View Digital Signature Details (Concept)

AutoCAD 2008 User's Guide > Work with Other People and Organizations > Protect and Sign Drawings > Sign Drawings > View Drawings with Digital Signatures >

View Digital Signature Details

Concept

Procedure

Quick Reference

When you receive a file that contains a digital signature, you can check whether the file was modified since it was signed, and other information.

An icon is displayed in the status bar when a file contains digital signature information. When you click the icon, you can verify the following information:

Validity of the file
Whether the file was modified since it was signed
Individual or organization that signed the file
Time stamp and comments attached to the file
Issuer (certificate authority) of the digital ID
“Valid to” and “valid from” dates for the digital ID

Digital signatures work on files that are compatible with AutoCAD 2000 and later drawing-file formats. If you receive a signed file and save the file, it is considered modified, and the signature is invalidated. However, you generally can still view information about it. If you receive a signed drawing-file and save the file, the signature information can be lost.

NoteIf the SIGWARN system variable is on and you open a file with a valid signature, the digital signature status is displayed. If SIGWARN is off and you open a file, the digital signature status is displayed only if a signature is invalid.

You can also view the properties of a drawing file in Windows Explorer to examine and validate a digital signature. Some operating systems display a modified icon for a drawing that has a valid digital signature attached. If the modified icon is displayed, your computer may slow down (depending on processor speed and file size), so you can turn off the display.