How To Do A Signature In Word

This article explains digital signatures (also known as digital ID), what they tin be used for, and how yous tin can use digital signatures in the following Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

In this commodity

What is a digital signature?
Signature lines in Word and Excel
Create a signature line in Word or Excel
Sign the signature line in Give-and-take or Excel
Remove digital signatures from Word or Excel
Invisible digital signatures in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
Add invisible digital signatures in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
Remove invisible digital signatures from Discussion, Excel, or PowerPoint

What is a digital signature?

A digital signature is an electronic, encrypted, stamp of authentication on digital data such as e-mail letters, macros, or electronic documents. A signature confirms that the information originated from the signer and has not been contradistinct.

Signing document and certificate authority

Signing certificate To create a digital signature, you take to take a signing certificate, which proves identity. When you ship a digitally-signed macro or document, you as well transport your document and public key. Certificates are issued by a certification authorisation, and like a driver'south license, can exist revoked. A certificate is usually valid for a yr, subsequently which, the signer must renew, or get a new, a signing certificate to institute identity.

Document authority (CA) A certificate authority is an entity like to a notary public. It problems digital certificates, signs certificates to verify their validity and tracks which certificates have been revoked or have expired.

What does a digital signature guarantee?

Authenticity The signer is confirmed as the signer.
Integrity The content has not been changed or tampered with since it was digitally signed.
Non-repudiation Proves to all parties the origin of the signed content. Repudiation refers to the deed of a signer denying whatever association with the signed content.
Notarization Signatures in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, which are fourth dimension stamped by a secure fourth dimension-stamp server, under certain circumstances, have the validity of a notarization.

To make these assurances, the content creator must digitally sign the content by using a signature that satisfies the following criteria:

The digital signature is valid.
The document associated with the digital signature is current (not expired).
The signing person or organization, known every bit the publisher, is trusted.

Important:Signed documents, which take a valid time postage, are considered to have valid signatures, regardless of the age, or revocation status, of the signing certificate.
The certificate associated with the digital signature is issued to the signing publisher by a reputable certificate say-so (CA).

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Signature lines in Word and Excel

A signature line resembles a typical signature placeholder that might appear in a printed document. However, information technology works differently. When a signature line is inserted into an Role file, the author can specify information about the intended signer, and instructions for the signer. When an electronic copy of the file is sent to the intended signer, this person sees the signature line and a notification that their signature is requested. The signer can:

Type a signature, or
Select a picture of an inked signature, or
Write a signature by using the inking characteristic of a touch-screen PC

When the signer adds a visible representation of a signature to the document, a digital signature is added at the same fourth dimension to cosign the signer'due south identity.

Of import:A digitally-signed document becomes read-only to prevent modifications.

Create a signature line in Word or Excel

In the certificate or worksheet, place your arrow where you want to create a signature line.
On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click the Signature Line list, and and so click Microsoft Office Signature Line.
In the Signature Setup dialog box, blazon information that volition appear beneath the signature line:
- Suggested signer The signer's full name.
- Suggested signer's title The signer's championship, if any.
- Suggested signer's email accost The signer's e-mail service accost, if needed.
- Instructions to the signer Add instructions for the signer, such every bit "Before signing the certificate, verify that the content is right."
Select 1 or both of the following bank check boxes:
- Let the signer to add comments in the Sign dialog box Allow the signer to type a purpose for signing.
- Testify sign date in signature line The date the certificate was signed will appear with the signature.

Tip:To add additional signature lines, repeat these steps.

Note:If the document remains unsigned, the Signatures Bulletin Bar appears. Click View Signatures to complete the signature procedure.

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Sign the signature line in Word or Excel

When you sign a signature line, you add a visible representation of your signature and a digital signature.

In the file, correct-click the signature line.

Annotation:If the file opens in Protected View, click Edit Anyway, if the file is from a reliable source.
From the menu, select Sign.
- To add a printed version of your signature, type your proper noun in the box next to the X.
- To select an image of your written signature, click Select Prototype. In the Select Signature Image dialog box, find the location of your signature prototype file, select the file that you want, and then click Select.
  Notes:
  - For customers using Chinese- (Traditional or Simplified), Korean-, or Japanese-language versions, the Stamp Signature Line option appears.
  - In addition, you can sign a signature line by double-clicking the signature line. Blazon your name side by side to the X. Or, in the Signature Pane, in the Requested Signatures department, click the arrow side by side to the signature. From the carte, select Sign.
- To add together a handwritten signature (Tablet PC users only), sign your name in the box next to the X past using the inking feature.
- Click Sign.
- The Signatures button appears at the bottom of the certificate or worksheet.

The following image shows the Signatures button.

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Remove digital signatures from Give-and-take or Excel

Open the certificate or worksheet that contains the visible signature you lot desire to remove.
Right-click the signature line.
Click Remove Signature.
Click Yes.

Note:In addition, yous tin can remove a signature by clicking the pointer adjacent to the signature in the Signature Pane. Click Remove Signature.

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Invisible digital signatures in Discussion, Excel, or PowerPoint

An invisible digital signature, such equally a visible digital signature line, assures the authenticity, integrity, and origin of a certificate. You can add invisible digital signatures to Discussion documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations.

Signed documents will accept the Signatures button at the bottom of the document. In improver, for signed documents, signature information appears in the Info department that you see later on you click the File tab.

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Add invisible digital signatures in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

To protect the authenticity of a document'due south content, you can add together an invisible digital signature. Signed documents have the Signatures push button at the bottom of the document.

Click the File tab.
Click Info.
Click Protect Document, Protect Workbook or Protect Presentation.
Click Add a Digital Signature.
Read the Discussion, Excel, or PowerPoint message, and so click OK.
In the Sign dialog box, in the Purpose for signing this document box, type the purpose.
Click Sign.

After a file is digitally signed, the Signatures push button appears, and the file becomes read-only to prevent modifications.

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Remove invisible digital signatures from Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

Open the document, worksheet, or presentation that contains the invisible signature you lot want to remove.
Click the File tab.
Click Info.
Click View Signatures.
The certificate, worksheet, or presentation view returns, and the Signatures pane appears.
Next to the signature name, click the arrow.
Click Remove Signature.
Click Yes.