(1)User uploads a document to the server and mentions the recepient emails. The documents are converted to PDF and stored. Not sure which library to use (as word interop libraries have performance issues and also will need a Microsoft Office licence on server).
Any suggestions?
(2) A link is sent to the recepient. When the recepient clicks the link, the pdf is shown, with a "CONFIRM" button and Textbox for Initials & Date is shown. Now I am not sure as what needs to be done next? My objective is to store a record of this transaction.
So should I just store the IP address of user..Will that be enough as a proof of user agreeing to ther terms?
Please suggest the standard practice (I do not want to handle complexity of a Digtal signature...am just looking for a simple solution to implement).
(1)User uploads a document to the server and mentions the recepient emails. The documents are converted to PDF and stored. Not sure which library to use (as word interop libraries have performance issues and also will need a Microsoft Office licence on server).
Any suggestions?
You can use the iTextSharp library to generate your PDF file. However, you might have troubles converting the word document to something else. I would suggest generate your documents as HTML files but that's just me.
sballani82
(2) A link is sent to the recepient. When the recepient clicks the link, the pdf is shown, with a "CONFIRM" button and Textbox for Initials & Date is shown. Now I am not sure as what needs to be done next? My objective is to store a record of this transaction.
So should I just store the IP address of user..Will that be enough as a proof of user agreeing to ther terms?
Please suggest the standard practice (I do not want to handle complexity of a Digtal signature...am just looking for a simple solution to implement).
Simply indicate that typing their name in that textbox is the equivalent of a hand written signature and make sure to include a Terms of Service link that they have to click before typing their name. At least that is how I would handle it.
You are right converting word documents to PDF is tough. I don't think there is any good option which is free.
Regarding Point (2). My question would be as what proof do I have that the document has been elecronically signed. One way is by maintaining Audit Trial. I am not sure if this is enough?
(2) A link is sent to the recipient. When the recepient clicks the link, the pdf is shown, with a "CONFIRM" button and Textbox for Initials & Date is shown. Now I am not sure as what needs to be done next? My objective is to store a record of this transaction.
So should I just store the IP address of user..Will that be enough as a proof of user agreeing to ther terms?
Please suggest the standard practice (I do not want to handle complexity of a Digtal signature...am just looking for a simple solution to implement).
What I have done in the past is have the user physically type in say the word "Agree" to the terms and conditions, and then this in turn merged the value "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ON FILE" in the document on the signature line with a timestamp as well. This
process would also insert a record into the database for the transaction, so there was both a saved off document and a record of the transaction.
You are correct though that this is not the forum to validate the 'legalese' of electronic signatures. Check with your legal staff or department or if you do not have such a thing, research it further through legal forums or online I suppose.
Lastly iTextSharp is a great opensource .pdf tool to use. If you are also open to look to purchase one, I have used Dynamic PDF Merger and it works with ease. You can find out more about it from the link below; just another option.
What I have done in the past is have the user physically type in say the word "Agree" to the terms and conditions, and then this in turn merged the value "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ON FILE" in the document on the signature line with a timestamp as well. This
process would also insert a record into the database for the transaction, so there was both a saved off document and a record of the transaction.
This is what I was trying to alude to :) Thank you for clarifying at! :) I would presume since you are using a login system, you can stamp the agree with their userid in your database, be it their Active Directory username or possibly from teh asp.net membership,
capture their userID.
Is there any good solution you could suggest to convert Word documents to PDF?
Well to stay in the same product line that I have experience with, I would recommend 'Dynamic PDF Converter for .NET'. I know the 1st inclination at times is to do everything for free, but believe me sometimes it is nice to just purchase a product and 3
lines of code later you are done! You can evaluate it for free too which I recommend doing first.
"DynamicPDF Converter for .NET allows any .NET developer to dynamically convert many common file formats to PDF document in real-time."
sballani82
0 Points
3 Posts
Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 01, 2012 11:50 AM|LINK
Hi All,
My requirment is as below:
(1)User uploads a document to the server and mentions the recepient emails. The documents are converted to PDF and stored. Not sure which library to use (as word interop libraries have performance issues and also will need a Microsoft Office licence on server). Any suggestions?
(2) A link is sent to the recepient. When the recepient clicks the link, the pdf is shown, with a "CONFIRM" button and Textbox for Initials & Date is shown. Now I am not sure as what needs to be done next? My objective is to store a record of this transaction. So should I just store the IP address of user..Will that be enough as a proof of user agreeing to ther terms?
Please suggest the standard practice (I do not want to handle complexity of a Digtal signature...am just looking for a simple solution to implement).
Any suggestions, ideas, links?
Thanks .
bbcompent1
All-Star
33063 Points
8516 Posts
Moderator
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 01, 2012 12:03 PM|LINK
You can use the iTextSharp library to generate your PDF file. However, you might have troubles converting the word document to something else. I would suggest generate your documents as HTML files but that's just me.
Simply indicate that typing their name in that textbox is the equivalent of a hand written signature and make sure to include a Terms of Service link that they have to click before typing their name. At least that is how I would handle it.
sballani82
0 Points
3 Posts
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 01, 2012 03:09 PM|LINK
Thanks Daniel for the reply.
You are right converting word documents to PDF is tough. I don't think there is any good option which is free.
Regarding Point (2). My question would be as what proof do I have that the document has been elecronically signed. One way is by maintaining Audit Trial. I am not sure if this is enough?
atconway
All-Star
16846 Points
2756 Posts
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 01, 2012 03:26 PM|LINK
What I have done in the past is have the user physically type in say the word "Agree" to the terms and conditions, and then this in turn merged the value "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ON FILE" in the document on the signature line with a timestamp as well. This process would also insert a record into the database for the transaction, so there was both a saved off document and a record of the transaction.
You are correct though that this is not the forum to validate the 'legalese' of electronic signatures. Check with your legal staff or department or if you do not have such a thing, research it further through legal forums or online I suppose.
Lastly iTextSharp is a great opensource .pdf tool to use. If you are also open to look to purchase one, I have used Dynamic PDF Merger and it works with ease. You can find out more about it from the link below; just another option.
http://www.dynamicpdf.com/Products/DynamicPDFForNET/Merger/
bbcompent1
All-Star
33063 Points
8516 Posts
Moderator
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 01, 2012 03:29 PM|LINK
This is what I was trying to alude to :) Thank you for clarifying at! :) I would presume since you are using a login system, you can stamp the agree with their userid in your database, be it their Active Directory username or possibly from teh asp.net membership, capture their userID.
sballani82
0 Points
3 Posts
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 02, 2012 02:47 AM|LINK
Thanks Allen & Daniel.
Is there any good solution you could suggest to convert Word documents to PDF?
bbcompent1
All-Star
33063 Points
8516 Posts
Moderator
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 02, 2012 10:35 AM|LINK
This code project article might do the trick: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/38592/Convert-Word-Documents-to-PDF-on-an-ASP-NET-Server
atconway
All-Star
16846 Points
2756 Posts
Re: Implementing an Electronic Signature Solution - a. logic needed b.Word2PDF what options?
May 02, 2012 03:07 PM|LINK
Well to stay in the same product line that I have experience with, I would recommend 'Dynamic PDF Converter for .NET'. I know the 1st inclination at times is to do everything for free, but believe me sometimes it is nice to just purchase a product and 3 lines of code later you are done! You can evaluate it for free too which I recommend doing first.
"DynamicPDF Converter for .NET allows any .NET developer to dynamically convert many common file formats to PDF document in real-time."
DynamicPDF™ Converter for .NET:
http://www.dynamicpdf.com/Products/DynamicPDFConverterForNET/index.csp