If I try to add digital signature in dwg file I get this informal message that "You do not have the right to view, add, or delete digital signatures" or password "You do not have permission to protect files. This permission is controlled by the MS_PROTECTION_ENABLE config variable".
How to add rights or Digital Signatures and Digital Rights are just not supported in DWG files?
Autodesk supports them in ACAD 2000 and newer.
Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley
This explanation then seems outdated - communities.bentley.com/.../why-are-digital-signatures-and-digital-rights-not-supported-in-dwg-files
There is some info here- Does not say if it applies to DWG files.
That article is still valid - password protected DWG files can be opened but digital signature in DWG file is not supported yet. Digital signature is done outside of RealDWG. It is well related, if not completely dependent on, an independent module called AcSignIcon which gets installed on a computer through Autodesk applications. Unfotunately, this is a module known to crash applications that use Windows File Open (see https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/w/microstation__wiki/3621/acsignxxx-dll-memory-allocation-technote for technical details). This tech note happens to be one of the most read articles on BE Communities. In this tech note, we actually recommended users to disable AcSignIcon to prevent Windows File Open dialog box from potential crashes.
That said, you may start a new idea in Ideas of MicroStation Community. If there is enough interest, we may collaborate with Autodesk on a solution in the future.
Answer Verified By: Oto
Then the message seems to be misleading. Why so secret?
I will post it to ideas as I get questions from customers which started of using digital signatures in DGN files that this option is not available in DWG and that workflow using Bentley software is broken and they have to switch to AutoCAD. Locally we have edoc format which zips and signs all documents but in case of designs it is not easy to use as they have to countersign the edoc multiple times.
At least one not so useful option is to sign DWG references:A signature can cover the content of a model or file and all of its references including DGN and DWG references.