# Build a template in the editor

> Edit wording in place, have the assistant design it, add blocks, place fill-ins and decide who signs.

Tally Sign Support › [Getting started](https://www.tallysign.com/support/getting-started)

A template holds your wording, layout and signature blocks. Every new document starts as a copy of it. New companies start with no templates: build one on the page, have the assistant draft it, or start from the PDF or Word file you use today. Companies that connect Salesforce also get Order Form templates that fill from their quotes and opportunities.

## Open a template

1. Choose **Templates** in the sidebar.
2. On a template card, choose **Edit** to change the template itself, or **Use template** to start a new document from it.
3. To start from a blank page, choose **New template**.

![The editor with the block palette on the left, the document in the middle and the inspector on the right](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-overview.png)

*The editor. Blocks on the left, the page in the middle, settings for the selected block on the right.*

The editor has three columns:

- **Blocks** and **Fields** on the left. Drag a block onto the page, or click it to insert it below the selected block.
- The page in the middle. Click any text, cell or line item to edit it in place.
- The inspector on the right, with the **Block**, **Signers**, **Fill-ins** and **Document** tabs. A **Salesforce** tab appears once Salesforce is connected.

## Edit and add blocks

Click a block to select it. A small toolbar lets you move, duplicate or delete it, and the **Block** tab shows its settings.

![A Services block selected, with its toolbar and settings](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-edit-block.png)

*Selecting a block shows its toolbar and settings. Here, the Services matrix.*

To add a block while typing, press `/` at the start of an empty line and pick from the menu: heading, callout, key details, table, pricing table, payment schedule, signature block and more.

A **callout** highlights what matters, such as a summary of the deal or a deadline. Pick its color in the **Block** tab: **Dark** (the default), **Blue**, **Green**, **Amber**, **Red** or **Purple**. The color shows in every look.

A **table** can take the document's style or one of five designs, chosen under **Design** in the **Block** tab: **Lines**, **Striped**, **Grid**, **Cards** (one card per row) and **List** (one line per row). Then make it yours: a color, a header row or none, the first column in bold, and **Compact** for tighter rows. Rename, move and remove columns under **Columns**. The designs look the same in every look.

![The table's Design settings: six designs, colors and Compact](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-table-designs.png)

*Pick a design, then its color and spacing.*

![The slash menu open below a paragraph, listing block types](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-slash-menu.png)

*Type / in any text to add a block.*

| Shortcut | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `/` | Add a block |
| `{{` | Insert a fill-in, such as the client's name |
| `⌘Z` | Undo |
| `⌘D` | Duplicate the selected block |
| `⌥↑` `⌥↓` | Move the selected block |

## Design it with the assistant

Choose **Assistant** at the top of the editor and describe the document: what it's for, who reads it and how it should feel. The assistant writes the wording and designs the page every time: a cover, section headings, a summary callout, key details, pricing and a payment schedule where they fit, and a look that suits it. In Salesforce it builds around the record, so names, numbers, dates and quote lines fill in when it's sent.

1. Open a template, or choose **New template** (in Salesforce: the **Tally Sign** tab → **Templates** → **New template**).
2. Choose **Assistant** and type what you want, for example *Design an order form for this quote. Make it bold.*
3. Read **What changed**. Every change is highlighted on the page. Choose **Looks good** to keep them, or **Undo**.
4. Ask for more changes the same way: *make the terms shorter*, *add a confidentiality section*, *switch to the Classic look*.

![The editor in Salesforce with a Bold order form the assistant designed, previewed with a real quote](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-assistant-design.png)

*An order form the assistant designed in the Bold look, previewed with a real quote.*

You can attach a picture to your message, such as the customer's logo or a product photo, and the assistant puts it on the cover or in the page.

To change the look yourself, open the **Document** tab and pick one under **Look**:

| Look | What it's like |
| --- | --- |
| **Modern** | A banner cover and clean tables. The default. |
| **Bold** | An ink cover, oversized headings and your brand color as the accent. Made for proposals and order forms. |
| **Proposal** | Arial, teal headings and bordered tables. |
| **Letterhead** | Lato, blue headings and a running header. |
| **Classic Word** | Cambria body and blue Calibri headings, like a Word document. |
| **Plain** | Helvetica, a centered title and bold labels. |

> **Why it matters:** Bold uses the brand color from **Settings → Company**, so every document you send looks like yours.

## Place and resize fields

Open **Fields** on the left and pick who fills them in. Drag a field anywhere on the page, over text, a table or a signature block, and it stays exactly where you let go. It moves with the content around it when you edit the page. Clicking a field instead places it on the page in view.

While you drag, pink guide lines show when the field lines up with another one, and it snaps into line.

Click a field on the page to select it. Drag the handles on its right edge, bottom edge or corner to make it bigger or smaller. The **Block** tab shows its settings: type, who fills it in, label, required, and exact width and height. The signer sees the field at the size you set.

| Shortcut | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| Arrow keys | Nudge the selected field 1px (hold `Shift` for 10px) |
| `⌘D` | Duplicate the selected field |
| `⌫` | Delete the selected field |
| `Esc` | Deselect |

## Initials and other field types

Each signer can have any of these fields. Open **Fields** on the left to see them.

![The Fields tab: Fields for Your company or Client, and the Signature, Initials, Full name, Title, Company, Email, Date signed, Text and Checkbox fields](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-fields-palette.png)

*The Fields tab. Pick who fills them in, then drag a field onto the page.*

| Field | What the signer does |
| --- | --- |
| **Signature** | Draws or types a signature the first time, then signs every other signature field with one click. |
| **Initials** | Draws or types initials the first time, then initials every other initials field with one click. |
| **Full name**, **Title**, **Company** | Typed by the signer. Filled in from the recipient's details when you entered them, and the signer can correct them. |
| **Email** | Filled in with the signer's email. They can't change it. |
| **Date signed** | Filled in automatically when they finish. |
| **Text** | Any text you ask for, such as a PO number. |
| **Checkbox** | Ticked or left empty. Optional unless you turn on **Required**. |

1. Open a template or a draft and choose **Fields** on the left.
2. Under **Fields for**, pick the signer, for example **Client**.
3. Drag **Initials** to where the signer should initial, for example next to a clause or at the bottom of a page.
4. With the field selected, the **Block** tab shows **Type**, **Filled in by**, **Label** (the name the signer sees) and **Required**.

![An Initials field for the Client placed next to a section heading, with its settings on the right](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-initials.png)

*An Initials field for the client. Its settings are on the right.*

**Initials on every page:** an Initials field isn't repeated for you. Place one on each page that needs it. The quickest way is to place one, press `⌘D` to duplicate it and drag the copy to the next page. The signer adopts their initials once, and each field then takes one click.

> **Note:** Fields can also come from the file you start with. Type a tag such as `\i1\` in a PDF or Word file and it becomes an Initials field. See [Start from a PDF or Word file](https://www.tallysign.com/support/getting-started/build-a-template#from-a-file).

## Start from a PDF or Word file

If you already have a contract, you don't have to rebuild it by hand. There are two ways to bring it in.

**Have the assistant rebuild it (PDF).** The assistant reads the PDF and writes it into the template as editable blocks: the wording in the same order, fill-ins for what changes per deal, such as names, dates and amounts, a signature block, and a fresh design.

1. Choose **Templates**, then **New template → Blank template**.
2. Choose **Assistant** at the top of the editor.
3. Drop the PDF on the chat, or choose the picture button under the message box and pick it. Its first 6 pages are added to your message.
4. Press `Enter`. With no text, it rebuilds the document as a template. You can also say what you want, for example `Rebuild this as a template and use the Bold look.`
5. Read **What changed** and choose **Looks good** to keep it, or **Undo**.

![The Assistant panel with two PDF pages attached to the message](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/assistant-pdf-attached.png)

*The PDF's pages, ready to send.*

![An Equipment Rental Agreement rebuilt from a PDF, with a cover, a summary callout, key details with fill-ins and the numbered sections, and What changed on the right](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/assistant-pdf-rebuilt.png)

*A plain PDF rebuilt as a template, with fill-ins for the renter, dates and amounts.*

> **Note:** The assistant reads PDFs and pictures. For a Word file, save it as a PDF first, or upload it as it is (below) and ask the assistant to redesign it. The PDF isn't kept; only the template the assistant writes is saved.

**Upload the file as it is.** Choose **Templates → New template → Upload a PDF or Word file** (or **New document → Upload a PDF or Word file** for a one-off document).

![The New template menu with Blank template and Upload a PDF or Word file](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/new-template-menu.png)

*New template.*

- A **Word file** (.docx) becomes editable blocks: headings, paragraphs, lists, tables and pictures. Edit it like any template.
- A **PDF** keeps its pages exactly as they are. Drag fields onto the pages from **Fields**.
- Files can be up to 25 MB, and PDFs up to 150 pages. Old .doc files and password-protected PDFs can't be read: save them as .docx or as a new PDF first.
- To add a file's pages to a template you already have, use **PDF or Word file** at the top of **Blocks**.

![A Services Agreement uploaded from Word, with a Customer initials field and signature, name and date fields placed from tags](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/template-from-word.png)

*A Word file with tags: 7 fields were placed for you.*

**Text tags** place fields for you. Type them in the file where each field goes. The number is the signer: `1` is the other party, `2` is your company, and `3` and up are more signers.

| Tag | Field |
| --- | --- |
| `\s1\` | Signature |
| `\i1\` | Initials |
| `\n1\` | Full name |
| `\t1\` | Title |
| `\c1\` | Company |
| `\e1\` | Email |
| `\d1\` | Date signed |
| `\x1\` | Text box |
| `\k1\` | Checkbox |

The long form names the signer instead, for example `{{signature:client}}` or `{{initials:company}}`. A contract that already has tags like these, for example from another e-signature tool, needs no dragging at all. Check the fields sit where they should, then add the signers.

## Fill-ins

Fill-ins are values that change per document, written as `{{name}}`. Some fill themselves in: your company details come from Settings and signer details come from the recipients. Others you type per document, like an effective date.

![The Fill-ins tab with one empty value highlighted](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-fill-ins.png)

*Fill-ins → Fill in lists values you type per document. Automatic lists values Tally Sign fills for you.*

> **Why it matters:** A document can't be sent while a required fill-in is empty, so nobody receives a contract with a blank date.

## Who signs

The **Signers** tab lists the roles in the template, for example **Your company** and **Counterparty**. Names and emails are filled in on each document.

![The Signers tab with two roles, Your company and Counterparty](https://www.tallysign.com/university/getting-started/editor-signers.png)

*Each role has a color. Its signature fields on the page use the same color.*

- **Signs** or **Gets copy**: signers sign; copy recipients receive the signed PDF.
- **This is me**: marks the role you sign as, so it's filled with the sender.
- **Sign in order**: each person is emailed after the previous one signs. Otherwise everyone gets it at once.

Next guide: [Send a document and track it](https://www.tallysign.com/support/getting-started/send-and-track)

Source: https://www.tallysign.com/support/getting-started/build-a-template