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Getting Started

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You’ve ordered a managed DocuSeal from server.camp — congratulations! DocuSeal is the open-source alternative to DocuSign and Adobe Sign: have contracts and documents signed digitally — via a link, on any device, with an audit trail. This guide is aimed at freelancers, associations and small to medium-sized businesses who want to end the print-sign-scan carousel.

Core concept: templates, fields and submissions

DocuSeal works with three central elements:

  • Template — an uploaded PDF that serves as the master for recurring documents (e.g. your standard NDA)
  • Field — a spot that gets filled in later: signature, initials, text, date, checkbox and more
  • Submission — one run of a template: sent to concrete people, completed on their device, archived with you as a signed PDF

Typical flow: upload a PDF → drag fields onto it → add signer names and email addresses → DocuSeal sends the signing links → everyone signs in turn → you receive the signed PDF with full event history.

E-signature vs. wet-ink form
DocuSeal creates electronic signatures under the eIDAS regulation — legally valid for most contracts. Documents that legally require wet-ink form (Schriftform), e.g. terminations or certain fixed-term employment contracts in Germany, need a handwritten or qualified electronic signature (QES). When in doubt, check which form applies to your document.

Setting up

  1. Sign in — the dashboard shows your templates and running submissions
  2. Create your first template under Templates → New: upload a standard document, drag the needed fields onto it from the sidebar, and assign each field to a person (e.g. “Client” for the signature, “Company” for the date)
  3. Send a test submission to yourself — sign it through, ideally on your phone, before a customer ever gets a link
  4. Check email delivery — configure sender name and SMTP access so invitations arrive reliably
  5. Build your template library — one template per recurring document type

Inviting signers

Select a template → Create submission → add names and email addresses (the order defines who signs first) → send. Signers open the link and fill in their fields — by drawing their signature on a mobile device or typing it. Running and completed submissions live under Submissions, with status, signed PDF and full history.

Integration with other server.camp services

  • Authentik (SSO) — your team signs in with the central company account instead of remembering yet another password
  • Nextcloud / Paperless-ngx — archive signed contracts centrally and searchable
  • Mattermost — send webhook notifications to your team channel when a signature is completed or declined

Still have questions?

If you need help with templates, email delivery or automations, you can reach us any time at support@server.camp. We’re happy to help!

You’ll also find frequently asked questions on our DocuSeal product page.

DocuSeal Forgejo