E-Signature: Complete Guide

Typeflow's e-signature feature allows you to:

  • Send documents for signature via email or shareable link

  • Support multiple signers with sequential or parallel signing

  • Collect different field types: signature, text, date, checkbox

  • Track signing progress in real-time

  • Receive legally compliant PDFs with a Certificate of Completion

Setting Up E-Signature

Step 1: Open E-Signature Settings

  1. Open your flow in Typeflow

  2. Click the E-Signature tab in the left sidebar

  3. Toggle Enable E-Signature to ON

Step 2: Configure Basic Settings

Setting Description Options
Signing Mode How signers receive and complete the document Parallel: All signers can sign at the same time
Sequential: Signers must sign in order (1, then 2, etc.)
Expiration How long signing links remain valid 1-90 days (default: 30 days)
Delivery Method How signers receive their signing link Email: Automatic email sent
Link only: URL saved to your database
Both: Email + URL saved

Adding Signature Fields to Your Template

In your document template (Google Doc or HTML), add placeholders where you want signature fields to appear.

Placeholder Format

{{e-signature.TYPE_SIGNERNUMBER_OPTIONALNAME}}

Available Field Types

Type Placeholder Example What the Signer Sees
Signature {{e-signature.signature_1}} Draw or type their signature
Text {{e-signature.text_1_name}} Text input field
Date {{e-signature.date_1}} Date picker
Checkbox {{e-signature.checkbox_1_agree}} Checkbox to confirm

Example: Contract with 2 Signers

CLIENT SIGNATURE

Signature: {{e-signature.signature_1}}
Full Name: {{e-signature.text_1_name}}
Date: {{e-signature.date_1}}

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COMPANY SIGNATURE

Signature: {{e-signature.signature_2}}
Authorized By: {{e-signature.text_2_name}}
Date: {{e-signature.date_2}}

Tips for Placing Fields

  • Place each placeholder on its own line

  • Avoid putting placeholders inside tables (can cause positioning issues)

  • Use descriptive names: {{e-signature.text_1_address}} is clearer than {{e-signature.text_1}}

Configuring Signers

In the E-Signature tab, add one or more signers.

Signer Email

Option Use When
Static Email The signer is always the same person (e.g., your company representative)
From Database Field The signer varies per record (e.g., customer email from Airtable/Softr)

Signer Settings

Setting Description
Name Display name shown in emails and on the signing page
Order Signing order (only matters for Sequential mode)
Signing URL Field (Optional) Database field to store the signing URL

Storing Signing URLs

If you configure a Signing URL Field, Typeflow will save each signer's unique URL to your database. This is useful for:

  • Manually sharing the link if the email doesn't arrive

  • Tracking which documents are pending signature

  • Building custom dashboards

Signer Experience

Here's what your signers see when they click their signing link.

1. Document View

The signer sees the full PDF with highlighted fields to complete.

2. Completing Fields

Click any highlighted field to open a modal:

Field Type Signer Action
Signature Draw with mouse/finger OR type their name
Text Enter text in input field
Date Select from date picker
Checkbox Check the confirmation box

3. Progress Tracking

A sidebar shows:

  • Fields already completed (green checkmark)

  • Fields still pending

  • Overall progress

4. Complete Signing

Once all fields are filled:

  1. Click "Complete Signing"

  2. See confirmation screen

  3. Option to download the document

Mobile Support

The signing page is fully responsive. Signers can:

  • View documents on any device

  • Draw signatures with their finger on mobile/tablet

  • Pinch to zoom on the PDF

After Signing is Complete

When all signers have signed:

1. Final PDF Generated

  • All signatures and field values embedded in the PDF

  • Certificate of Completion page added (see below)

  • SHA-256 hash calculated for document integrity

2. Database Updated

  • Signed PDF uploaded to your specified attachment field

  • Field values (text, date, checkbox) mapped to your database fields

3. Notifications Sent

  • All signers receive a completion email with the signed PDF attached

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Certificate of Completion

Every signed document includes a Certificate of Completion page with:

Information Description
Document Info Name, ID, creation and completion dates
Signer Details For each signer: signature image, name, email, timestamp
Audit Trail IP address, location, browser, time spent viewing
Legal Statement Compliance with ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS
Document Hash SHA-256 hash for integrity verification

This certificate provides legal evidence that the document was signed electronically.

Test Mode

Before going live, test your e-signature flow.

How to Use Test Mode

  1. Click "Test" in the flow builder (instead of triggering a real automation)

  2. A test document is generated

  3. Signing works normally, but:

  • An orange "TEST MODE" banner appears

  • No Certificate of Completion is generated

  • The document is not legally binding

Test to Production

If you test a document, then regenerate it in production mode (same record):

  • The same signing URL remains valid

  • Test mode banner disappears

  • Certificate will be generated upon completion

FAQ

Can signers sign on mobile?

  • Yes! The signing page is fully responsive. Signers can draw signatures with their finger.

What if a signer doesn't receive the email?

  • Check the spam folder. You can also copy the signing URL from your database (if configured) and send it manually.

Can I update the document after sending?

  • Yes. Regenerate the document for the same record. Signers keep their same URL but will see the updated document and need to re-sign.

What happens if a signer declines?

  • The entire session is marked as declined. All signers are notified, and no one can sign further.

How long are signing links valid?

  • Default is 30 days. Configure this in E-Signature settings (1-90 days).

Is this legally binding?

  • Yes. Typeflow e-signatures comply with:

    • US: ESIGN Act, UETA

    • EU: eIDAS Regulation (Simple Electronic Signature)

Can I have multiple signature flows for the same record?

  • Yes. Each flow creates a separate signature session. For example, you can have a "Sales Contract" flow and an "NDA" flow for the same client.

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Troubleshooting

Issue Solution
"Link expired" Regenerate the document or increase expiration days in settings
"Not your turn" Previous signer must complete first (Sequential mode only)
Signature not appearing in final PDF Ensure placeholder is on its own line, not inside a table
Email not received Check spam folder, verify email address is correct
Wrong date/time in certificate This is captured from the signer's browser timezone - it's correct for them

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Need More Help?

- Email: k@typeflow.us

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