Signing PDF files

Since version 8.0 it is possible to sign PDF files, created with i-net Clear Reports.

This feature can be enabled and configured in the category Export of the Configuration Manager if a license for i-net Clear Reports Plus was specified.

A certificate is necessary to sign PDF files. There are 2 kinds of certificates:

• free of charge self-signed certificates
• commercial certificates from certification authority

Self-signed certificates can be generated with several tools, e.g. Sun keytool, or can be generated direct by some products, e.g. Adobe Acrobat. Such certificates can prove that the PDF file has not been changed since signing, but to verify their authenticity, they must be registered as trustable by Adobe Reader. Commercial certificates from a certificate authority (CA) on the contrary can be checked by Acrobat Reader autonomously.
The certificates and the private key are contained in a special store named key store. Each key store is protected against non authorized access through the key store password. Optionally each private key can have it's own key name and key password. Java can read private key and certificate from the following key store types:

• JKS is the simplest form
• JCEKS is the advance form of certificates that can be easily provided with Sun tools
• PKCS12 is the form that can be deduced from commercial certificate.