Web Forms
Web Forms are HTML-based data collection forms presented to participants during the signing workflow. Unlike DocForms, which recreates the PDF document with overlaid interactive fields, Web Forms are a mobile-friendly responsive design that display just the fields and any supporting context you configure — independent of the document's visual layout.
Overview
Web Forms support the following field types:
- Textbox
- Multiline Textbox
- Checkbox
- Checkbox List
- Radio Button List
- Dropdown List
- Date Picker
- Phone Number
- Social Security Number
- Hidden Field
For a participant's entered values to be written back into a PDF document, the field names defined in the Web Form must match the PDF's interactive form field names.
Configuration
Web Forms are created and managed in the AlphaTrust® e-Sign Control Panel under the Web Forms section. This includes:
- Defining fields and their types
- Setting up validation rules and required fields
- Using the Auto-Generate feature to build a Web Form from an uploaded PDF's existing fields
- Assigning a Web Form to a workflow
All validation (required fields, format rules, etc.) is configured in the Control Panel Web Forms UI — not in the PDF itself.
Using Web Forms in a Workflow
Web Forms are attached to a participant's workflow as a Task Workflow Action. See Task Workflow Actions for details on adding workflow actions to tasks.
Do not attach data collection Web Forms to Participant Workflow Actions. Web Forms should be added to Task Workflow Actions because Participant Workflow Actions do not have Document context.
Comparison with DocForms
Both Web Forms and DocForms collect data from participants during the signing process. For a full side-by-side comparison, see DocForms.
| Web Forms | DocForms | |
|---|---|---|
| UI | Mobile-friendly responsive HTML form | PDF rendered as image with overlaid interactive fields |
| Document context | Fields and any manually added context only | Full document visuals and layout visible |
| Required field rules | Configured in the Control Panel Web Forms UI | Inherited directly from the PDF |
| Best for | Better mobile UX; flexible validation control | Familiar, document-centric experience |
Additional Signature Block Data
When placing a signature or an initial into a document signature block, you also have the option of placing additional signature block data along with it. There are different options based on what type of document you are using, however. Please see the options for Additional Signature Block Data for PDF documents. For HTML documents, these data can consist of one or more of the following:
DocForms
Enable inline PDF form filling for participants during the signing workflow using DocForms.