible to sign and certify Reader Extended PDF forms. Make sure to use File > Save As Other > Reader Extended PDF > Enable More Tools (includes form fill and save) menu in Adobe Acrobat when creating Reader-Extended PDF form.