Microsoft KB Archive/281862

= WD2002: Digital Signatures Button Is Not Available =

Article ID: 281862

Article Last Modified on 7/27/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q281862



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:
 * 1) In Word, on the File menu, click Save.
 * 2) In the Save As dialog box, name the document and then click Save.
 * 3) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 4) Click the Security tab.
 * 5) On the Security tab, click Digital Signatures (which is now available).
 * 6) Click Add.
 * 7) 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.

