The question people actually ask
A contract goes round three board members. A week later someone asks whether everyone has signed. Opening the container in a signature viewer answers in five seconds: count the cards.
What each card shows
- Name and identifier of the signer.
- Signing time, so the order of signing is visible.
- Role or resolution, if the signer typed one, such as "Board member" or "Approved with remarks".
- Place, if given.
- Integrity of the signed files for that signer.
In ASiCE Viewer the cards are listed in the order the signatures are stored, which is normally the order of signing.
Following a signing round
| Stage | What the viewer shows |
|---|---|
| Container created, nobody signed | No signature cards |
| First party signed | One card |
| Sent on and signed by the second party | Two cards, the second with a later time |
| Someone replaced a document mid-way | Integrity error on the earlier signatures |
The last row is worth remembering. If a document is changed after the first person signed, the first signature no longer matches. The fix is a fresh container signed by everyone.
Resolutions and conditional approvals
Estonian practice allows a signer to add a short text when signing. It is part of the signed data and cannot be edited afterwards. A viewer displays it next to the name, so a conditional approval is not overlooked.
Signatures and time stamps together
Besides personal signatures a container may carry an organisation's e-seal or, in ASiC-S containers, a bare time stamp without any signer. A seal shows an organisation's name where a person's would be, and a bare time stamp appears as a note above the file list, so you can tell a personal approval from an automated one.
When viewing is enough
- Checking progress of a signing round.
- Confirming which version of a document someone signed.
- Finding out who to remind.
- Reading a resolution text.
When the question becomes "would this stand up legally?", move on to validation as described in verify an ASiC-E signature.
On the phone
A reminder to sign usually reaches people on their phones. The ASiC-E Viewer app shows the same signer list offline, straight from a mail or chat attachment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see in which order people signed?
Yes. Each signature has its own time, and the cards are listed in stored order.
Does the viewer notify me when someone signs?
No. A container is a file; open the latest version you received to see its current signatures.