2.5 Binary Document Digital Signatures

This section specifies the process used to create and store digital signatures within Office binary documents, and it specifies XML Advanced Electronic Signatures [XAdES] support for all documents using xmldsig digital signatures. There are two digital signature formats. The first is referred to as a CryptoAPI digital signature, and the second is referred to as an xmldsig digital signature.

The process used by ECMA-376 documents [ECMA-376] for xmldsig digital signatures is very similar to the process used by xmldsig digital signatures when applied to Office binary documents, as specified in [ECMA-376] Part 2 Section 12. Both document types use an XML signature format as specified in [XMLDSig]. For details about a schema reference, see [ECMA-376] Part 2 Section 12.2.4.