Place fields with tags

Concept4 min read

A field is a box on a page. There are two kinds:

  • Signer fields: a signer completes them (signature, initials, date, text, checkbox).
  • Data fields: your software fills them when it creates the envelope. The value is printed on the page, so signers see it.

There are four ways to place fields. Use whichever is easiest.

Option 1: Tags in the document (easiest)

Type a tag where the field should go, then export the document as a PDF. Notriv finds the tags, puts fields there, and erases the tag text.

Type thisYou get
{{signature:client}}The client signs here
{{initials:client}}The client initials here
{{date:client}}The date the client signs
{{text:client:phone}}The client types a value named phone
{{checkbox:client:agree}}The client ticks a box named agree
{{data:purchase_price}}Filled from your data.purchase_price
Tip
Add ? at the end to make a field optional: {{text:client:phone?}}. Use a number instead of a role to mean “the first signer”: {{signature:1}}.

Option 2: A PDF with fillable fields

If your PDF already has form fields, Notriv uses them:

  • Signature fields go to the first signer.
  • Fields named with a role prefix, like client.phone, go to that signer.
  • Every other text field or checkbox becomes a data field named after the form field.

Option 3: List the fields yourself

Send exact positions as percentages of the page, measured from the top-left corner. Pages start at 1.

"fields": [
  { "type": "signature", "role": "client", "page": 2, "x": 12, "y": 70, "width": 30, "height": 5 },
  { "type": "text", "key": "client_name", "page": 1, "x": 20, "y": 18, "width": 40, "height": 3 }
]

Option 4: Add a signature page

For a PDF with no fields at all, set signature_page: true. Notriv adds one page with a signature and date line for each signer.

Which option wins

If you send fields, those are used. Otherwise tags, then form fields. If none are found and signature_page is not set, the request fails with no_signature_fields so nothing is sent unsigned.

Next steps

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