---
title: "Setting Signature Place Holders - E-Signatures"
slug: "setting-signature-place-holders-e-signatures-2"
updated: 2026-10-29T17:03:07Z
published: 2026-10-29T17:03:07Z
canonical: "wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/setting-signature-place-holders-e-signatures-2"
---

> ## 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.

# Setting Signature Place Holders - E-Signatures

**COBBLESTONE SOFTWARE**

Contract Insight — User Guide

**Setting Signature Place Holders - E-Signatures**

*Document Templates: Generation/Merging › E-Signature - Document Generation › Setting Signature Place Holders - E-Signatures*

**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

Signature placeholders (signature fields) mark exactly where each signer signs a generated document. They are set on the **Signature fields** screen of an electronic signature process whose **Where they sign** setting is **Only where fields have been placed**. Each placeholder is tied to a specific signer, so a multi-signer document can carry distinct placeholders for each participant as their turn in the flow comes up.

When a process is set to **Anywhere on the document** instead, signers place their own signature. Placeholders set via the **Place** toolbar are specific to the person currently signing — the **My signature** selector determines whose signature fills a placed Signature placeholder.

# 2. Key Elements

- **Where they sign** setting: **Only where fields have been placed** requires placeholders; **Anywhere on the document** lets signers place their own signature.
- **Signature fields** screen: **Placing for** shows the selected signer; **Signature**, **Text**, and **Date** tools place fields for that signer.
- **Document signers** lists each signing group and signer with a count of fields placed for them.
- **Suggest fields** uses VISDOM to read the document and place signature, date, and name fields where it finds signature lines.
- Each placed field can be moved, resized, removed, or given **Signer instructions** through **Field settings**.
- The screen saves as you work — every placement, move, and removal is saved immediately.
- **My signature** selector ties a placed Signature placeholder to the current signer.
- A multi-step signature process can place different signers' placeholders at different points in the flow.

# 3. Opening a Package's Signatures

1. From the Contract Insight homepage, open the record (for example, **Requests/Contracts** → **Contracts** → **Manage** on the contract's row).
2. Click the **Attachments & Templates** tab and scroll to **Merged Document Templates** → **Saved documents**.
3. Click **Signatures** on the package's row.

![Saved documents list with the Attachments & Templates tab and Signatures button highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-01-saved-documents.png)

1. The **Signatures** panel opens beneath the row, listing the signers that come from the template. Click **Set up signature process**.

![Signatures panel with Set up signature process highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-02-signatures-panel.png)

**Note:** See *Generated Document Packages* for more on the Saved documents list.

# 4. Creating the Signature Process

1. On the **New signature process** page, confirm or edit the **Name of this process** and add an optional **Description** (shown in the email participants receive).
2. Choose who **Replies go to**. This person receives every alert about the process.
3. Set **How they sign** to **Electronically, in the system**.
4. Set **Where they sign** to **Only where fields have been placed**.
5. Choose **How the signed files come back**: **One attachment per document** or **All of them as a single PDF**.
6. Click **Create and place fields**. Nothing is sent to anyone yet.

![New signature process page with Name, How they sign, Where they sign, and Create and place fields highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-03-new-process.png)

**Note:** If **Where they sign** is set to **Anywhere on the document**, the button reads **Create process** and no placeholders are needed — signers place their own signature.

# 5. Adding Signers to the Process

Placeholders can only be assigned to participants of the process, so add signers before placing fields.

1. On the process page (**Approvals & Signatures** → **Negotiation Processes** → the process), scroll to **Signing groups**.
2. Click **Add participant** under the signing group (or **Change** to replace a participant).
3. Choose the participant type (for example, **Employees**), select the person, and enter a **Title (unique on this document)** and an optional **Reason they are signing**.
4. Click **Add**. Repeat for each signer, or click **Add group** to add another signing step.
5. When every section shows **Validated** and the status reads **READY TO START**, click **Signature fields** at the top of the page.

![Signature process page with Ready to Start status, Signature fields, Start process, Where they sign, signing group, and Add participant highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-04-process-page.png)

**Note:** If **Signing groups** reads "Choose the document first - the groups are built from it," click **Choose different documents** → **Choose again**, tick the document, and click **Attach documents**. The groups and participants are rebuilt from the attached documents.

# 6. Placing Signature Placeholders

## 6a. Selecting the Signer

On the **Signature fields** screen, click the signer under **Document signers**. **Placing for** shows the selected signer, and the number beside each signer shows how many fields have been placed for them.

![Signature fields screen with Placing for, field tools, Document signers, placement status, Suggest fields, and Start process highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-05-signature-fields.png)

## 6b. Placing a Field

1. Click **Signature** (or **Text** or **Date**) under **Signature & Form Fields**.
2. Click the spot on the document where the signer should sign. The field appears labeled with the field type and signer name (for example, **Signature · John Doe**).
3. Drag the field to move it, or drag its corner handle to resize it. Click the red **×** to remove it, or click **Undo** at the top of the screen to undo the last placement.
4. Confirm the banner reads "Signers can only sign **where these fields are placed**." The status above the document shows how many fields are placed and outstanding, and **All changes saved**.

![Signature field placed on the document with the Signature tool, placed field, banner, status, and Undo highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-06-field-placed.png)

## 6c. Adding Signer Instructions

1. Click the **Field settings** (gear) icon on a placed field.
2. Enter **Signer instructions** (for example, "Sign here as the authorized signer").
3. Click **Save field**, or click **Remove field** to delete it.

![Signature field settings with Field settings icon, Signer instructions, Remove field, and Save field highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-07-field-settings.png)

## 6d. Placing Fields for Multiple Signers

Select the next signer under **Document signers** and repeat Section 6b. Each signer's placeholders are labeled with their name, so a multi-signer document can carry distinct placeholders for each participant. To have the system place fields for you, click **Suggest fields** — VISDOM reads the document and places the signature, date, and name fields where it finds signature lines. Review and adjust any suggested fields before starting.

**Note:** Removing every field returns signing to anywhere on the document. To cancel before anyone is contacted, click the **×** (Cancel process) at the top of the screen.

# 7. Starting the Process

1. Click **Start process** on the Signature fields screen or the process page.
2. In the **Start this process?** window, click **Start process**. The first group's signers are emailed straight away, and this can't be undone.

![Start this process confirmation window with Start process highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-08-start-confirm.png)

1. The process page shows **Status: Active**, the current signing group and its participants, and **Resend**, **Pause**, and **End process** options.

![Active signature process with status, current signing group, and Resend highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-09-process-active.png)

# 8. Signing at the Placeholders

1. The signer opens the Contract Insight homepage. The **Approvals & signatures** count and the **Awaiting action** tab list the document.
2. The signer clicks **Sign now** and signs only where their placeholders were placed.

![Homepage with Approvals & signatures count, Awaiting action tab, signature request, and Sign now highlighted](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/sig-10-awaiting-action.png)

**Note:** See *E- Signature Processing* for full signing steps.

# 9. Quick Reference Summary

| Task | How to Complete It |
| --- | --- |
| Start a signature process for a package | Record → **Attachments & Templates** → **Saved documents** → **Signatures** → **Set up signature process**. |
| Require placeholders | Set **Where they sign** to **Only where fields have been placed** → **Create and place fields**. |
| Add a signer | Process page → **Signing groups** → **Add participant** → select person → **Add**. |
| Open the placeholder screen | Process page → **Signature fields**. |
| Place a signature placeholder | Select signer under **Document signers** → **Signature** → click the document. |
| Add signer instructions | Field's **Field settings** (gear) → **Signer instructions** → **Save field**. |
| Move, resize, or remove a placeholder | Drag the field, drag its corner handle, or click its red **×**. |
| Let the system place fields | **Suggest fields**. |
| Send to signers | **Start process** → confirm **Start process**. |
| Sign as a signer | Homepage → **Awaiting action** → **Sign now**. |