---
key: place-signature-fields-on-a-pdf-agreement
title: Place signature fields on a PDF agreement and send it
audience: staff
section: agreements
routes: ["/agreements/:agreementUid/signing-pdf", "/agreements/:agreementUid/signing-pdf/:signingStep"]
permissions: ["agreements.update_draft"]
features: ["agreements.uploaded_pdf"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: In the signing PDF editor, link the customer, add who signs, click signature, initials and date fields onto your PDF, then check it and send it for signing.
keywords: [sign my pdf, upload pdf for signature, place signature, signature box, initials, date signed, e-sign pdf, waiver, work authorization]
related: [create-an-agreement, create-a-reusable-pdf-template, send-an-agreement-for-signing, track-agreement-signing]
---

The signing PDF editor opens right after you create an agreement with **Upload PDF for signature** or from a saved PDF (see [[create-an-agreement]]). To come back to it, open the agreement from **Agreements**, then **All Agreements**, and press **Open signing PDF editor**. The page address is `/agreements/` followed by the agreement and `/signing-pdf`; the later steps end in `/placement-editor` and `/final-review`.

Step cards across the top show where you are: **1. Prepare agreement**, **2. Placement editor** and **3. Final review**, each with what is left. **Back to agreement** returns to the agreement's page.

## Before you start

- Your role needs permission to edit agreement drafts and to see the uploaded PDF and its fields.
- A draft started from a reusable PDF template already has its fields placed and they cannot be moved here. Change them on the template: see [[create-a-reusable-pdf-template]].

## Steps

1. In **Prepare agreement**, under **Related records**, press **Link record** and choose the customer's account. Nova can add the account's primary contact as a signer at the same time.
2. Under **Signers and recipients**, press **Add primary contact**, or press **Add signer**, fill in the person and press **Add person**. Add everyone who signs.
3. To change how it is sent, press **Show** on **Delivery options**. Pick a **Send workflow** (**Fast send**, **Internal approval** or **Counter-sign**), how outside signers prove who they are (**Magic link**, **Text code**, **Email code** or **Portal login**), and the channels and sender. Press **Save delivery settings**.
4. Check the file under **Current PDF**, then press **Continue to placement editor**.
5. Under **Choose a signer**, select the person the next fields belong to. **Add signer** adds someone you missed. With two or more signers, **Signing order** sets **At the same time** or **In the order above**.
6. Under **2. Choose a field**, press **Signature**, **Initials**, **Signing date** or another field, then click the spot on the page. You can also drag a field onto the page. Press Esc to stop placing.
7. To change a placed field, select it, adjust it in the panel, and press **Save field**. **Delete field** removes it. Placed fields save on their own; the top reads **Changes saved**.
8. Repeat for each signer, then press **Review checks** to see anything still missing.
9. Press **Continue to final review**. Check **Related records**, **Signer routing** and **Outstanding issues**.
10. Under **Delivery timing**, choose **Send immediately** or **Schedule delivery**.
11. Press **Send for signing**. When approval is required the button reads **Send for approval**. Nova says **Agreement sent for signing. Opening agreement.** and returns to the agreement's page.

## What you see

- The second tab in the left panel, next to **Add fields**, lists every field you placed, in the order signers are guided through them.
- A signing date field fills in when the person signs, on their own clock and with no time zone, for example "Oct 12, 2026 at 3:04 PM". The audit trail that comes with the signed PDF is the evidence record, so it names the time zone in full, for example "3:04 PM Eastern Time (UTC-04:00)".
- The final button sends straight away. There is no second confirmation.
- After sending, the PDF and its fields are frozen. Follow signing on [[track-agreement-signing]].

## If something looks different

- **Continue to placement editor** is greyed out: the PDF is still being prepared. Wait for the page previews, or press **Retry preview**.
- The pages do not appear in the placement editor: press **Retry previews**.
- **Replace PDF** swaps the file but clears every field you placed. Use it only for the wrong file.
- The editor says the signing PDF is frozen: the agreement has already been sent. To change it, see [[resend-revise-or-cancel-a-sent-agreement]].
- The top says some fields are unsaved: press **Retry saving** before you leave the page.

[[route:/agreements|Open All Agreements]]