Signing guides
Signature date vs document date: prepare the right PDF fields
A document can contain several dates with different meanings: a date in its wording, a date next to a signature and a timestamp in its record. Identify each one before placing fields. They should not be treated as interchangeable just because all look like dates.
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Finish dates that belong to the document text
If a form requires a start date, delivery date or other agreed value, complete that text in the source editor or a suitable PDF editor. DocAISign is not a general text editor and its automatic date field is not a way to supply any date your wording requires.
Ask the document owner what an unclear date line means before sending. This guide describes preparation and interface behaviour; it does not decide what date should govern an agreement.
Assign a date box to the person who should fill it
In DocAISign, signature and date boxes can belong to Me or Signer. Review assignments as well as visual placement. A date box in the sender’s area should not be left assigned to the recipient by mistake.
The recipient page explains that its date boxes fill automatically when signing finishes. Do not expect that box to work as a freely editable date input. Check that the behaviour matches the document owner’s requirements before issuing a request.
A timeline timestamp is a different record
The audit timeline records events with UTC timestamps, while the PDF also contains the fields placed on its pages. A timeline entry is not a replacement for a required date line, and a date printed on a page is not the full event history.
Near midnight, local and UTC calendar displays may differ. When investigating a record, compare the labelled time zone and full timestamp rather than assuming an email’s local date and a UTC event must have the same calendar day.
Review a realistic sample before sending
- List dates that are fixed wording versus fields completed during signing.
- Complete fixed text before uploading the prepared PDF.
- Assign each signature and date box to the correct person.
- Check field size and placement on the actual page preview.
- Download a fictional completed sample and inspect both the PDF and audit.
If a date is wrong after sending
Check whether the request is still pending or has completed. A pending DocAISign request can be revoked by its owner before signing. Correct the source or field setup and use a new request when necessary; a replacement does not automatically close an earlier link.
A completed PDF should be kept as its completed record. Do not silently edit a date in that original and present it as unchanged. Arrange an appropriate correction or a clearly identified new version with the other party.
Use another workflow when the fields do not fit
DocAISign currently provides signature/date fields and one other recipient. If your process needs custom date entry, conditional fields, initials or a larger approval chain, evaluate the required field types and recipient roles before choosing the signing tool. A convenient automatic field should not determine the meaning of your document.