Getting Started with DocuSign Gen for eSignature
DocuSign Gen for eSignature allows you to create and send polished and professional agreements in moments without leaving the eSignature workflow. Use this step-by-step guide to get it up and running for your organisation.
Congratulations!
Great work, you’ve completed your Gen onboarding! Now, deepen your understanding of DocuSign's eSignature functionality earning your "Certified DocuSign eSignature Administrator" badge or explore our other DocuSign Agreement Cloud certifications.
Introduction
Document Generation for eSignature allows senders to automatically generate customised and professional looking documents that seamlessly integrate dynamically generated information.
This allows for faster and more efficient deployment of agreements for a better user and customer experience.
How to Use Document Generation
Please take a look at this brief demonstration video to get a feel for the Document Generation process.
Creating a file for Document Generation
We recommend leveraging the DocuSign Template Assistant for Word* - it's a free add-in that guides you through a whole range of processes including:
- Getting to grips with the basics of setting up a file for document generation
- Implementing advanced processes, such as adding validation to your sender fields.
- Applying field configuration which allows you to specify text, date, and number fields.
*Alternatively, if you prefer, you also have the option of manually creating your files - for more on this, please click here.
Create a Sender Field With the Template Assistant
In the Template Assistant, select the Fields tab and then the blue + button, and fill in the field information.
- Field Name - enter a valid data field name with no spaces.
- Select the "Required" option if you want this to be a mandatory field that the recipient has to fill in
- Choose the field type - this can be either Text, Date, Number or Dropdown
Once the above steps have been completed, select "Add" to finalise the process and set-up the field.
Did you know:
When you add new sender fields in the Template Assistant they then remain available for you to use in any future documents you set-up or edit.
Create Sender Fields With JSON Syntax
If you have JSON data prepared for your sender fields, you can copy and paste this in.
To do this:
- Select the Settings tab within the Template Assistant.
- Copy your JSON data and paste it into the syntax window.
- Select Upload.
The sender fields defined in the JSON data are added to the Template Assistant on the Fields tab where you can select and insert them into your document.
Inserting Sender Fields
Once you add sender fields to the DocuSign Template Assistant, they can be used in your Word file.
To do this:
- Open the relevant document and place the cursor where you want to insert a sender field or highlight text to replace with the field.
- In the Template Assistant, select the Fields tab and choose the sender field you want to use - then click Insert.
- Use the formatting tools in Word to apply your preferred look and feel to the field data.
Edit a Sender Field
If you need to make changes to an existing sender field, you can either edit the field configuration details or modify the JSON syntax directly.
To do this:
- Select the Fields tab within the Template Assistant
- Choose the sender field you want to edit, then click the pencil edit icon next to the field name.
- Update the configuration values and settings as needed and select Save.
Your sender field is updated and the changes are reflected in the Sender fields entries and the JSON syntax.
Show or Hide Conditional Content
The Template Assistant allows you to include or exclude content based on rules that you've applied to a sender field.
For example, if you have an offer letter with a clause that is only valid for a specific job title - you can include a rule to display an additional clause if the value for the job title is "Software Engineer".
Adding a rule:
- In the Template Assistant, select the Rules tab.
- Based on what you need the rule to do, select either the Show or Hide radio button
- Select the sender field to use for the rule argument.
- Choose the comparison operator to use for the rule and then enter the value to use in that operation.
- In your Word document, select the content to apply the rule to, then select Apply.
Preview a Generated Document
We recommend previewing your document to identify and fix any issues before generating the finalised version
To do this:
- Prepare your document by inserting sender fields and adding rules to show or hide content.
- In the DocuSign Template Assistant, select Preview.
- Enter a test value for each sender field in your document and select Preview.
- In the Message from Add-in window, select Yes to create the preview document.
In this preview, each sender field is replaced with the test value and all rules are evaluated based on the test value for those fields - content is then shown or hidden accordingly.
To evaluate different iterations of sender fields and rule results, edit the test values for your fields.
Upload a Document to an eSignature Template
Once you have prepared your file, you can create a new template for document generation or add it to an existing template. Senders can then use the template to generate the final document for signing.
To do this:
- Select the Fields tab and then select Upload and allow the Template Assistant to open a new window.
- In the new window select whether you want to Create a new template or Add to existing template
- Follow the on screen instructions and then select Upload
Your DocuSign eSignature template opens to the prepare step and your document is added to the documents section, and is identified with the "Document Generation" label.
Complete the template prepare page, add recipient roles and message information, and continue to the add fields page.
Your document shows the sender fields and any conditional statements as entered in the uploaded file.
Add other eSignature fields as needed to supplement the sender fields.
Recommendation:
To ensure correct placement of added fields, we encourage the use of our AutoPlace functionality to ensure eSignature fields retain their correct position regardless of conditional text being displayed or hidden.
Send a Document Generation Envelope
Once the template has been finalised and made available, a sender can use document generation to pre-fill the required information and generate the final document for signature.
To do this:
- Start an envelope, and in the Add documents section, select UPLOAD > Use a template.
- In the Select Templates window, select your template configured for document generation and then select ADD SELECTED.(these will be marked with a DOC Gen badge)
- Complete the recipient information and other envelope details and select NEXT - the Pre-fill form appears for you to complete.
- Complete the form data and select REVIEW. - if you need to edit any of the merged data, select BACK to return to the Pre-fill form and make your changes.
- When you are finished, select SEND.
The envelope with your generated document is sent.
Bulk Send With Document Generation
Document generation supports bulk send, allowing you to send multiple customised envelopes at once.
Starting with a document generation template, you import a bulk list with the individual envelope and recipient data as usual. The bulk list must also contain the values for the document generation data fields.
Bulk Send requirements to consider:
- Every data field with the same field name must have the same value. This includes data fields on different documents in the envelope.
- The maximum number of data fields that can be used for a bulk send envelope is 100.
- Prepare your bulk send list CSV file:
- Column header format: Document Generation::Field_Name
- Each required document generation data field must have exactly one column in the CSV
- For each row in the CSV, there must be a value for all required data fields
- Use your document generation template to start a new envelope.
- In the Add recipients section, select Import Bulk List and import your prepared bulk send CSV file.
- Review the data in the Bulk List Preview - once you have confirmed this is correct, select FINISH IMPORT. to add your bulk recipient data to envelope.
- Finish preparing your envelope and send it.
Support Resources
If you require any further assistance with utilising Document Generation for eSignature - we recommend consulting these resources:
DocuSign University
Learn how to configure Document Generation for eSignature to optimize the sending process
DocuSign Template Assistant for Word
Build dynamic Word templates to use with Document Generation for eSignature.
DocuSign Support Guide
Access our full and in-depth support guide on DocuSign Template Assistant for Word
DocuSign Bulk Send
Learn how to use this functionality to quickly and easily message multiple recipients at once.
Troubleshooting Syntax Errors with Document Generation
Troubleshooting Merged Data Errors
Congratulations!
Great work, you’ve completed your Gen onboarding! Now, deepen your understanding of DocuSign's eSignature functionality earning your "Certified DocuSign eSignature Administrator" badge or explore our other DocuSign Agreement Cloud certifications.
Introduction
Document Generation for eSignature allows senders to automatically generate customised and professional looking documents that seamlessly integrate dynamically generated information.
This allows for faster and more efficient deployment of agreements for a better user and customer experience.
How to Use Document Generation
Please take a look at this brief demonstration video to get a feel for the Document Generation process.
Creating a file for Document Generation
We recommend leveraging the DocuSign Template Assistant for Word* - it's a free add-in that guides you through a whole range of processes including:
- Getting to grips with the basics of setting up a file for document generation
- Implementing advanced processes, such as adding validation to your sender fields.
- Applying field configuration which allows you to specify text, date, and number fields.
*Alternatively, if you prefer, you also have the option of manually creating your files - for more on this, please click here.
Create a Sender Field With the Template Assistant
In the Template Assistant, select the Fields tab and then the blue + button, and fill in the field information.
- Field Name - enter a valid data field name with no spaces.
- Select the "Required" option if you want this to be a mandatory field that the recipient has to fill in
- Choose the field type - this can be either Text, Date, Number or Dropdown
Once the above steps have been completed, select "Add" to finalise the process and set-up the field.
Did you know:
When you add new sender fields in the Template Assistant they then remain available for you to use in any future documents you set-up or edit.
Create Sender Fields With JSON Syntax
If you have JSON data prepared for your sender fields, you can copy and paste this in.
To do this:
- Select the Settings tab within the Template Assistant.
- Copy your JSON data and paste it into the syntax window.
- Select Upload.
The sender fields defined in the JSON data are added to the Template Assistant on the Fields tab where you can select and insert them into your document.
Inserting Sender Fields
Once you add sender fields to the DocuSign Template Assistant, they can be used in your Word file.
To do this:
- Open the relevant document and place the cursor where you want to insert a sender field or highlight text to replace with the field.
- In the Template Assistant, select the Fields tab and choose the sender field you want to use - then click Insert.
- Use the formatting tools in Word to apply your preferred look and feel to the field data.
Edit a Sender Field
If you need to make changes to an existing sender field, you can either edit the field configuration details or modify the JSON syntax directly.
To do this:
- Select the Fields tab within the Template Assistant
- Choose the sender field you want to edit, then click the pencil edit icon next to the field name.
- Update the configuration values and settings as needed and select Save.
Your sender field is updated and the changes are reflected in the Sender fields entries and the JSON syntax.
Show or Hide Conditional Content
The Template Assistant allows you to include or exclude content based on rules that you've applied to a sender field.
For example, if you have an offer letter with a clause that is only valid for a specific job title - you can include a rule to display an additional clause if the value for the job title is "Software Engineer".
Adding a rule:
- In the Template Assistant, select the Rules tab.
- Based on what you need the rule to do, select either the Show or Hide radio button
- Select the sender field to use for the rule argument.
- Choose the comparison operator to use for the rule and then enter the value to use in that operation.
- In your Word document, select the content to apply the rule to, then select Apply.
Preview a Generated Document
We recommend previewing your document to identify and fix any issues before generating the finalised version
To do this:
- Prepare your document by inserting sender fields and adding rules to show or hide content.
- In the DocuSign Template Assistant, select Preview.
- Enter a test value for each sender field in your document and select Preview.
- In the Message from Add-in window, select Yes to create the preview document.
In this preview, each sender field is replaced with the test value and all rules are evaluated based on the test value for those fields - content is then shown or hidden accordingly.
To evaluate different iterations of sender fields and rule results, edit the test values for your fields.
Upload a Document to an eSignature Template
Once you have prepared your file, you can create a new template for document generation or add it to an existing template. Senders can then use the template to generate the final document for signing.
To do this:
- Select the Fields tab and then select Upload and allow the Template Assistant to open a new window.
- In the new window select whether you want to Create a new template or Add to existing template
- Follow the on screen instructions and then select Upload
Your DocuSign eSignature template opens to the prepare step and your document is added to the documents section, and is identified with the "Document Generation" label.
Complete the template prepare page, add recipient roles and message information, and continue to the add fields page.
Your document shows the sender fields and any conditional statements as entered in the uploaded file.
Add other eSignature fields as needed to supplement the sender fields.
Recommendation:
To ensure correct placement of added fields, we encourage the use of our AutoPlace functionality to ensure eSignature fields retain their correct position regardless of conditional text being displayed or hidden.
Send a Document Generation Envelope
Once the template has been finalised and made available, a sender can use document generation to pre-fill the required information and generate the final document for signature.
To do this:
- Start an envelope, and in the Add documents section, select UPLOAD > Use a template.
- In the Select Templates window, select your template configured for document generation and then select ADD SELECTED.(these will be marked with a DOC Gen badge)
- Complete the recipient information and other envelope details and select NEXT - the Pre-fill form appears for you to complete.
- Complete the form data and select REVIEW. - if you need to edit any of the merged data, select BACK to return to the Pre-fill form and make your changes.
- When you are finished, select SEND.
The envelope with your generated document is sent.
Bulk Send With Document Generation
Document generation supports bulk send, allowing you to send multiple customised envelopes at once.
Starting with a document generation template, you import a bulk list with the individual envelope and recipient data as usual. The bulk list must also contain the values for the document generation data fields.
Bulk Send requirements to consider:
- Every data field with the same field name must have the same value. This includes data fields on different documents in the envelope.
- The maximum number of data fields that can be used for a bulk send envelope is 100.
- Prepare your bulk send list CSV file:
- Column header format: Document Generation::Field_Name
- Each required document generation data field must have exactly one column in the CSV
- For each row in the CSV, there must be a value for all required data fields
- Use your document generation template to start a new envelope.
- In the Add recipients section, select Import Bulk List and import your prepared bulk send CSV file.
- Review the data in the Bulk List Preview - once you have confirmed this is correct, select FINISH IMPORT. to add your bulk recipient data to envelope.
- Finish preparing your envelope and send it.
Support Resources
If you require any further assistance with utilising Document Generation for eSignature - we recommend consulting these resources:
DocuSign University
Learn how to configure Document Generation for eSignature to optimize the sending process
DocuSign Template Assistant for Word
Build dynamic Word templates to use with Document Generation for eSignature.
DocuSign Support Guide
Access our full and in-depth support guide on DocuSign Template Assistant for Word
DocuSign Bulk Send
Learn how to use this functionality to quickly and easily message multiple recipients at once.