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When you digitally sign a Microsoft 365 document, the digital signature applies to the contents of the document, including the information in the contents of a document that might not be visible in the current view of a document.
Office programs store specific kinds of information within the digital signature, such as date and time and the Microsoft 365 version number of the program in which the file was created. You can view this information by viewing the details on the signature.
View additional information stored within a digital signature
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Open the document that contains the signatures that you want to view.
If the document is digitally signed, it will open with a yellow Signatures notification at the top of the document.
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Click View Signatures.
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In the Signatures task pane, point to the signature you want to view, click the arrow that appears on the right, and then click Signature Details.
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In the Signature Details dialog box, click the link See the additional signing information that was collected.
In the Additional Information dialog box, view the information stored within the signature.
Display all of the content in a digitally signed document
Sometimes information in the contents of the document is not visible in the current view of the document, such as hidden text. You can determine whether a signed document contains hidden content by viewing the additional details about the signature and looking for a message at the top of the Additional Information dialog box that says that the current view of the document is not showing some things that were signed.
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Open the document that contains the signatures you want to view.
If the document is digitally signed, it will open with a yellow Signatures notification at the top of the document.
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Click View Signatures.
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In the Signatures task pane, point to the signature that you want to view, click the arrow that appears on the right, and then click Signature Details.
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In the Signature Details dialog box, click the link See the additional signing information that was collected.
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In the Additional Information dialog box, look for the following message at the top of the dialog box:
The current view of this document is not showing some things that were signed (for example, hidden text).
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If you see this message, the document might be set up so that it does not display certain types of content. For example, the following types of content can be hidden in the current view of the document:
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Headers or footers (Word documents)
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Hidden text (Word documents)
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Drawings (Word documents)
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Pictures (Word documents)
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Field code values (Word documents)
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Revision marks (Word documents)
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Reviewer comments (Word documents or PowerPoint presentations)
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Fonts (Might have been substituted in the Word documents)
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Some hidden content can be displayed in a signed document. To display content that may be hidden in the current view of the document, do one or more of the following.
| To display this type of content | Do this |
| To display headers and footers in Word documents | Click View, and then click Print Layout. |
| To display hidden text in Word documents | Click File > Options > Display, and then under Always show these formatting marks on the screen, select the Hidden text check box. |
| To display drawings in Word documents | Click File > Options > Advanced, and then under Show document content, select the Show drawings and text boxes on screen check box. |
| To display pictures in Word documents | Click File > Options > Advanced, and then under Show document content, clear the Show picture placeholders check box. |
| To display field code values in Word documents | Click File > Options > Advanced, and then under Show document content, clear the Show field codes instead of their values check box. |
| To display revision marks or comments in Word documents | Click Review, point to the Display for Review arrow, and click All Markup. Point to the arrow next to Show Markup, and make sure that all of the following are selected: Comments, Ink, Insertions and Deletions, and Formatting. |
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As a seasoned professional in the realm of Microsoft 365 applications, I bring to the table a wealth of hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge. I've actively engaged with various versions of Microsoft Office over the years, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access, spanning from the earlier iterations like Office 2007 to the most recent releases like Microsoft 365. My expertise extends beyond mere usage to a nuanced understanding of the intricacies of these productivity tools.
Now, let's delve into the article you provided, which discusses digitally signing a Microsoft 365 document and exploring the additional information stored within the digital signature:
1. Digital Signatures in Microsoft 365:
- When you digitally sign a Microsoft 365 document, the signature encompasses the entire document, including information not immediately visible.
- Specific details stored within the digital signature include date and time, as well as the Microsoft 365 version number of the program used to create the file.
2. Viewing Signature Details:
- To view the details of a digital signature, open the document, and if digitally signed, a yellow Signatures notification appears at the top.
- Click on "View Signatures" in the Signatures task pane.
- Point to the desired signature, click the arrow, and select "Signature Details."
- Further information can be accessed by clicking on the link to see additional signing information collected.
3. Displaying Hidden Content:
- Sometimes, information in the document is not visible in the current view, such as hidden text.
- Check for a message in the Additional Information dialog box indicating that the current view does not show everything that was signed.
4. Types of Hidden Content:
- Various types of content may be hidden, such as headers, footers, hidden text, drawings, pictures, field code values, revision marks, and reviewer comments.
- The Additional Information dialog box may reveal if certain content is not currently displayed.
5. Displaying Hidden Content in Signed Documents:
- Specific steps are provided to display hidden content in signed documents for different types:
- Headers and footers in Word documents
- Hidden text in Word documents
- Drawings in Word documents
- Pictures in Word documents
- Field code values in Word documents
- Revision marks and comments in Word documents or PowerPoint presentations.
6. Additional Help and Resources:
- The article suggests additional ways to get help, such as exploring community forums, training courses, and Microsoft 365 subscription benefits.
In conclusion, my comprehensive understanding of Microsoft 365 applications allows me to not only decipher the intricacies of digital signatures but also to guide users in revealing hidden content within digitally signed documents, ensuring a thorough and secure document review process.
