When you send a document for electronic signature via DocuSign in BC, you need to tell DocuSign where to place the signature box. That placement is controlled by the DocuSign anchor. This article covers how the DocuSign anchor works and how to set it up. Specifically, it also shows how to connect the anchor to a custom report layout so the signature box lands in the right spot every time.
What the DocuSign Anchor Does
The DocuSign anchor is a word or phrase that appears in your printed document. When DocuSign receives the PDF, it scans the file for that text. Once it finds it, DocuSign places the signature box near that spot. Specifically, you control how far from the anchor text the box appears using X and Y offset values in pixels.
For example, if your report contains the word “Signature” near the bottom, you set that word as the anchor. DocuSign finds it and places the sign box a set number of pixels away. In other words, the DocuSign anchor gives you precise control over where the signer clicks. You do not need to set the position every time you send a document.
How the DocuSign Anchor Works in the PDF
This matters because DocuSign works with a PDF of your printed BC document. PDF layouts vary depending on the report design. If the signature line is near the bottom of a sales quote, the anchor needs to point to text that is always near that spot. Furthermore, if your document runs over multiple pages, the anchor still works – DocuSign finds the text wherever it appears in the PDF, regardless of page count.
Indeed, a good anchor word is one that is unique in your document and appears only where you want the signature box. “Signature” is a common choice because it is clear, easy to read, and unlikely to appear elsewhere in the body text. However, you can use any word or short phrase that fits your layout. The key is that the text must be in the printed report for the DocuSign anchor to work.
Setting Up the Report Layout for DocuSign
Before you set the DocuSign anchor, you need a report layout that includes your anchor text. In the video example, the report is a custom sales quote layout. The standard Business Central layout was used as a starting point. Then a line was added at the very end – the word “Signature” followed by a flat rule line. This gives the signer a clear place to sign and gives DocuSign a clear word to find.
This step is important because the anchor text must exist in the printed document. If “Signature” is not in the report, DocuSign cannot find it and the box will not appear. Therefore, the first step is always to confirm that your report layout contains the anchor word you plan to use.
Once your layout is ready, go to Report Layout Selection in Business Central and assign it to the correct report. Specifically, find your report in the list and set the layout to your custom version. This ensures that when you send the quote through DocuSign, BC uses the layout that contains your anchor text.
Configuring the DocuSign Anchor in Administration
Open the DocuSign Administration page in Business Central. There is a section called Default Anchor (or Report Parameters in newer versions). This is where you enter the anchor text and the offset values. Enter your anchor word – in this example, “Signature” – in the anchor field.
Setting the X and Y Offset
Offset values are measured in pixels. X offset controls how far to the right of the anchor text the signature box appears. Y offset controls the vertical distance – above or below the anchor word. For example, setting X to 10 and Y to 0 places the box 10 pixels to the right of “Signature” at the same height. You can adjust these values to fit your layout. However, 10 pixels to the right is a common starting point that works for most reports.
Once you save the anchor settings, the DocuSign anchor is active for all documents sent through BC. Consequently, every envelope you send from a report that contains the anchor word will have the sign box placed in the right spot. You do not need to adjust the position on each send – the anchor does it on its own.
Sending the Document and What the Signer Sees
With the layout and DocuSign anchor in place, you are ready to send. Open the sales quote in Business Central and use the DocuSign menu to send the document. Business Central generates the PDF using your custom layout, attaches it to a DocuSign envelope, and sends it to your customer by email.
Your customer receives a standard DocuSign email with a link. When they open it, they see the sales quote exactly as it looks when printed in BC. DocuSign has already found the anchor word and placed the sign box in the right spot. Specifically, a “Sign Here” indicator appears right next to the signature line you added to the report. Your customer clicks it, signs, and clicks Finish. DocuSign closes the envelope and the signed document comes back to BC.
Moreover, this works even when the document spans multiple pages. In the video example, the sales quote runs across two pages because of the number of line items. Indeed, DocuSign places the sign box on the final page near the “Signature” text, regardless of how many pages come before it. Therefore, you do not need to hard-code a page number – the anchor text is all DocuSign needs to find the right spot.
If you use the same report type for all your documents, one default anchor is enough. However, if your purchase orders and sales quotes have different layouts, you may need a different anchor or offset for each. Specifically, the NAV SEAL DocuSign integration supports per-report anchors so you can set a different DocuSign anchor per document type. In short, the default anchor covers most cases, and the per-report option handles the exceptions.
Wrapping Up: DocuSign Anchor Placement in Business Central
Setting up the DocuSign anchor takes three steps: add the anchor text to your report layout, assign the layout in Report Layout Selection, and enter the anchor word and offset in DocuSign Administration. Once those are in place, every document you send through DocuSign will have the signature box land in the right spot.
Additionally, newer versions of the NAV SEAL DocuSign integration support per-report anchor settings. That means you can set a different anchor for each document type – useful when your purchase order and sales quote have different layouts. Visit navseal.com to learn more or to download the DocuSign integration for Business Central. The knowledge base there also has setup guides and video walkthroughs for every step.
For more Business Central guides and tutorials, visit NAV SEAL Blog and watch more videos on our YouTube Channel.
