Quickstart for Adobe PDF Electronic Seal API (Node.js)

To get started using Adobe PDF Electronic Seal API, let's walk through a simple scenario - Applying an electronic seal on an invoice PDF document. In this guide, we will walk you through the complete process for creating a program that will accomplish this task.

Prerequisites

To complete this guide, you will need:

• Node.js - Node.js version 18.0 or higher is required.
• An Adobe ID. If you do not have one, the credential setup will walk you through creating one.
• A way to edit code. No specific editor is required for this guide.

Step One: Getting credentials

1) To begin, open your browser to https://acrobatservices.adobe.com/dc-integration-creation-app-cdn/main.html?api=pdf-services-api. If you are not already logged in to Adobe.com, you will need to sign in or create a new user. Using a personal email account is recommended and not a federated ID.

2) After registering or logging in, you will then be asked to name your new credentials. Use the name, "New Project".

3) Change the "Choose language" setting to "Node.js".

4) Also note the checkbox by, "Create personalized code sample." This will include a large set of samples along with your credentials. These can be helpful for learning more later.

5) Click the checkbox saying you agree to the developer terms and then click "Create credentials."

6) After your credentials are created, they are automatically downloaded:

Step Two: Setting up the project

1) In your Downloads folder, find the ZIP file with your credentials: PDFServicesSDK-Node.jsSamples.zip. If you unzip that archive, you will find a folder of samples and the pdfservices-api-credentials.json file.

2) Take the pdfservices-api-credentials.json and place it in a new directory. Remember that these credential files are important and should be stored safely.

3) At the command line, change to the directory you created, and initialize a new Node.js project with npm init -y

4) Install the Adobe PDF Services Node.js SDK by typing npm install --save @adobe/pdfservices-node-sdk at the command line.

5) Install a package to help us work with ZIP files. Type npm install --save adm-zip.

At this point, we've installed the Node.js SDK for Adobe PDF Services API as a dependency for our project and have copied over our credentials files.

Our application will take an Invoice PDF document, sampleInvoice.pdf (downloadable from here), and will use the sealing options with default appearance options to apply electronic seal over the PDF document by invoking Acrobat Services API and generate an electronically sealed PDF.

6) In your editor, open the directory where you previously copied the credentials. Create a new file, electronic-seal.js.

Now you're ready to begin coding.

Step Three: Creating the application

1) We'll begin by including our required dependencies:

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const {
  ServicePrincipalCredentials,
  PDFServices,
  MimeType,
  FieldLocation,
  FieldOptions,
  CSCAuthContext,
  CSCCredential,
  PDFElectronicSealParams,
  PDFElectronicSealJob,
  PDFElectronicSealResult,
  AppearanceOptions,
  AppearanceItem,
  SDKError,
  ServiceUsageError,
  ServiceApiError, DocumentLevelPermission
} = require("@adobe/pdfservices-node-sdk");
const fs = require("fs");
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const {
  ServicePrincipalCredentials,
  PDFServices,
  MimeType,
  FieldLocation,
  FieldOptions,
  CSCAuthContext,
  CSCCredential,
  PDFElectronicSealParams,
  PDFElectronicSealJob,
  PDFElectronicSealResult,
  AppearanceOptions,
  AppearanceItem,
  SDKError,
  ServiceUsageError,
  ServiceApiError, DocumentLevelPermission
} = require("@adobe/pdfservices-node-sdk");
const fs = require("fs");

2) Set the environment variables PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID and PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET by running the following commands and replacing placeholders YOUR CLIENT ID and YOUR CLIENT SECRET with the credentials present in pdfservices-api-credentials.json file:

• Windows:

  • set PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID=<YOUR CLIENT ID>
  • set PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET=<YOUR CLIENT SECRET>

• MacOS/Linux:

  • export PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID=<YOUR CLIENT ID>
  • export PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET=<YOUR CLIENT SECRET>

3) Next, we setup the SDK to use our credentials.

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// Initial setup, create credentials instance
const credentials = new ServicePrincipalCredentials({
  clientId: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID,
  clientSecret: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET
});

// Creates a PDF Services instance
const pdfServices = new PDFServices({credentials});
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// Initial setup, create credentials instance
const credentials = new ServicePrincipalCredentials({
  clientId: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID,
  clientSecret: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET
});

// Creates a PDF Services instance
const pdfServices = new PDFServices({credentials});

4) Now, let's upload the assets:

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const [sourceFileAsset, sealImageAsset] = await pdfServices.uploadAssets({
  streamAssets: [{
    readStream: sourceFileReadStream,
    mimeType: MimeType.PDF
  }, {
    readStream: sealImageReadStream,
    mimeType: MimeType.PNG
  }]
});
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const [sourceFileAsset, sealImageAsset] = await pdfServices.uploadAssets({
  streamAssets: [{
    readStream: sourceFileReadStream,
    mimeType: MimeType.PDF
  }, {
    readStream: sealImageReadStream,
    mimeType: MimeType.PNG
  }]
});

5) Now, we will define the document level permission:

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// Set the document level permission to be applied for output document
const documentLevelPermission = DocumentLevelPermission.FORM_FILLING;
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// Set the document level permission to be applied for output document
const documentLevelPermission = DocumentLevelPermission.FORM_FILLING;

6) Now, we will define seal field options:

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// Create AppearanceOptions and add the required signature appearance items
const sealAppearanceOptions = new AppearanceOptions({
  items: [
    AppearanceItem.DATE,
    AppearanceItem.SEAL_IMAGE,
    AppearanceItem.NAME,
    AppearanceItem.LABELS,
    AppearanceItem.DISTINGUISHED_NAME
  ]
});

// Set the Seal Field Name to be created in input PDF document
const sealFieldName = "Signature1";

// Set the page number in input document for applying seal
const sealPageNumber = 1;

// Set if seal should be visible or invisible
const sealVisible = true;

// Create FieldLocation instance and set the coordinates for applying signature
const fieldLocation = new FieldLocation({
  left: 150,
  top: 250,
  right: 350,
  bottom: 200
});

// Create FieldOptions instance with required details
const sealFieldOptions = new FieldOptions({
  visible: sealVisible,
  location: fieldLocation,
  fieldName: sealFieldName,
  pageNumber: sealPageNumber,
});
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// Create AppearanceOptions and add the required signature appearance items
const sealAppearanceOptions = new AppearanceOptions({
  items: [
    AppearanceItem.DATE,
    AppearanceItem.SEAL_IMAGE,
    AppearanceItem.NAME,
    AppearanceItem.LABELS,
    AppearanceItem.DISTINGUISHED_NAME
  ]
});

// Set the Seal Field Name to be created in input PDF document
const sealFieldName = "Signature1";

// Set the page number in input document for applying seal
const sealPageNumber = 1;

// Set if seal should be visible or invisible
const sealVisible = true;

// Create FieldLocation instance and set the coordinates for applying signature
const fieldLocation = new FieldLocation({
  left: 150,
  top: 250,
  right: 350,
  bottom: 200
});

// Create FieldOptions instance with required details
const sealFieldOptions = new FieldOptions({
  visible: sealVisible,
  location: fieldLocation,
  fieldName: sealFieldName,
  pageNumber: sealPageNumber,
});

7) Next, we create a CSC Certificate Credentials instance:

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// Set the name of TSP Provider being used
const providerName = "<PROVIDER_NAME>";

// Set the access token to be used to access TSP provider hosted APIs
const accessToken = "<ACCESS_TOKEN>";

// Set the credential ID
const credentialId = "<CREDENTIAL_ID>";

// Set the PIN generated while creating credentials
const pin = "<PIN>";

// Create CSCAuthContext instance using access token and token type
const authorizationContext = new CSCAuthContext({
  accessToken,
  tokenType: "Bearer"
});

// Create CertificateCredentials instance with required certificate details
const certificateCredentials = new CSCCredential({
  providerName,
  credentialId,
  pin,
  authorizationContext,
});
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// Set the name of TSP Provider being used
const providerName = "<PROVIDER_NAME>";

// Set the access token to be used to access TSP provider hosted APIs
const accessToken = "<ACCESS_TOKEN>";

// Set the credential ID
const credentialId = "<CREDENTIAL_ID>";

// Set the PIN generated while creating credentials
const pin = "<PIN>";

// Create CSCAuthContext instance using access token and token type
const authorizationContext = new CSCAuthContext({
  accessToken,
  tokenType: "Bearer"
});

// Create CertificateCredentials instance with required certificate details
const certificateCredentials = new CSCCredential({
  providerName,
  credentialId,
  pin,
  authorizationContext,
});

8) Now, let's create the job with seal parameters using certificate credentials and field options and set the seal image asset:

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// Create parameters for the job
const params = new PDFElectronicSealParams({
  documentLevelPermission
  certificateCredentials,
  sealFieldOptions,
  sealAppearanceOptions
});

// Creates a new job instance
const job = new PDFElectronicSealJob({
  inputAsset: sourceFileAsset,
  sealImageAsset,
  params,
});
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// Create parameters for the job
const params = new PDFElectronicSealParams({
  documentLevelPermission
  certificateCredentials,
  sealFieldOptions,
  sealAppearanceOptions
});

// Creates a new job instance
const job = new PDFElectronicSealJob({
  inputAsset: sourceFileAsset,
  sealImageAsset,
  params,
});

This set of code defines what we're doing (an Electronic Seal operation), it defines parameters for the seal job and sets input seal image asset.

9) The next code block submits the job and gets the job result:

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// Submit the job and get the job result
const pollingURL = await pdfServices.submit({job});
const pdfServicesResponse = await pdfServices.getJobResult({
  pollingURL,
  resultType: PDFElectronicSealResult
});

// Get content from the resulting asset(s)
const resultAsset = pdfServicesResponse.result.asset;
const streamAsset = await pdfServices.getContent({asset: resultAsset});
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// Submit the job and get the job result
const pollingURL = await pdfServices.submit({job});
const pdfServicesResponse = await pdfServices.getJobResult({
  pollingURL,
  resultType: PDFElectronicSealResult
});

// Get content from the resulting asset(s)
const resultAsset = pdfServicesResponse.result.asset;
const streamAsset = await pdfServices.getContent({asset: resultAsset});

10) The next code block saves the result at the specified location:

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// Creates a write stream and copy stream asset's content to it
const outputFilePath = "./sealedOutput.pdf";
console.log(`Saving asset at ${outputFilePath}`);

const writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(outputFilePath);
streamAsset.readStream.pipe(writeStream);
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// Creates a write stream and copy stream asset's content to it
const outputFilePath = "./sealedOutput.pdf";
console.log(`Saving asset at ${outputFilePath}`);

const writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(outputFilePath);
streamAsset.readStream.pipe(writeStream);

Here's the complete application (electronic-seal.js):

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const {
  ServicePrincipalCredentials,
  PDFServices,
  MimeType,
  FieldLocation,
  FieldOptions,
  CSCAuthContext,
  CSCCredential,
  PDFElectronicSealParams,
  PDFElectronicSealJob,
  PDFElectronicSealResult,
  AppearanceOptions,
  AppearanceItem,
  SDKError,
  ServiceUsageError,
  ServiceApiError, DocumentLevelPermission
} = require("@adobe/pdfservices-node-sdk");
const fs = require("fs");

(async () => {

  let sourceFileReadStream;
  let sealImageReadStream;
  try {
    // Initial setup, create credentials instance
    const credentials = new ServicePrincipalCredentials({
      clientId: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID,
      clientSecret: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET
    });

    // Creates a PDF Services instance
    const pdfServices = new PDFServices({credentials});

    // Creates an asset(s) from source file(s) and upload
    sourceFileReadStream = fs.createReadStream("./sampleInvoice.pdf")
    sealImageReadStream = fs.createReadStream("./sampleSealImage.png");
    const [sourceFileAsset, sealImageAsset] = await pdfServices.uploadAssets({
      streamAssets: [{
        readStream: sourceFileReadStream,
        mimeType: MimeType.PDF
      }, {
        readStream: sealImageReadStream,
        mimeType: MimeType.PNG
      }]
    });

    // Set the document level permission to be applied for output document
    const documentLevelPermission = DocumentLevelPermission.FORM_FILLING;

    // Create AppearanceOptions and add the required signature appearance items
    const sealAppearanceOptions = new AppearanceOptions({
      items: [
        AppearanceItem.DATE,
        AppearanceItem.SEAL_IMAGE,
        AppearanceItem.NAME,
        AppearanceItem.LABELS,
        AppearanceItem.DISTINGUISHED_NAME
      ]
    });

    // Set the Seal Field Name to be created in input PDF document
    const sealFieldName = "Signature1";

    // Set the page number in input document for applying seal
    const sealPageNumber = 1;

    // Set if seal should be visible or invisible
    const sealVisible = true;

    // Create FieldLocation instance and set the coordinates for applying signature
    const fieldLocation = new FieldLocation({
      left: 150,
      top: 250,
      right: 350,
      bottom: 200
    });

    // Create FieldOptions instance with required details
    const sealFieldOptions = new FieldOptions({
      visible: sealVisible,
      location: fieldLocation,
      fieldName: sealFieldName,
      pageNumber: sealPageNumber,
    });

    // Set the name of TSP Provider being used
    const providerName = "<PROVIDER_NAME>";

    // Set the access token to be used to access TSP provider hosted APIs
    const accessToken = "<ACCESS_TOKEN>";

    // Set the credential ID
    const credentialId = "<CREDENTIAL_ID>";

    // Set the PIN generated while creating credentials
    const pin = "<PIN>";

    // Create CSCAuthContext instance using access token and token type
    const authorizationContext = new CSCAuthContext({
      accessToken,
      tokenType: "Bearer"
    });

    // Create CertificateCredentials instance with required certificate details
    const certificateCredentials = new CSCCredential({
      providerName,
      credentialId,
      pin,
      authorizationContext,
    });

    // Create parameters for the job
    const params = new PDFElectronicSealParams({
      documentLevelPermission
      certificateCredentials,
      sealFieldOptions,
      sealAppearanceOptions
    });

    // Creates a new job instance
    const job = new PDFElectronicSealJob({
      inputAsset: sourceFileAsset,
      sealImageAsset,
      params,
    });

    // Submit the job and get the job result
    const pollingURL = await pdfServices.submit({job});
    const pdfServicesResponse = await pdfServices.getJobResult({
      pollingURL,
      resultType: PDFElectronicSealResult
    });

    // Get content from the resulting asset(s)
    const resultAsset = pdfServicesResponse.result.asset;
    const streamAsset = await pdfServices.getContent({asset: resultAsset});

    // Creates a write stream and copy stream asset's content to it
    const outputFilePath = "./sealedOutput.pdf";
    console.log(`Saving asset at ${outputFilePath}`);

    const writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(outputFilePath);
    streamAsset.readStream.pipe(writeStream);
  } catch (err) {
    if (err instanceof SDKError || err instanceof ServiceUsageError || err instanceof ServiceApiError) {
      console.log("Exception encountered while executing operation", err);
    } else {
      console.log("Exception encountered while executing operation", err);
    }
  } finally {
    sourceFileReadStream?.destroy();
    sealImageReadStream?.destroy();
  }
})();
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const {
  ServicePrincipalCredentials,
  PDFServices,
  MimeType,
  FieldLocation,
  FieldOptions,
  CSCAuthContext,
  CSCCredential,
  PDFElectronicSealParams,
  PDFElectronicSealJob,
  PDFElectronicSealResult,
  AppearanceOptions,
  AppearanceItem,
  SDKError,
  ServiceUsageError,
  ServiceApiError, DocumentLevelPermission
} = require("@adobe/pdfservices-node-sdk");
const fs = require("fs");

(async () => {

  let sourceFileReadStream;
  let sealImageReadStream;
  try {
    // Initial setup, create credentials instance
    const credentials = new ServicePrincipalCredentials({
      clientId: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID,
      clientSecret: process.env.PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET
    });

    // Creates a PDF Services instance
    const pdfServices = new PDFServices({credentials});

    // Creates an asset(s) from source file(s) and upload
    sourceFileReadStream = fs.createReadStream("./sampleInvoice.pdf")
    sealImageReadStream = fs.createReadStream("./sampleSealImage.png");
    const [sourceFileAsset, sealImageAsset] = await pdfServices.uploadAssets({
      streamAssets: [{
        readStream: sourceFileReadStream,
        mimeType: MimeType.PDF
      }, {
        readStream: sealImageReadStream,
        mimeType: MimeType.PNG
      }]
    });

    // Set the document level permission to be applied for output document
    const documentLevelPermission = DocumentLevelPermission.FORM_FILLING;

    // Create AppearanceOptions and add the required signature appearance items
    const sealAppearanceOptions = new AppearanceOptions({
      items: [
        AppearanceItem.DATE,
        AppearanceItem.SEAL_IMAGE,
        AppearanceItem.NAME,
        AppearanceItem.LABELS,
        AppearanceItem.DISTINGUISHED_NAME
      ]
    });

    // Set the Seal Field Name to be created in input PDF document
    const sealFieldName = "Signature1";

    // Set the page number in input document for applying seal
    const sealPageNumber = 1;

    // Set if seal should be visible or invisible
    const sealVisible = true;

    // Create FieldLocation instance and set the coordinates for applying signature
    const fieldLocation = new FieldLocation({
      left: 150,
      top: 250,
      right: 350,
      bottom: 200
    });

    // Create FieldOptions instance with required details
    const sealFieldOptions = new FieldOptions({
      visible: sealVisible,
      location: fieldLocation,
      fieldName: sealFieldName,
      pageNumber: sealPageNumber,
    });

    // Set the name of TSP Provider being used
    const providerName = "<PROVIDER_NAME>";

    // Set the access token to be used to access TSP provider hosted APIs
    const accessToken = "<ACCESS_TOKEN>";

    // Set the credential ID
    const credentialId = "<CREDENTIAL_ID>";

    // Set the PIN generated while creating credentials
    const pin = "<PIN>";

    // Create CSCAuthContext instance using access token and token type
    const authorizationContext = new CSCAuthContext({
      accessToken,
      tokenType: "Bearer"
    });

    // Create CertificateCredentials instance with required certificate details
    const certificateCredentials = new CSCCredential({
      providerName,
      credentialId,
      pin,
      authorizationContext,
    });

    // Create parameters for the job
    const params = new PDFElectronicSealParams({
      documentLevelPermission
      certificateCredentials,
      sealFieldOptions,
      sealAppearanceOptions
    });

    // Creates a new job instance
    const job = new PDFElectronicSealJob({
      inputAsset: sourceFileAsset,
      sealImageAsset,
      params,
    });

    // Submit the job and get the job result
    const pollingURL = await pdfServices.submit({job});
    const pdfServicesResponse = await pdfServices.getJobResult({
      pollingURL,
      resultType: PDFElectronicSealResult
    });

    // Get content from the resulting asset(s)
    const resultAsset = pdfServicesResponse.result.asset;
    const streamAsset = await pdfServices.getContent({asset: resultAsset});

    // Creates a write stream and copy stream asset's content to it
    const outputFilePath = "./sealedOutput.pdf";
    console.log(`Saving asset at ${outputFilePath}`);

    const writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(outputFilePath);
    streamAsset.readStream.pipe(writeStream);
  } catch (err) {
    if (err instanceof SDKError || err instanceof ServiceUsageError || err instanceof ServiceApiError) {
      console.log("Exception encountered while executing operation", err);
    } else {
      console.log("Exception encountered while executing operation", err);
    }
  } finally {
    sourceFileReadStream?.destroy();
    sealImageReadStream?.destroy();
  }
})();

Next Steps

Now that you've successfully performed your first operation, review the documentation for many other examples and reach out on our forums with any questions. Also remember the samples you downloaded while creating your credentials also have many demos.

Last updated 4/9/2024

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