fmESignature Link and Composite Templates

When we released v1.0 of fmESignature Link (DocuSign Edition), our Claris FileMaker solution for integrating with the DocuSign eSignature platform, we decided on using a ‘Template’ model that supported directly uploading PDF files or using DocuSign hosted Templates. This allowed you to generate a PDF (either a static PDF or one generated from a FileMaker layout) and upload that along with a list of recipients and where they needed to sign etc, or simply specify a DocuSign Template ID and upload the list of recipients and their roles.

These supported methods for creating the DocuSign envelope from FileMaker have been easy for our customers to understand and implement in their existing FileMaker solutions. There are times though when these simple envelope creation models won’t support your requirements that might involve multiple documents/templates and authentication requirements.

For more complex envelopes DocuSign also support the composite templates model, which is the most flexible envelope creation model. With the composite templates model you can create complex envelopes which cannot be handled by the direct document or DocuSign Template models, such as when you need to send both a PDF document and include a DocuSign Template.

Some examples of composite templates that we’ve helped customers integrate over the past few years include:

• a payment processing company needed to send a DocuSign Template that included multiple documents, in person signers and SMS verification
• a talent agency needed to send an envelope that included both a FileMaker generated PDF as well as a standard DocuSign Template and dynamically assign recipients and roles to both documents

None of the above use cases were possible with the standard direct document/DocuSign Template models. We were able to work with these customers to create some custom FileMaker scripts and Templates in their fmESignature Link file to meet their requirements. If you would like to discuss implementing a composite template for your fmESignature Link (DocuSign Edition) integration please get in touch.

You can get more information about DocuSign Composite Templates at the following articles:

• Composite templates API Reference
• Why You Should Be Using the Composite Template Model
• From the Trenches: Composite templates