HotPDF is een native VCL PDF-bibliotheek voor Delphi- en C++Builder-applicaties die directe PDF-creatie, bewerking, formulieren, annotaties, versleuteling, digitale handtekeningen, Unicode-lettertypen, standaardenbewuste uitvoer en preflight rapportage nodig hebben zonder een externe PDF-runtime te installeren.
Dit artikel is bedoeld voor Delphi teams adding certificate-based approval, invoice signing, or long-term validation evidence. Het behandelt digital signatures and PAdES-ready signing als productiegerichte documentengineering, niet als een losse componentaanroep.
Het praktische risico is dat a PDF may contain a visible signature box while the byte range, certificate chain, timestamp, revocation data, or later incremental update invalidates trust. Daarom heeft de workflow een geschreven contract, observeerbare diagnose en representatieve regressiebestanden nodig.
Architectuurbeslissingen
Design signing as a revision-controlled workflow. certificate source, private-key boundary, and operator approval process / timestamp authority, revocation source, and long-term validation profile
- certificate source, private-key boundary, and operator approval process
- timestamp authority, revocation source, and long-term validation profile
- visible signature appearance, signer reason, contact, and location fields
- whether later annotations, forms, or metadata updates are allowed after signing
Implementatiepad
Prepare evidence before reserving the signature field. The order below keeps the workflow reviewable for Delphi and C++Builder teams.
- freeze the document content and preflight it before signature reservation
- load certificate material from the approved key store or signing service
- reserve the signature field and byte range with enough space for the final value
- apply timestamp and revocation data according to the selected PAdES profile
- verify the final file in at least one independent validator before release
Validatiebewijs
Signature evidence worth keeping. Keep these fields with the output or support record.
- signer certificate fingerprint, chain status, timestamp result, and revocation source
- signature byte range, digest algorithm, PAdES profile, and validation summary
- document hash before signing and final hash after the signed revision is saved
- policy decision for any warning that did not block the signature
PAdES is a lifecycle, not only a signature
PAdES-ready output needs deterministic document bytes, a verified certificate context, timestamp policy, revocation evidence, and a save strategy that does not alter signed byte ranges after the signature is applied.
Profile ownership and versioning
A named, versioned profile is easier to review than options scattered across forms, scripts, and batch parameters. It also makes support reports readable when customers use older templates or policies.
- certificate source, private-key boundary, and operator approval process
- timestamp authority, revocation source, and long-term validation profile
- visible signature appearance, signer reason, contact, and location fields
- whether later annotations, forms, or metadata updates are allowed after signing
- signer certificate fingerprint, chain status, timestamp result, and revocation source
- signature byte range, digest algorithm, PAdES profile, and validation summary
Engineering review notes for digital signatures and PAdES-ready signing
Use these review notes to make sure the feature has moved beyond a demo and can be defended during release, support, and customer escalation.
- Decision: certificate source, private-key boundary, and operator approval process. Implementation pressure point: load certificate material from the approved key store or signing service. Acceptance evidence: document hash before signing and final hash after the signed revision is saved. Regression trigger: timestamp and revocation services need timeout and retry policies
- Decision: timestamp authority, revocation source, and long-term validation profile. Implementation pressure point: reserve the signature field and byte range with enough space for the final value. Acceptance evidence: policy decision for any warning that did not block the signature. Regression trigger: editing metadata or form values after signing can invalidate the signed revision
- Decision: visible signature appearance, signer reason, contact, and location fields. Implementation pressure point: apply timestamp and revocation data according to the selected PAdES profile. Acceptance evidence: signer certificate fingerprint, chain status, timestamp result, and revocation source. Regression trigger: certificate chain checks can pass on a developer machine but fail offline
- Decision: whether later annotations, forms, or metadata updates are allowed after signing. Implementation pressure point: verify the final file in at least one independent validator before release. Acceptance evidence: signature byte range, digest algorithm, PAdES profile, and validation summary. Regression trigger: visible appearance text should not be treated as cryptographic evidence
- Decision: certificate source, private-key boundary, and operator approval process. Implementation pressure point: freeze the document content and preflight it before signature reservation. Acceptance evidence: document hash before signing and final hash after the signed revision is saved. Regression trigger: timestamp and revocation services need timeout and retry policies
Randgevallen
- editing metadata or form values after signing can invalidate the signed revision
- certificate chain checks can pass on a developer machine but fail offline
- visible appearance text should not be treated as cryptographic evidence
- timestamp and revocation services need timeout and retry policies
Delphi / C++Builder notes
HotPDF Component should sit behind a small service boundary that receives files, streams, profiles, and credentials, then returns output paths, warnings, metrics, and validation status. Important terms include PAdES, digital signature, byte range, timestamp, DSS, revocation.
Delphi-codevoorbeeld
De volgende Delphi-schets toont een praktische servicegrens voor dit onderwerp. Houd beleidscontroles, logging en validatie buiten het smalle productaanroepblok, zodat de workflow testbaar blijft.
procedure SignApprovedPdf(const InputFile, OutputFile: string; const Policy: TSignaturePolicy);
var
Pdf: THotPDF;
begin
Pdf := THotPDF.Create(nil);
try
LoadUnsignedPackage(Pdf, InputFile);
CheckSigningPolicy(Policy);
AttachPadesEvidence(Pdf, Policy.Certificate, Policy.TimestampServer);
SaveSignedPackage(Pdf, OutputFile);
ValidateSignatureChain(OutputFile, Policy.TrustAnchors);
finally
Pdf.Free;
end;
end;Productiechecklist
- Run the workflow on an empty file, a normal customer file, and a worst-case file
- Open the generated PDF with the target viewer, validator, printer, or downstream application
- Log product version, profile version, input hash, output path, elapsed time, and warning count
- Keep passwords, certificates, temporary files, and customer data under explicit retention rules
- Add regression documents when a customer file exposes a new edge case