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Add signature fields

SigningHub allows you to add two different types of signatures in a workflow, i.e. Electronic and Digital. Read more about the electronic and digital signatures. Adding digital signatures for a recipient/ placeholder will consume digital signatures quota of your (document owner's) account, after being signed by the recipient.

In case of an electronic signature, the signature field is marked with "Electronic Signature", while for digital signature the signature field is marked with "Digital Signature". SigningHub does not allow adding both the digital signature and e-signature fields for the same recipient in a document.

You can also add multiple digital/ e-signature fields for a recipient in a document. When you add the second signature field for a signer in the same document, then the first signature field will be converted into a simple hand signature field, and the second field will become the actual digital/ e-signature field. Similarly, when you add the third digital/ e-signature field, then the previous two fields will become the simple hand signature fields, and the third field will be the actual digital/ e-signature field and so on. However when there are multiple documents in a package, then each document can have a separate digital/ e-signature field in it.

Adding digital or electronic signature fields is subject to your assigned enterprise user role. If you are willing to use this provision, ask your Enterprise Admin to enable the respective signature field in your Role>Document Settings.

After you have:


Add a digital signature field

  1. Select the document from the left side of document viewer screen, on which signature is required from a signer. Click  (encircled with the blue colour on image) if you want to manage the added documents.
  2. Select the recipient (signer/ placeholder) from the right side of document viewer screen, for whom you want to add a signature field. Click (encircled with the blue colour on image) if you want to manage the added recipients.



  1. Click the "Digital Signature" option, and drop it on the document. 
  2. You can drag and drop the signature field anywhere in the document by using your mouse. The grid lines will assist you in better alignment of fields accordingly. Resize the field with respect to its height and width or use the bottom right corner to resize it diagonally as required. The system will remember the field size and its display preferences (i.e. visible or invisible) for adding new signature fields of the same group accordingly, i.e. all digital signature fields on the same documents package.



  1. Now take the cursor to the signature field, and click  to view and edit its details. 
    See the "Signature Fields" table below for the fields description. 



  1. Repeat the above steps to add multiple digital signature fields.


Add an e-signature field

  1. Select the document from the left side of document viewer screen, on which signature is required from a signer. Click  (encircled with the blue colour on image) if you want to manage the added documents.
  2. Select the recipient (signer/ placeholder) from the right side of document viewer screen, for whom you want to add a signature field. Click  (encircled with the blue colour on image) if you want to manage the added recipients.



  1. Click the "Electronic Signature" option, and drop it on the document. 
  2. You can drag and drop the signature field anywhere in the document by using your mouse. The grid lines will assist you in better alignment of fields accordingly. Resize the field with respect to its height and width or use the bottom right corner to resize it diagonally as required. The system will remember the field size and its display preferences (i.e. visible or invisible) for adding new signature fields of the same group accordingly, i.e. all electronic signature fields on the same documents package. 



  1. Now take the cursor to the signature field, and click  to view and edit its details. 
    See the "Signature Fields" table below for the fields description. 





  1. Repeat the above steps to add multiple e-signature fields.


Sign a signature field

  1. Take the cursor to the signature field assigned to you in the document, and click  appearing on it. 
    A signing dialog will appear to sign the field, only if this field is assigned to you and it is your signing turn in the workflow.
  2. Add your signature as required i.e. Digital signature or e-signature.
    Your signature field will be signed before sharing the document.


Delete a signature field

Take the cursor to the signature field in the document to delete, and click  appearing on it. 
The signature field will be removed from the document.


Signature Fields

Fields

Description

Details Tab

Recipient

A read-only field to show the signer name and email ID for whom this signature field is being configured.

Field Name

Its an auto-generated (unique) field name that is used when you need to sign this form field through the API calls. You can change the name as required, but make sure the uniqueness of a field name is not compromised, i.e. two or more fields in a document cannot have the same field name. This field is only available as far as the status of a document is Draft. 

Display

For a digital signature, this field will be available when you are allowed (in your user role) to add the invisible signatures on a document.
However in case of an e-signature, this field will be available when you are allowed to add invisible signatures (in your user role) and also allowed (in your service plan) to add witness digital signatures. 
 
When available:

  • Select the "Visible" option, if you require a visible signature from the signer on this field. This signature will have a proper appearance on the document as configured in the signer's Signature Appearance settings.
  • Select the "Invisible" option,  if you require an invisible signature from the signer on this field.
    An invisible signature entails all the characteristics of an electronic signature and is duly verifiable like a visible signature. However, it does not have any appearance on the document.
    When a signature field is marked as invisible, an eye icon is placed on the signature field as shown with the red arrow:

Authenticate signer via OTP

This field will only appear when you are configuring an electronic signature. Tick it and provide the mobile number of the signer in the next appearing field to send them an OTP. When the signer will attempt to apply an e-signature on this document, an OTP will be sent to their (configured) mobile number. The document will be signed only upon providing the correct OTP.

By default, the specified number is displayed partially masked to comply with the GDPR policy. Click  to view the complete number.

Dimensions Tab

Dimensions

Use this tab to relatively set the on-screen and PDF coordinates/ position (Left, Top, Width & Height) of this signature field. However you can also manually move the field to the desired position in a document through drag and drop, and these coordinates will be updated accordingly. These coordinates are only available as far as the status of a document is Draft.

Note: You can only edit the on-screen dimensions but not the PDF dimensions.

Save and Cancel buttons

Click the "Save" button to save the configurations, or click the "Cancel" button to close the dialog.



​1. A hand signature is a simple annotation that is added in the document along with the actual digital/ e-signature, when multiple digital/ e-signature fields are configured for a signer.
2. You can not add the digital signature and e-signature fields for the same signer in a document.
3. An electronic signature can also be a witness digital signature, if it is generated by using a witness certificate which is a public signing certificate available on the server for digital signing. 
4. In case the specified recipient (signer) does not have a SigningHub account and a digital signature field is configured for him/her, s/he will be asked to register to SigningHub before applying digital signature on the document. However, the recipient does not require a SigningHub account, when an e-signature field is configured for him/her.
5. The availability of Witness Digital Signature and OTP security features is subject to your subscribed service plan. If you cannot find these options in your account, upgrade your service plan.
6. An invisible signature doesn't have any visible appearance on a document. However it entails all other verifiable characteristics of e-signing, i.e. Time Stamping, Certificate Chain, Certificate Status, etc. An invisible signature can be a Digital Signature, Witness Digital Signature, or Witness In-Person signatures as configured in a workflow. 
7. The OTP length is based on your subscribed service plan. SigningHub currently supports 4, 6, and 9 digits OTP.
8. You can also add a signature field on a previously signed document, if the document is not certified or locked.



See also

Add in-person signature fields
Add initials fields
Add form components
Configure form filling