Looking for a way on how to open digitally signed p7m files ? Here is a practical tutorial to read a p7m format file for free, online or in PDF.
The digital transformation of companies and services is evident not only in the most important activities such as those connected to the bank or to economic transactions, but also in the interaction with solutions available to everyone such as electronic invoicing , PDF signature and certified mail .
If until a few years ago the word digital signature was not in common use, nowadays it is difficult not to find yourself using it when carrying out an operation in a public office or with some specific bodies. While digitization can come in many forms, in most cases the most commonly used formats are P7M and XML. In this guide we will see how to open P7M files , but if you also need to work with XML formats, read our guide on how to open XML files .
Index
- What is p7m format
- How to open a p7m file
- Dike GoSign
- ArubaSign
- DigitalSign Reader
- Other programs to open p7m files
- How to open a p7m file online for free
- Post certificate
- Namirial
- Other online services for verifying digital electronic signatures
- How to open a p7m file on Android and iOS
- GoSign (Android, iOS)
- Firma Digitale Aruba (Android, iOS)
- How to open pdf.p7m files
What is p7m format
Before taking a look at the best solutions for opening this type of file, it is important to understand what it is. When you find yourself opening a file in .p7m format , you will be opening a file that has been digitally signed. It is often associated with electronic invoices, but you can also find the same format in a text document, a spreadsheet, any computer document, an image or any text in which a digital signature has been affixed.
As you can imagine, a file of this kind does not have the same value as a traditional text document, perhaps written in Word or PDF , but inserts a digital signature inside which certifies its importance, as well as a legal value.
How to open a p7m file
Specifically, the digital signature, when associated with an IT document, has the ability to certify the identity of the person who transcribed the signature, thus ensuring that the text within it has not been modified, effectively highlighting the legal validity. Just like the PEC , which unlike a traditional e-mail is certified, documents in .p7m format also have legal value, a condition which binds you to various duties, but also to many guarantees.
From a technical point of view, although this format is increasingly widespread, you will need to rely on dedicated software to be able to view it on the screen. Unlike many paper documents, the .p7m format is bound to an encrypted system which makes it more secure. Imagine receiving an electronic invoice, you can only open it with software compatible with this format. In practical use, in addition to equipping yourself with the specific program, you won’t have to worry about other specifications. In fact, the software itself will then convert the format into a text file , showing it on the screen as a common Word file or a PDF.
Now that we have a clearer idea of what a .p7m format file is, it is interesting to analyze what are the most efficient software for this operation.
Dike GoSign
One of the most downloaded programs to open files in the .p7m format is Dike , developed by the Infocert company and downloadable completely free of charge, both on the Windows and macOS versions. When you access Dike’s functions, you will not only be able to take a look at the digitally signed text, but you will also be able to affix one or more digital signatures if you need to. Go to the official Infocert website and click on Download , once the procedure is complete you will need to install the software and import the .p7m file you wish to view.
You can also select the program by right clicking on the file and choosing Open with Dike , it will open directly in the software. By clicking on the Report option you can also verify that there are errors in the digital document.
ArubaSign
If you use the Aruba platform for various services, from electronic invoicing to digital signatures, then you would probably love ArubaSign . Although the Aruba site, in most cases, offers you paid services, with ArubaSign you can access files in .p7m format for free. But how to open p7m files with Aruba ?
Just download the program from the Aruba web page and select the operating system on which you will use it. At the end of the download, you will have to install and start the software, with which you will be able to carry out the same operations as Dike. With the Verify function you can select the file to upload and read p7m files in seconds if the digital signature is actually valid or not.
DigitalSign Reader
Many users, especially those who have a SME (Small and Medium Enterprise), love to use DigitalSign Reader to quickly view their files in p7m format. This program was developed by CompeD and is, as you can tell from the name, a real p7m document reader. Fortunately, however, it is not limited only to reading files in this extension, but can also implement additional functions, such as adding an electronic signature or accessing advanced activities.
To download it, go to the official website and once installed you will be able to carry out these operations, in addition to the usual verification of the reliability of the signature.
Other programs to open p7m files
- Digital Signature Service
- Company OK!
- Namirial Sign
- Acrobat Reader DC
- GeniuSign
- Signer
How to open a p7m file online for free
Not everyone likes to download a program to read p7m files, maybe you are among the people who have to view this type of file on the screen once in a while. In this case you can rely on websites that allow you to read this format, without necessarily installing any program or extension for the web browser.
Post certificate
One of the most used platforms to open p7m files is that of Poste Italiane, this free tool allows you to read documents that have been digitally signed. To access the service you just have to go to the official Postecert page and choose the file you want to import to have it read on the site, then click on Confirm to submit the reading request.
The only sore point is the type of extension, in fact, you can view the XAdES, CAdES and PAdES formats, but with a maximum size of 50 MB. Once you upload the file you can then download it in p7m format with attached and verified digital signature.
Namirial
An online alternative that could help you open p7m files is Namirial, the functions and potential are identical to those offered by the previous platform, but you won’t have too many limitations in terms of megabytes to upload. To access the service you will first need to go to the official Namirial page and click on the screen button called Select file . From here you will need to upload the p7m file and wait for it to upload. After a few seconds you will be able to view the file on the screen and verify it by clicking on Verify . This service also verifies PDF signatures (PAdES) and signatures based on certificates issued by qualified certifiers established in the European Union.
Other online services for verifying digital electronic signatures
- National Council of Notaries– verifies the digital signatures of Italian notaries.
- Comped – also verifies PDF signatures (PAdES) and signatures based on certificates issued by qualified certifiers established in the European Union.
How to open a p7m file on Android and iOS
Computer and online platforms not your preferred choice? Perhaps you are a user who purely loves to use the smartphone; luckily there are solutions to open p7m files for iOS and Android as well . Let’s see the best.
GoSign (Android, iOS)
The most used application for this purpose is GoSign , fast and very intuitive to start. You will only have to upload the document and extract it, even in PDF format. Download from the Play Store or the App Store .
Firma Digitale Aruba (Android, iOS)
Aruba also offers you the Aruba Digital Signature app , versatile and practical, with which to interact and open files in the p7m format. You will only have to download from the App Store or the Play Store .
How to open pdf.p7m files
Files with the .p7m extension add up to the extension of the original file and, as already mentioned, identify electronic documents on which a Digital Signature has been affixed. If you receive a file in PDF.p7m format, it means that it is a digitally signed PDF document. To open pdf.p7m files you cannot use a freeware PDF editor and as an alternative to the programs described above you can opt for simpler tools such as: Adobe Acrobat Reader .
Go to the official Adobe website and click Download Acrobat Reader . At the end of the installation, open the program and press File > Open in the menu. Locate the file in pdf.p7m format , in the dialog, specify All files (*.*) instead of Adobe PDF files (*.pdf) and press Open to view the pdf.p7m file.
If you have a p7m file and you want to open it with Acrobat , as already explained in the Postecert chapter , you can take advantage of Poste Italiane’s online digital signature verifier to convert it into PDF. Select the file on your PC by pressing on Choose a signed file.. and immediately after, press on Verify . At the end you can download the file in PDF format to view the certificate information such as the name of the signatory , the validity of the certificate , the date and time of signature by opening the file with Acrobat Reader.
