# ASiC-E Document Viewer: contracts, invoices and attachments

> A signed container rarely holds one lonely file. An ASiC-E document viewer has to show the main document, its annexes and anything else the signer added.

Source: https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-document-viewer/
Published: 2026-11-10 · Digixy

## In short

- One signature covers every document in the container at once.
- Check the whole file list: annexes are as binding as the main contract.
- Documents can be saved separately, but a saved copy carries no signature.

## Documents you will typically find

| Document | Usual format | Typical signers |
| Employment and rental contracts | PDF, DOCX | Both parties |
| Board and shareholder decisions | PDF | Board members |
| Invoices and acts of acceptance | PDF, XML | Supplier, sometimes the buyer |
| Applications to authorities | PDF, DOCX | The applicant |
| Powers of attorney | PDF | 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](https://asiceviewer.com/en/#tool) 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](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dasiceviewer.com%26utm_medium%3Dblog-md) keeps recent containers at hand without a connection. Working routines for teams are covered in [ASiC-E document reader](https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-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.

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Open your .asice file now: https://asiceviewer.com/en/
ASiC-E Viewer on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer