The embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for enabling a client to request a server to cancel the digital signing of a form file associated with a form. Successful cancellation of the digital signing process results in a return of the form file to its initial state, in which data are not lost, and the form can be resubmitted and/or the application of the digital signature can be retried. Request and response messages, communicated between a protocol client and a protocol server, cause the performance of protocol functions for applying a digital signature to a form file and for cancelling the signature thereof where errors in the signing process are detected. A versioning mechanism enabling the detection of version differences and resulting upgrades to the digital signature control allows for robust communications between a client and a server operating under different product versions.