Documents you will typically find
| Document | Usual format | Typical signers |
|---|---|---|
| Employment and rental contracts | PDF, DOCX | Both parties |
| Board and shareholder decisions | Board members | |
| Invoices and acts of acceptance | PDF, XML | Supplier, sometimes the buyer |
| Applications to authorities | PDF, DOCX | The applicant |
| Powers of attorney | The principal |
In Estonia nearly any document that used to need a handwritten signature can be signed digitally, so the list keeps growing.
Several documents, one signature
An ASiC-E signature does not belong to a single file. It contains a digest of every document in the container, so signing the container means approving all of them together. That is practical for a contract with three annexes, and it is the reason to open every file before relying on the container.
In ASiCE Viewer the left panel lists all documents. Click through them one by one; the preview changes without reloading.
Which one is the main document?
The standard does not mark a "main" file. Convention helps: the contract usually comes first and annexes are named Lisa 1, Annex 1 and so on. If in doubt, read the first page of each. A signature covers everything equally, whatever the order.
Saving documents out of the container
Use the download icon next to a file, or Download all (ZIP) for the whole set. The files are identical to what was signed.
A document saved out of the container is an ordinary file. It no longer proves who signed it. To forward proof, send the .asice file itself.
When the same people handle many containers
Accountants and lawyers often receive dozens of signed files a week. Dropping several containers onto the page at once opens them as a list, and each can be opened in turn. On Android, the ASiC-E Viewer app keeps recent containers at hand without a connection. Working routines for teams are covered in ASiC-E document reader.
Frequently asked questions
Can a container hold files that were not signed?
In a correct container every document is referenced by the signature. ASiCE Viewer warns when a referenced file is missing or has changed.
Can I add a document to a signed container?
Not without invalidating the existing signatures. Create a new container, or have all parties sign again.