WD2002: Digital Signatures Button Is Not Available (281862)

SYMPTOMS

When you click Security Options on the Tools menu in the Save As dialog box, the Digital Signatures button is not available (grayed out).

This behavior occurs even when the computer has a valid digital certificate.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because you cannot add a digital signature to a document that you have not yet saved. If you click the Security tab in the Save As dialog box, Word automatically makes the Digital Signatures button unavailable.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

In Word, on the File menu, click Save.
In the Save As dialog box, name the document and then click Save.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Security tab.
On the Security tab, click Digital Signatures (which is now available).
Click Add.
Select the digital certificate that you want, and then click OK.

NOTE: You must obtain or create a digital certificate before you can add a digital signature to a document.

MORE INFORMATION

A digital signature guarantees that the document was created by the signer of the document, and that the document has not been altered since it was signed.

REFERENCES

For more information about digital signatures, click Microsoft Word 2002 Help on the Help menu, type about digital signatures in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.