---
title: "E-Signature Flow/Groups- Document Generation"
slug: "e-signature-flow-groups-document-generation"
updated: 2026-10-29T17:01:15Z
published: 2026-10-29T17:01:15Z
canonical: "wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/e-signature-flow-groups-document-generation"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# E-Signature Flow/Groups- Document Generation

**COBBLESTONE SOFTWARE**

Contract Insight — User Guide

**E-Signature Flow/Groups- Document Generation**

*Document Templates: Generation/Merging › E-Signature - Document Generation › E-Signature Flow/Groups- Document Generation*

**Note:** Each procedure in this guide begins at the Contract Insight homepage, so any section can be followed on its own. Custom fields are configurable, so the exact field list on a contract category record may vary between environments.

# 1. Overview

As with approvals, a document generated from a template with **Signatures** turned On automatically starts a signature process using that template's configured steps — visible ahead of time on the **Document Templates** grid's **Signatures** column (e.g. "On · 3 steps").

A template's signature flow is configured on its **Approvals & signing** step, on the **E-Signatures** tab. Signers are organized into **steps** (groups) under **Who signs, and in what order**: signers within a step sign in parallel, and the steps run sequentially. Each step can carry rules so it is only included when the record matches.

# 2. Key Elements

- A template's **Signatures** configuration (On/Off, step count) is set before any document is generated from it.
- Generating a document from that template starts a signature process using those steps.
- **Use E-Signatures**, **Allow direct signing**, and **Signature process** control whether a generated document is routed for signature. Shared processes are maintained under **Administration → Approval & Signing Processes**.
- **Signature steps (groups)** each have **Edit**, **Signer**, **Rules**, **Copy**, and **Delete** actions.
- **Signers** come from **Employees**, **Roles & Groups**, or **Vendor/Customer Contacts**. Each signer has a **Title** (the signature placeholder, unique per template), a **Reason**, and an optional **Locked** setting.
- **Rules** limit a step to records that match a condition. With no conditions, the step is part of every signature process generated from the template.

# 3. Navigating to Document Templates

1. From the Contract Insight homepage, click the **Administration** (settings) icon at the bottom of the left navigation bar.
2. Under **Templates & Presentation**, click **Document Templates**.

![Administration page with Document Templates highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-01-admin-document-templates.png)

1. On the **Document Templates** grid, review the **Signatures** column to see each template's signature setting (for example, **On · 3 steps** or **Off**).
2. Click **Open** on the template's row to open it.

![Document Templates grid with the Signatures column and Open button highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-02-document-templates-grid.png)

# 4. Configuring a Template's Signature Flow

## 4a. Turning On E-Signatures

1. Open the template (see Section 3) and click step **3 Approvals & signing**.
2. Click the **E-Signatures** tab.
3. Under **Whether a generated document is routed for signature**, check **Use E-Signatures – Enabled**. Check **Allow direct signing** if needed.
4. Select a **Signature process** (for example, **Standard Signature Process**).
5. Click **Save signature settings**.

![Approvals and signing step, E-Signatures tab settings](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-03-esignatures-settings.png)

**Note:** If E-Signatures is enabled with no signature process selected, the page shows "E-Signatures are on with no process selected - generated documents will carry no signature flow." Confirm this message no longer appears before generating documents from the template.

## 4b. Reviewing the Signature Steps

The **Who signs, and in what order** section lists the template's signature steps. Signers are invited step by step — within a step they sign in parallel, across steps sequentially. Each step lists its signers with their **Title (signature placeholder)**, **Source**, **Signer**, and **Reason**. Use the buttons on the step's header to manage it:

- **Edit** – change the step's name, description, sequence, status, or reminders.
- **Signer** – add a signer to the step (see Section 4d).
- **Rules** – limit the step to records that match a condition (see Section 4e).
- **Copy** – add a copy of the step, and every signer in it, at the end of the flow.
- **Delete** – remove the step.

![Who signs, and in what order section with Add step and step action buttons](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-04-signature-steps.png)

## 4c. Adding a Signature Step

1. In the **Who signs, and in what order** section, click **Add step**.
2. In the **Add signature step** form, enter a **Step name** and **Description**.
3. Confirm the **Sequence**. It defaults to the next step number; steps run in sequence order.
4. Optionally select a **Set status on complete** value to update the record's status when the step finishes.
5. Optionally set **Reminders**: the number of **days** after the invite, up to a number of **times**. Leave both blank for no reminders.
6. Click **Save step**.

![Add signature step form](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-05-add-signature-step.png)

## 4d. Adding Signers to a Step

1. Click **Signer** on the step's header.
2. In the **Add a signer to "<step name>"** form, select the **Signer source**: **Employees**, **Roles & Groups**, or **Vendor/Customer Contacts**.
3. Select the **Signer**.
4. Enter a **Title**. The title must be unique per template — the signature field on the document binds to it.
5. Enter a **Reason** (for example, "Please review and e-sign this agreement if all terms are correct.").
6. Leave **Locked** checked if the signer can't be removed from a generated document.
7. Click **Add signer**.

![Add a signer form](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-06-add-signer.png)

**Tip:** Use the **Signature fields** button at the top of the template to place where each signer signs on the template's document (see *Setting Signature Place Holders - E-Signatures*). On a signer's row, the filter icon sets when that signature is required.

## 4e. Setting When a Step Applies (Rules)

1. Click **Rules** on the step's header. The **When this group applies** panel opens.
2. Set **Match** to **ALL** or **ANY** of the following conditions.
3. Click **+ Condition** to add a condition, or **+ Group** to nest a group of conditions.
4. Review the **Stored condition**. With no conditions it reads "(none - always applies)", and the step is part of every signature process generated from the template.
5. Click **Save rules**.

![When this group applies rules panel](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-07-step-rules.png)

# 5. Generating a Document That Starts the Signature Flow

1. From the Contract Insight homepage, open the record (for example, **Requests/Contracts → Contracts**, then click **Manage** on the contract's row).
2. Click the **Attachments & Templates** tab.
3. In the **Merged Document Templates** section, choose the template from the **Template** list. Templates marked **can't generate** can't be used on this record.
4. Confirm the name under **Saving as** (click the pencil icon to change it).
5. Click **Generate & Save**. The arrow beside it also offers **Generate without saving**, which downloads the document without saving it to the record.

![Merged Document Templates section with Template list and Generate and Save button](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-08-generate-document.png)

# 6. Reviewing the Signers on a Generated Document

1. In the **Saved documents** list, click **Signatures** on the document's row.
2. The **Signatures** panel shows the signers carried over from the template ("These signers come from the template. Nothing has been sent yet.").
3. Click **Set up signature process** to name the process and send it to signers (see *E- Signature Processing*).

![Signatures panel on a generated document](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esig-flow-09-generated-document-signers.png)

# 7. Quick Reference Summary

| Task | How to Complete It |
| --- | --- |
| Open Document Templates | Administration (settings icon) → Templates & Presentation → **Document Templates**. |
| Check a template's signature setting | Document Templates grid → **Signatures** column (e.g. On · 3 steps). |
| Turn on E-Signatures | Open template → **3 Approvals & signing** → **E-Signatures** tab → **Enabled**, select **Signature process** → **Save signature settings**. |
| Add a signature step | E-Signatures tab → **Add step** → complete the form → **Save step**. |
| Add a signer to a step | Step header → **Signer** → choose source, signer, title, reason → **Add signer**. |
| Limit when a step applies | Step header → **Rules** → add conditions → **Save rules**. |
| Duplicate or remove a step | Step header → **Copy** or **Delete**. |
| Generate a document | Record → **Attachments & Templates** → Merged Document Templates → choose **Template** → **Generate & Save**. |
| Review a document's signers | Saved documents → **Signatures** → **Set up signature process**. |