PDF DSC-TSA Bulk Signer

Version 2.0 · Developed by PrajnaBytes International Private Limited | RatioJuris · Free software (GNU GPL v3)

PDF DSC-TSA Bulk Signer is a desktop application for Windows that puts a visible signature stamp on every page you choose in a PDF, and then digitally secures the whole document in one step.

It is made for advocates, legal professionals, offices and anyone who needs a signature mark on many pages of a document: for example, every page of a petition, an affidavit or an agreement. Instead of signing page by page, you place the stamps once (or place one and repeat it on every page) and sign the whole file at the same time.

Contents

• Two ways to sign
• What you can do
• Download
• Installation (Windows)
• Signing your first document
• DSC and timestamp settings
• Checking a signed document
• Troubleshooting
• Security and important information
• Frequently asked questions
• Screenshots
• Support and bug reports
• License and credits

Two ways to sign

The application has two signing methods. You choose one in the Signing method section of the main window.

	Digital signature (DSC)	Timestamp seal (no DSC)
What you need	Your Digital Signature Certificate, usually on a USB token	An internet connection and your name
What the stamp says	"Digitally signed by the name on your certificate"	"Declared by the name you type" and "Sealed by the timestamp service trusted timestamp"
What it proves	Who signed the document, and that it has not been changed since	Only that the document has not been changed since it was sealed

What is a DSC? A Digital Signature Certificate is an electronic identity issued to you by a licensed certifying authority, usually stored on a USB token protected by a PIN. Signing with it links the document to you.

What is a TSA? A Time Stamping Authority is an independent online service (such as DigiCert or Sectigo) that confirms the exact time a document existed in its current form. You can add a trusted timestamp to a DSC signature, or use the Timestamp seal on its own when you do not have a DSC.

A timestamp seal is not a digital signature. It does not prove who you are. The stamp always says "Declared by", never "Digitally signed".

What you can do

• Open one PDF and place signature stamps on the pages you choose. Draw a box where the stamp should go, then use Repeat on all pages to add it to every page in the same position.
• Sign the whole document at once with your DSC (one PIN entry), or seal it with a trusted timestamp.
• Add a trusted timestamp from DigiCert, Sectigo, GlobalSign, SSL.com or Entrust.
• Choose how the stamp looks:
  • Standard (text in a box) or Classic (your name on the left, details on the right).
  • Your own designs, optionally with an image of your handwritten signature.
  • Hindi (Devanagari) text is supported.
• Add the reason and location, which are shown on every stamp and stored in the signed file.
• Optionally restrict editing, copying or printing of the signed PDF.
• Keep your original safe. The application works on a copy. When signing finishes, it asks where to save the signed PDF, under a new name.
• Follow the progress. The Activity panel at the bottom of the main window shows each step and any error.
• Receive updates. The application checks for new versions and tells you when one is available.

The application signs one PDF at a time. Each PDF can carry stamps on as many pages as you need.

Download

Download version 2.0 from the Releases page. For Windows, choose one of:

File	What it is
PDF-DSC-TSA-Bulk-Signer-2.0.0-windows-x64-portable.zip	Portable version. No installation needed.
PDF-DSC-TSA-Bulk-Signer-2.0.0-windows-x64.msi	Installer. Installs for all users of the computer and adds the application to the Start menu and desktop.
SHA256SUMS.txt	Checksums to confirm your download is complete and unaltered.

The older version 1.0 (named "BulkFieldSignerGUI") is still available on the Releases page.

The Releases page also has packages for Linux and macOS; see docs/INSTALL.md.

Everything the application needs, including Java, is included in the download. You do not need to install Java or anything else.

Installation (Windows)

You need 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. The application has been tested on Windows 11.

• The installer needs administrator approval once: Windows asks "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?". Click Yes.
• The portable version needs no administrator rights.

Option 1: Portable version (no installation)

1. Download the …-windows-x64-portable.zip file.
2. Right-click the file and choose Extract All…. Choose a folder you can write to, for example Documents or a USB drive.
3. Open the extracted folder PDF DSC-TSA Bulk Signer 2.0.0.
4. Double-click bulksigner.exe.

Do not run the program from inside the ZIP file; extract it first.

Your settings are not kept in the program folder; they are kept in your Windows user profile. This means:

• You can move or delete the program folder without losing your settings.
• To take your settings to another computer, copy the folder %LOCALAPPDATA%\RatioJuris\BulkFiledSigner\config to the same place on that computer.

Option 2: Installer (MSI)

1. Download the …-windows-x64.msi file.
2. Double-click it and follow the installer. When Windows asks for permission, click Yes.
3. Start the application from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut: PDF DSC-TSA Bulk Signer.

The program is installed in C:\Program Files\RatioJuris\BulkFieldSignerGUI (the program file is bulksigner.exe).

To uninstall: open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find PDF DSC-TSA Bulk Signer, and choose Uninstall. Your settings and signed documents are kept.

If you have version 1.0 installed: the 2.0 installer removes it automatically and installs 2.0.

Windows security warning

Windows may show "Windows protected your PC" the first time you open the program, because it is a new download. Click More info, then Run anyway, if you downloaded it from the official Releases page.

Signing your first document

1. Start the application. The main window opens with four numbered sections.
2. Import your PDF. In 01 Your document, click Import PDF (or press Ctrl+O) and choose the file. The application works on a copy; your original is only read.
3. Choose the signing method. In 02 Signing method:
   • Digital signature (DSC): insert your DSC token and select your certificate in the list.
   • Timestamp seal (no DSC): type the name to declare.
4. Fill in the details. In 03 Signature details, enter the Reason and Location. Optionally choose a Trusted timestamp (required for a timestamp seal).
5. Choose the stamp design. In 04 Stamp appearance, pick a design. The preview shows exactly how each stamp will look. Click Design stamps… to create your own.
6. Place the stamps. Click Place stamps.
   • In the window that opens, drag a box on the page where the stamp should appear.
   • To use the same position on every page, select the box and click Repeat on all pages.
   • Check the pages, then click Use … stamps.
7. Optional: permissions. Under Document permissions, tick any restrictions you want (editing, copying, printing). These cannot be removed later.
8. Sign. Click Sign document (or Seal document). If you use a DSC token, its software asks for your PIN.
9. Choose where to save. When signing finishes, a Save window opens.
   • It starts in the folder your original PDF came from, with a suggested name such as "Agreement - signed.pdf".
   • Choose a folder and click Save. The application will not let you overwrite your original PDF.
   • Then click Open PDF to view the result, or Open folder to see where it is.
10. Check the signed PDF in a PDF reader (see Checking a signed document).

DSC and timestamp settings

Selecting your certificate

Insert your DSC USB token. Your certificates appear in 02 Signing method, usually within a few seconds; the list refreshes automatically. Select the certificate you want to sign with.

• Certificates you can't select. A certificate shown in grey can't be used right now, and the reason is shown under its name:
  • "Certificate expired on …": renew it with your certifying authority.
  • "DSC token not connected": plug in the token.
• Certificates you won't see. Only personal signing certificates are listed. Certificates that Windows creates for its own use are hidden.

Before signing, have ready:

• your DSC token and its PIN;
• the reason and place of signing;
• an internet connection, if you want a timestamp.

Using a timestamp

• With a DSC: choosing a Trusted timestamp is optional. It adds an independent confirmation of the signing time.
• With a timestamp seal: a Timestamp authority is required.
• Which service to use: any of the listed services works. If one does not respond, choose another. Timestamps need an internet connection.

Linux and macOS

On Linux and macOS, DSC tokens are set up in Settings → DSC token. See docs/INSTALL.md.

Checking a signed document

Signing creates the signature. Verifying checks it. Always verify important documents with a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. Open the signed PDF.
2. Open the Signature panel: the blue bar at the top, or View → Show/Hide → Signatures.
3. Check that the signature is valid, shows the right signer and time, and that the document has not been modified since it was signed.

The visible stamps on the pages are marks for the reader. The proof is the digital signature or timestamp shown in the Signature panel. Whether the reader shows a signature as "trusted" can depend on the reader's own settings for your certifying authority.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to do
The application does not start	Make sure the ZIP was fully extracted (not opened from inside the ZIP). If Windows shows "Windows protected your PC", choose More info → Run anyway. If it still does not start, report it (see Support) and attach the file %LOCALAPPDATA%\RatioJuris\BulkFiledSigner\logs\application.log.
A PDF cannot be opened	Password-protected PDFs, files larger than 256 MB and documents with more than 10,000 pages are not supported. Remove the password in the program that created the PDF, or split very large files.
My DSC does not appear	Plug in the token and wait a few seconds. Install the token driver from your certifying authority. Check that the certificate appears in Windows (search the Start menu for "Manage user certificates", then look under Personal → Certificates). If it appears in grey in the application, read the reason shown under it.
PIN or certificate login fails	Enter the PIN carefully; tokens lock after several wrong attempts, and only your certifying authority can unlock them. If the PIN window does not appear, reconnect the token and try again.
The timestamp service is unavailable	Check your internet connection and try another service in the timestamp list. In DSC mode you can choose No timestamp and sign without one.
A PDF cannot be signed	The Activity panel shows the reason. PDFs that are certified, password-protected or carry restricted signatures cannot be signed. Permissions cannot be added to a PDF that is already signed.
One document fails but others succeed	Each document is signed separately, so a failure does not affect your other documents. Open the Activity panel for that document's reason and see the rows above.
The signed file cannot be saved	The application tells you why and lets you choose another folder. Pick a folder you can write to, such as Documents, and check that the disk is not full. Some folders, such as C:\Program Files, cannot be written to.
An update fails	Click Retry in the update window and check your internet connection. Portable copies need a folder you can write to. If a critical update is required, signing stays paused until it is installed; you can also download the new version from the Releases page.

Security and important information

• Protect your DSC. Never share your token or PIN. Remove the token when you are not signing.
• Verify your documents. Check signed PDFs in a PDF reader before you submit them.
• Keep your originals. The application never changes your original PDF; keep it where appropriate.
• Review the output. Open each signed file and check the stamps, pages and details.
• What a signature does not prove. A digital signature shows who signed and that the file has not changed. It does not make the document's content correct or legally valid. Whether a particular office accepts a DSC signature or a timestamp seal is decided by that office.
• Your documents stay on your computer. They are never uploaded. When you use a timestamp, only a digital fingerprint of the document is sent to the timestamp service.
• Updates are checked before installation. The application installs only updates signed by the developer and confirmed with a checksum.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install Java? No. Everything needed is included in the download.

Does it work without the internet? Yes, for signing with a DSC without a timestamp. Timestamps, timestamp seals and update checks need the internet.

Is my original PDF changed? No. The application signs a copy and saves the result as a new file.

Where are my signed files? Wherever you chose in the Save window. If you cancelled that window, the application tells you where it kept a copy and lets you Save As… again. All signed copies are also kept in %LOCALAPPDATA%\RatioJuris\BulkFiledSigner\output, in a new folder for each signing.

Can I sign several PDF files at once? The application signs one PDF at a time, but places stamps on as many pages of that PDF as you need, and signs them all with one PIN entry.

What is the difference between "Signed" and "Sealed"? "Signed" uses your DSC and proves who you are. "Sealed" uses only a trusted timestamp and proves that the document has not changed.

Why is a newer version required before I can sign? A critical or security update was published. Signing is paused until it is installed, to protect your documents.

Screenshots

These screenshots come from the real application, using a sample document and a sample certificate.

Main window: signing with a DSC	Timestamp seal: no DSC needed
Placing stamps on the pages	Details, stamp appearance and permissions
Saved: open the PDF or its folder	Result: a page of the sealed sample
Stamp designer with live preview	Settings → About and update check

Support and bug reports

• Downloads and releases: https://github.com/RatioJuris/BulkFieldSignerGUI/releases
• Report a problem or request a feature: https://github.com/RatioJuris/BulkFieldSignerGUI/issues. Describe what you did and what happened, and attach application.log if possible. Never attach confidential documents, certificates or PINs.
• Installation on Linux and macOS: docs/INSTALL.md
• For developers and contributors: CONTRIBUTORS.md
• Source code: https://github.com/RatioJuris/BulkFieldSignerGUI

License and credits

PDF DSC-TSA Bulk Signer is free software, licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. See LICENSE. It includes third-party components under their own licenses; see THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.md.

Developed by PrajnaBytes International Private Limited | RatioJuris.