Electronically Signing & adding Signature Lines to Word Documents

Creating a signature line in Word or Excel

  1. In the document or worksheet, place your pointer where you want to create a signature line.

  2. On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click the Signature Line list, and then click Microsoft Office Signature Line.

  3. In the Signature Setup dialog box, type information that will appear beneath the signature line:
    Signature Details dialog

    • Suggested signer     The signer's full name.

    • Suggested signer's title     The signer's title, if any.

    • Suggested signer's e-mail address     The signer's e-mail address, if needed.

    • Instructions to the signer     Add instructions for the signer, such as "Before signing the document, verify that the content is correct."

  4. Select both of the following check boxes:

    • Allow the signer to add comments in the Sign dialog box     Allow the signer to type a purpose for signing.

    • Show sign date in signature line     The date the document was signed will appear with the signature.

Tip: To add additional signature lines, repeat these steps.

Note: If the document remains unsigned, the Signatures Message Bar appears. Click View Signatures to complete the signature process.

Signatures Message Bar, unsigned document

 

Signing the signature line in Word or Excel

When you sign a signature line, you add a visible representation of your signature and a digital signature.

An unsigned signature line

  1. In the file, right-click the signature line.

    Note: If the file opens in Protected View, click Edit Anyway, if the file is from a reliable source.

  2. From the menu, select Sign.

    • To add a printed version of your signature, type your name in the box next to the X.

    • To select an image of your written signature, click Select Image. In the Select Signature Image dialog box, find the location of your signature image file, select the file that you want, and then click Select.

      Notes: 

      • For customers using Chinese- (Traditional or Simplified), Korean-, or Japanese-language versions, the Stamp Signature Line option appears.

      • In addition, you can sign a signature line by double-clicking the signature line. Type your name next to the X. Or, in the Signature Pane, in the Requested Signatures section, click the arrow next to the signature. From the menu, select Sign.

    • To add a handwritten signature (Tablet PC users only), sign your name in the box next to the X by using the inking feature.

    • Click Sign.

    • The Signatures button appears at the bottom of the document or worksheet.

The following image shows the Signatures button.

The red Signature button

 

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