Allow DocuSign recipients to edit documents
Opportunity
There may be documents you want your recipients to review and provide suggested changes without reissuing the DocuSign envelope to incorporate the changes. In this case, you can enable the edit function (known as Document Markup).
Overview
All changes must be reviewed and approved by all signers. DocuSign automates the workflow process to manage that process and all markup changes and approvals are covered by the certified audit trail, with a detailed account of all changes recorded in the envelope history.
Caution Regarding Document markup and collaborative fields
An important aspect of document markup is the effect the setting has on any fields in the document that are valid for collaboration. Normally, fields are only visible and actionable by the recipient to whom they are assigned. For text, radio button, drop down, and check box fields, you can choose to set the collaboration property, which makes the fields visible and actionable by all recipients on the transaction.
If a signer uses document markup, when a previous signer receives the document back to review the markup, they can make changes or approve the markup field as is. In addition, they can edit any other of their fields that support collaboration, even if this property was not set on the fields. If they choose to make any changes to these fields, they become collaborative for all other prior signers. Any signers who have finished signing will receive the document again and can edit these fields or approve them as is.
For information on field collaboration: Collaborative Fields
Process
The Account Administrator must enable this capability; it is enabled for the entire account.
The Account Administrator Experience
See below for Sender and Recipient Experience
1. In DocuSign eSignature Admin, click Signing Settings.
2. Under the Recipients section, choose “Allow recipients to edit documents”
The Sender Experience
You can enable the document markup option for any envelope you send.
- As you set up your envelope, open the Advanced Options and enable the setting Allow recipients to edit the document.
Note: Screengrabs are taken when the browser window is full-size. Narrowing the browser window might change what you see.
Note: If you do not see this option listed, check with your DocuSign administrator.
2. Finish setting up your document as usual, and send it.
The Recipient Experience
1. With document markup enabled, recipients see a Mark Up option in the OTHER ACTIONS menu.
2. A special Markup field appears, which the recipient can drag and place anywhere on the document.
3. (Optional) The recipient can enter information into the markup field.
An Initial tag appears at the margin to the right of the field, which the recipient must sign to complete their markup action.
4. Recipients who have already signed the document receive an email notification to review the suggested changes. When they view the document, they are guided to initial the changes.
Recipients can accept the change by initialing it, or edit the change and initial their version. The review process continues until all recipients have initialed all changes.
5. Once all changes are initialed, the document is complete and a completed email notification is sent to all recipients. The notification includes details of the markup changes.
6. The final document includes all completed fields, including the markup changes and corresponding initials.
7. The History reflects the Document Markup activity, and includes the added text.