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Question

Implementation of Counter-Signature Functionality - Envelope Does Not Transition to "Completed" Status

  • December 6, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 54 views
L
Newcomer
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Hello,

I am trying to implement a counter-signature functionality in DocuSign sandbox env and encountering an issue where the envelope does not transition to the "Completed" status as expected. Below is the workflow I am attempting to implement and the problem I am facing:

  1. Template Setup:

    • My template has two roles:
      • Customer (Role 1): Configured as need to sign, with required text fields and a signature field. This role has a routingOrder of 1.
      • Company (Role 2): Configured as need to sign, with required text fields only. This role has a routingOrder of 2.

  2. Envelope Creation:

    • At the time of envelope creation, I programmatically fill all required text fields for the company role using the API ( also try to fill text fields after the customer signature complete ) .
    • The customer role receives the envelope and is expected to sign and complete their part.

  3. Customer Signing:

    • The customer role completes all required fields and signs the document. At this stage, the customer should not see the pre-filled fields associated with the company role.

  4. Expected Behavior:

    • After the customer completes their part, the company role should automatically transition to "Completed" status because all its required fields were pre-filled during envelope creation.
    • Once both roles are completed, the envelope should transition to the "Completed" status.

  5. Actual Behavior:

    • After the customer completes their part, the envelope does not transition to "Completed." Instead, the company role remains in the "Sent" status, and the envelope remains incomplete.
    • Even when I attempt to update the company role fields via the API using the updateTabs method (or similar), the role's status does not change to "Completed," and the envelope remains stuck.

Questions:

  1. Why does the company role not transition to "Completed" after its fields are pre-filled programmatically?
  2. Is there a specific configuration required to enable this functionality for counter-signatures in DocuSign?
  3. Are there any known limitations or specific API steps needed to update the status of a role and ensure the envelope transitions to "Completed"?
  4. Is there a way to debug or determine what is preventing the envelope and the company role from completing?

2 replies

JohnSantos
Guru
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  • JohnSantosGuru
  • Guru
  • December 6, 2024

​@Liliya 

  1. Role Status Dependency:

    • The "Completed" status for the Company role depends on whether DocuSign detects all actions required for that role are complete. If the fields for the Company role are not marked as completed (e.g., through signature or text fields), the role will stay in the "Sent" status.
    • Pre-filling fields programmatically does not necessarily mark those fields as "completed" unless the role is explicitly set to "Completed" through specific API operations.

  2. Routing Order and Automation:

    • Even if fields for the Company role are filled, the envelope requires an explicit signature or recipient completion for the role to be marked as "Completed."

  3. Pre-Filled Fields Not Recognized as "Completed":

    • DocuSign treats programmatically filled fields differently from fields completed through recipient action. For counter-signature workflows, a missing signature or lack of explicit "Completed" status transition can block the envelope's progress.
Welcome to the DocuSign Community! Your feedback is highly valued. If you find my response helpful, please give it a "Like" and consider marking it as the "Best Answer" to assist others with similar issues.
A
Digital Collaborator
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  • Adrian DevDigital Collaborator
  • Digital Collaborator
  • December 7, 2024
Hello Liliya,
 
JohnSantos already explained why your process is not completing. 

To achieve your workflow, since your "Company" signers does not have to perform any actions and you are using it as a way to add hidden fields to the document that the signer does not see, we would recommend using "readOnly" fields and DocumentVisibility to restrict the signer from looking at internal information. 

Document Visibility will remove the need for a second Signer and make the envelope completed when the first recipient signs. 

Document Visibility in your template:
https://support.docusign.com/s/document-item?language=en_US&bundleId=gbo1643332197980&topicId=tmi1578456411160.html&_LANG=enus


Document Visibility programatically:
https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/how-to/set-document-visibility/

We hope this helps.
 
Best regards,
 
Adrian | Docusign Developer Support
JohnSantos
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