Field types

When creating a document, the fields are the data points you wish to collect from the recipient. By default, Upsign offers a handful of pre-built fields to cover the most common use cases. Here's a list of the available fields and how they are designed to be used on the documents.

Available field types

Signature

Used when you want to collect a signature from the recipient. When you add a signature field to a document, the recipient will be able to click it and apply their signature in a variety of ways. The Type tab of the signature dialog will pre-populate with the recipients first and last name. It comes from the name you entered when adding the recipient. See Signature methods to learn more. By default, this field will be a required field for the recipient.

Initials

Similar to the Signature field, the initials field is used when you want to collect initials from the recipient. When the recipient clicks the initials field, the Signature dialog will load. By default, this field will be a required field for the recipient.

Note: A recipient is only prompted to add their signature and initials one time. Once the recipient has added their signature and initials the first time, the same signature and initials will automatically populate when they click on subsequent signature or initials fields, or the next time they sign a document.

Date Signed

A simple way to collect the signature date. This field is automatically filled in when the recipient completes the document.

Name

This field is used to collect the recipients full name. The full name of the recipient will automatically fill in for the recipient. It comes from the name entered when adding the recipient. If needed, the recipient can modify this field during the signing process.

Tip: If your document requires that the first name and last name be separate fields, use the text field type. one for the first name and one for the last name. You can even name the fields as first name and last name by changing the default text. See Field settings to learn more.

Email

This field is used to collect the recipients email. The recipients email address will automatically fill in for the recipient. It comes from the email you entered when adding the recipient. If needed, the recipient can modify this field during the signing process.

Company

This field is intended to gather the name of the company where the recipient is employed. This field can be automatically populated. By default, it will not. However, if you have added a Company to a contact and added the recipient to the document from your contact list, this field will be automatically filled in for the recipient. See edit a contact to learn more. The recipient can modify this field during the signing process.

Title

This field is designed to capture the recipient's title or the role they fulfill. (e.g., Owner, CEO, Director, Manager, Consultant, HR coordinator, etc.) This field can be automatically populated. By default, it will not. However, if you have added a Title to a contact and added the recipient to the document from your contact list, this field will be automatically filled in for the recipient. See edit a contact to learn more. The recipient can modify this field during the signing process.

Text

This is the most flexible type of field. It is a free text field that will allow the recipient to enter any kind of data. If one of the other default fields doesn't meet the need, this is generally the field you'll use. As needed, you can modify the display of the field by changing the default text. See field settings to learn more.

Example: Common Use Cases

The file I'm using when creating a document has a field for birth date on it. When the recipient completes the document, I want them to fill in their birth date. Since there is no birth date field, I used a text field instead. I add a text field on the document and change the default value to Birth Date. I also mark it as required. When the recipient sees the field, they'll see it as Birth Date and will be required to enter their birth date. In this example, you may also want to tell the recipient the format in which to enter the birth date. You can include that in the default value for the field (e.g., Birth Date (xx/xx/xxxx)). If you do, "Birth Date (xx/xx/xxxx)" will display to the recipient and will go away once the recipient enters their information. A few other examples where the text field can also be used in this way:

Social Security Number
Numbers
Email
Text area
Date
Postal code

Checkbox

This field is used when you want a recipient to choose from a list of options. Generally, you use this field if your file also has checkboxes on it. If you want the recipient to choose a specific option, you can mark the checkbox as required.