How To Make A Signature On Word

This commodity explains digital signatures (also known as digital ID), what they can exist used for, and how you can apply digital signatures in the following Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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

What is a digital signature?

A digital signature is an electronic, encrypted, stamp of hallmark on digital information such every bit e-mail letters, macros, or electronic documents. A signature confirms that the information originated from the signer and has not been altered.

Signing certificate and certificate authority

Signing certificate To create a digital signature, you accept to have a signing certificate, which proves identity. When you ship a digitally-signed macro or document, yous also send your certificate and public key. Certificates are issued by a certification dominance, and like a driver's license, can be revoked. A certificate is normally valid for a year, afterwards which, the signer must renew, or get a new, a signing certificate to establish identity.

Certificate authority (CA) A certificate authority is an entity similar 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 It problems digital certificates, signs certificates to verify their validity and tracks which certificates have been revoked or have expired.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 non 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 time 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 post-obit criteria:

The digital signature is valid.
The certificate associated with the digital signature is current (non expired).
The signing person or arrangement, known as the publisher, is trusted.

Of import:Signed documents, which have a valid time stamp, are considered to accept valid signatures, regardless of the age, or revocation condition, of the signing document.
The certificate associated with the digital signature is issued to the signing publisher by a reputable certificate dominance (CA).

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Signature lines in Discussion and Excel

A signature line resembles a typical signature placeholder that might announced in a printed document. However, information technology works differently. When a signature line is inserted into an Role file, the author tin specify information most 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:

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

When the signer adds a visible representation of a signature to the document, a digital signature is added at the same time to authenticate the signer's identity.

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

Create a signature line in Word or Excel

In the document or worksheet, identify your pointer where you want to create a signature line.
On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click the Signature Line list, and so click Microsoft Office Signature Line.
In the Signature Setup dialog box, type information that will announced beneath the signature line:
- Suggested signer The signer'due south full proper name.
- Suggested signer's championship The signer's title, if whatsoever.
- Suggested signer'south due east-mail accost The signer's e-mail address, if needed.
- Instructions to the signer Add instructions for the signer, such equally "Before signing the document, verify that the content is correct."
Select one or both of the following cheque boxes:
- Allow the signer to add comments in the Sign dialog box Let the signer to type a purpose for signing.
- Prove sign date in signature line The engagement the document was signed will appear with the signature.

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

Annotation:If the document remains unsigned, the Signatures Message Bar appears. Click View Signatures to consummate the signature process.

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Sign the signature line in Discussion or Excel

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

In the file, right-click the signature line.

Note: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, blazon 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 image file, select the file that you lot want, and so click Select.
  Notes:
  - For customers using Chinese- (Traditional or Simplified), Korean-, or Japanese-language versions, the Stamp Signature Line pick appears.
  - In add-on, you tin sign a signature line by double-clicking the signature line. Type your name next to the X. Or, in the Signature Pane, in the Requested Signatures section, click the arrow next to the signature. From the card, select Sign.
- To add a handwritten signature (Tablet PC users only), sign your name in the box next to the X by using the inking feature.
- Click Sign.
- The Signatures button appears at the bottom of the document or worksheet.

The post-obit image shows the Signatures button.

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Remove digital signatures from Discussion or Excel

Open up the document or worksheet that contains the visible signature y'all want to remove.
Correct-click the signature line.
Click Remove Signature.
Click Yeah.

Note:In improver, you can remove a signature past clicking the arrow next to the signature in the Signature Pane. Click Remove Signature.

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Invisible digital signatures in Give-and-take, Excel, or PowerPoint

An invisible digital signature, such as a visible digital signature line, assures the authenticity, integrity, and origin of a document. Y'all can add invisible digital signatures to Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations.

Signed documents volition accept the Signatures push button at the lesser of the document. In addition, for signed documents, signature data appears in the Info section that you come across subsequently 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'south content, y'all can add an invisible digital signature. Signed documents have the Signatures button at the bottom of the document.

Click the File tab.
Click Info.
Click Protect Document, Protect Workbook or Protect Presentation.
Click Add together a Digital Signature.
Read the Give-and-take, Excel, or PowerPoint message, and 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 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 desire to remove.
Click the File tab.
Click Info.
Click View Signatures.
The document, worksheet, or presentation view returns, and the Signatures pane appears.
Side by side to the signature name, click the arrow.
Click Remove Signature.
Click Yeah.