XFA Specification
Chapter 15, Template Specification
Template Reference
547
The handler element
An element controlling what signature handler is used for a data-signing operation for an XML digital
signature.
<handler
Properties:
id="xml-id"
type="optional
|
required"
use="cdata"
usehref="cdata"
version="cdata"
>
...pcdata...
</handler>
The handler element is used within the following other elements:
filter proto
A signature handler is software that creates or authenticates a signature. The signature
creation//authentication may be purely mathematical, such as a public/private-key encrypted document
digest, or it may be a biometric form of identification, such as a handwritten signature, fingerprint, or
retinal scan. The signature handler may be a plug-in or server provided by an agency that specializes in
signature authentication.
Content
The name of the preferred signature handler to use when validating this signature. Example signature
handlers are Adobe.PPKLite, Entrust.PPKEF, CICI.SignIt, and VeriSign.PPKVS.
The id property
A unique identifier that may be used to identify this element as a target.
The type property
Indicates whether the XFA processing application is required to use the specified handler filter.
optional
The handler is optional. That is, the XFA processing application may chose to use another
algorithm rather than the one specified.
required
The handler is required. If it is not available, XFA processing application does not produce the
requested signature. It is suggested the application also provide an error response to inform the
person filling out the form that the signature has not been produced.
The use property
Invokes another object in the same document as a prototype for this object. The content of this property is
either a SOM expression (which cannot start with '#') or a '#' character followed by an XML ID.