AuthenlySign User Guide

Version: 3.1 Last Updated: March 2026

Welcome to AuthenlySign -- the enterprise-grade electronic signature and document automation platform. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to sign, send, and manage documents effectively, including AI-powered features, interactive onboarding, advanced analytics, and extensive customization options.

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started
2. Interactive Onboarding
3. Creating Your Account
4. Dashboard Overview
5. Uploading Documents
6. Adding Signature Fields
7. AI-Powered Assistance
8. Sending Documents for Signing
9. Signing Documents
10. Managing Documents
11. Using Templates
12. Advanced Analytics
13. Team Collaboration
14. Workflows & Automation
15. Keyboard Shortcuts
16. Customization & Themes
17. Contextual Help System
18. Account Settings
19. Billing & Subscriptions
20. Troubleshooting
21. FAQs

Getting Started

AuthenlySign is a secure, legally-binding digital signature platform that helps you sign documents faster and more efficiently than traditional paper-based processes.

Key Benefits

• Legally Binding -- Compliant with ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS, and international e-signature laws
• Secure -- AES-256 encryption, PKI digital signatures, and SHA-256 hash-chained audit trails
• Fast -- Sign documents in seconds from any device
• Professional -- Custom branding, templates, and white-label options
• AI-Powered -- Smart document analysis, field suggestions, Q&A assistant, and fraud detection
• Compliant -- SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA (with BAA), GDPR, and CCPA ready
• Customizable -- Multiple themes, brand colors, and personalization options

Interactive Onboarding

New to AuthenlySign? Our interactive onboarding system helps you get started quickly.

Welcome Experience

When you first sign in, you'll see a welcome modal with:

• Overview of key features
• Quick start options
• Option to take a guided product tour

Product Tour

The product tour highlights key areas of the application:

1. Dashboard Overview -- Learn about your stats and quick actions
2. Document Management -- Understand how to upload and organize documents
3. Signature Fields -- Discover all available field types
4. Templates -- See how to save time with reusable templates
5. Settings -- Customize your experience

Starting the Tour:

• Click "Start Tour" in the welcome modal, or
• Press ? to open the Help Center and select "Restart Tour"

Quick Start Checklist

Track your progress with the Quick Start Checklist in the bottom-left corner:

• Upload your first document
• Add signature fields
• Send for signing
• Explore templates
• Customize your profile

The checklist automatically updates as you complete each milestone

Creating Your Account

Step 1: Sign Up

1. Visit your organization's AuthenlySign URL or the public sign-up page at /auth/signup
2. Enter your full name, email address, and create a strong password (minimum 12 characters)
3. Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
4. Click "Create Account"

Step 2: Verify Your Email

1. Check your email inbox for a verification message from AuthenlySign
2. Click the verification link in the email
3. You will be redirected to the onboarding wizard

Step 3: Complete Onboarding

1. Fill in your profile details (company name, role, phone number)
2. Choose your plan:

- Individual -- $15/month for solo users (100 docs/month) - Small Team -- $49/month for 2-5 users (unlimited docs) - Medium Team -- $149/month for 6-20 users (API access, branding) - Large Team -- $499/month for 21-100 users (SSO, phone support) - Enterprise -- Custom pricing (unlimited users, SLA, dedicated support)

1. Enter payment information via Stripe secure checkout
2. Start sending documents

Two-Factor Authentication (Recommended)

1. Go to Dashboard > Settings > Security
2. Click "Enable 2FA"
3. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy)
4. Enter the 6-digit code to confirm
5. Save your backup codes in a secure location

Dashboard Overview

After signing in, you land on the main Dashboard which provides a comprehensive overview of your activity.

Dashboard Layout

Navigation

Navigate using the sidebar or keyboard shortcuts:

• Click menu items in the left sidebar
• Use G then D for Documents, G then T for Templates, etc.
• Press / to focus the search bar
• Use Cmd/Ctrl + K to open the command palette

Search

The global search bar (top of dashboard) lets you find:

• Documents by title, status, or signer name
• Templates by name or category
• Team members by name or email
• Settings pages

Notifications

Click the bell icon to view:

• Document status changes (signed, viewed, expired)
• Team activity (new members, role changes)
• System announcements and updates

Configure notification preferences at Dashboard > Settings > Notifications.

Uploading Documents

Supported File Types

• PDF files (primary format)
• Maximum file size: 50 MB
• Multiple pages supported
• Scanned documents supported (with OCR)

Upload Process

1. Navigate to Dashboard > Documents
2. Click the "New Document" button
3. Enter a document title and optional description
4. Click "Choose File" or drag and drop your PDF
5. Wait for upload to complete (progress bar shown)
6. Click "Continue" to add signature fields

Tips for Best Results

• Use high-quality, text-based PDFs for best field detection
• Ensure all pages are correctly oriented
• Give your document a descriptive title for easy searching
• The AI engine can auto-detect common fields (signatures, dates, names)

Adding Signature Fields

Available Field Types

Adding Fields to Your Document

1. After uploading, the document editor opens automatically
2. Select a field type from the left sidebar
3. Click on the document where you want to place the field
4. Assign the field to a signer using the dropdown
5. Mark as required or optional
6. Set conditional logic if needed (e.g., "Show field B only if checkbox A is checked")
7. Repeat for all needed fields
8. Click "Save & Continue"

Pro Tip: Use the AI Assistant to automatically detect and suggest field placements based on document content.

AI-Powered Assistance

AuthenlySign includes a comprehensive AI assistant to help you work more efficiently.

Accessing the AI Assistant

Click the sparkle icon in the bottom-right corner of any document page to open the AI Assistant panel.

Document Analysis

The AI can analyze your documents and provide:

Document Q&A

Ask questions about your document in natural language:

• "What is the effective date of this contract?"
• "Who are the parties involved?"
• "What are the payment terms?"
• "Summarize the termination clause"

The AI provides accurate answers based on the document content.

Smart Field Suggestions

When filling out forms, the AI provides intelligent suggestions:

• Auto-complete for names, addresses, and common fields
• Context-aware recommendations based on document type
• Previous entry suggestions for returning users

Quick Actions

Access AI-powered actions from any document:

• Draft Email -- Generate professional signing request emails
• Create Reminder -- Compose follow-up messages for pending signers
• Suggest Workflow -- Get recommendations for automation based on document type

Sending Documents for Signing

Adding Signers

1. Click "Add Signer"
2. Enter the signer's name and email address
3. Set signing order:

- Sequential -- Signers must sign in order (Signer 1 first, then Signer 2, etc.) - Parallel -- All signers receive the invitation simultaneously

1. Optionally set a 6-digit access code for extra security
2. Add more signers as needed

Setting Expiration

• Toggle "Set Expiration Date" and choose a date (maximum 90 days)
• Automatic reminders are sent 7 days and 1 day before expiration
• Expired documents can be extended or resent

Adding CC Recipients

Add email addresses to receive a copy when the document is fully signed. Useful for legal teams, managers, and record keepers.

Sending

1. Review all signers, fields, and settings
2. Add a personal message (optional)
3. Click "Send for Signing"
4. Each signer receives an email invitation with a secure link

Signing Documents

Receiving an Invitation

You will receive an email containing:

• The document title and sender name
• A "Sign Document" button with a secure link
• An access code prompt (if the sender set one)

Signing Process

1. Click "Sign Document" in the email
2. Enter the access code if prompted
3. Review the document thoroughly
4. Complete all required fields:

- Signature: Draw with mouse, finger, or stylus -- or type your name - Initials: Same options as signature - Text/Date/Email: Type directly into the field - Checkbox: Click to toggle

1. Review all your entries in the summary panel
2. Click "Complete Signing"
3. Download the signed copy (optional)

Saved Signatures

AuthenlySign lets you save your signature for reuse:

1. Draw or type your signature in any signing session
2. Click "Save for Future Use"
3. Name your signature and optionally set it as default
4. On future documents, select from your saved signatures in the "Saved" tab

Manage saved signatures at Dashboard > Settings > Profile.

Managing Documents

Document Dashboard

View all documents at Dashboard > Documents:

Document Actions

Click any document to:

• View current signing status and progress
• See who has signed and who is pending
• Send reminders to pending signers (once per 24 hours per signer)
• Download the completed PDF (with embedded signatures and audit trail)
• View the full audit trail (timestamps, IP addresses, user agents)
• Void the document if still pending
• Verify the cryptographic signature and certificate chain

Using Templates

Templates save time by reusing common document structures.

Creating Templates

1. Navigate to Dashboard > Templates
2. Click "New Template"
3. Upload a PDF document
4. Add and position fields
5. Assign fields to roles (e.g., "Client", "Contractor", "Witness") instead of specific people
6. Save with a descriptive name and category

Using a Template

1. Go to Dashboard > Documents and click "New from Template"
2. Select the template
3. Assign real people to each role
4. Customize if needed
5. Send for signing

Template Library

Browse pre-built templates at Dashboard > Templates > Library:

• NDAs and Confidentiality Agreements
• Employment Contracts
• Service Agreements
• Lease Agreements
• Consent Forms
• Purchase Orders

Advanced Analytics

The Analytics Dashboard provides comprehensive insights into your document performance.

Accessing Analytics

Navigate to Dashboard > Analytics to view your metrics.

Key Metrics

Interactive Charts

The analytics dashboard includes:

• Timeline Chart -- View sent, signed, and expired documents over time

- Toggle between Area, Line, and Bar views - Use the zoom slider to focus on specific date ranges - Click series labels to show/hide data

• Document Status -- Pie chart showing distribution of document statuses

- Click segments for drill-down details

• Signer Performance -- Compare signer response times and completion rates

- Switch between average time, completion rate, and documents completed metrics

• Activity Heatmap -- See peak signing hours throughout the week

Export Options

Export your analytics data in multiple formats:

• CSV -- Timeline data for spreadsheet analysis
• JSON -- Complete data export with metadata
• PNG -- Dashboard screenshot for presentations and reports

Real-time Updates

Enable auto-refresh in the settings panel to see live updates every 30 seconds. The refresh indicator in the top-right shows when data was last updated.

Time Range Selection

Filter data by time period using the dropdown:

• Last 7 Days
• Last 30 Days
• Last 90 Days
• Custom Range (select specific dates)

Workflows & Automation

Creating Workflows

1. Navigate to Dashboard > Workflows
2. Click "New Workflow"
3. Define trigger (e.g., "When a new document is created")
4. Add steps: send for signing, notify team, update CRM, archive
5. Set conditions and branching logic
6. Activate the workflow

Campaigns

Send documents in bulk via Dashboard > Campaigns:

1. Select a template
2. Upload a CSV of recipients
3. Personalize merge fields
4. Schedule or send immediately
5. Track progress in real time

Keyboard Shortcuts

AuthenlySign supports comprehensive keyboard shortcuts for power users to navigate and work efficiently.

Accessing the Shortcuts Guide

Press ? from anywhere in the application to open the Keyboard Shortcuts modal. The modal includes a search function to quickly find specific shortcuts.

Navigation Shortcuts

Document Shortcuts

Editor Shortcuts

Modal Shortcuts

Accessibility

Tips for Using Shortcuts

• Shortcuts are disabled when typing in input fields
• Hold Shift with navigation shortcuts to open in new tab
• The command palette (Cmd/Ctrl + K) provides fuzzy search for all actions

Customization & Themes

Personalize your AuthenlySign experience with themes and brand colors.

Accessing Appearance Settings

Navigate to Dashboard > Settings > Appearance.

Theme Selection

Choose from 10 pre-built themes:

Light/Dark Mode

Switch between color modes:

• Light -- Bright background for well-lit environments
• Dark -- Dark background to reduce eye strain
• System -- Automatically match your device settings

Use the sun/moon icon in the top navigation bar for quick toggling.

Brand Colors (Team Plans)

Customize the application with your organization's brand:

1. Go to Settings > Appearance > Branding
2. Enable brand customization
3. Enter your company name
4. Set your primary, secondary, and accent colors
5. Upload your company logo

Preview Mode

Test theme changes before applying:

1. Click "Preview" on any theme card
2. Navigate the application to see how it looks
3. Click "Apply" to save or "Cancel" to revert

Reset to Default

Click "Reset to Default" to restore the original theme settings.

Contextual Help System

AuthenlySign includes an intelligent help system throughout the application.

Help Tooltips

Look for the info icons (circle with "i") next to features:

• Hover (desktop) or tap (mobile) to see explanations
• Click "Learn more" links to access detailed documentation

Inline Hints

Contextual tips appear when you're learning new features:

• Dismissible hints provide guidance at key moments
• Click "Got it" to dismiss or "Learn more" for details
• Dismissed hints can be reset in Help Preferences

Feature Badges

New and updated features display badges:

• New -- Recently added features
• Beta -- Features in testing phase
• Pro -- Features available on paid plans

Help Preferences

Customize your help experience at Settings > Help & Guidance:

• Enable/disable tooltips
• Enable/disable inline hints
• Enable/disable feature badges
• Reset all dismissed hints
• Access quick links to documentation and tours

Help Center

Press ? or click the help button to access:

• Product tours for each area
• Documentation links
• Keyboard shortcuts reference
• Support contact options

Account Settings

Profile Settings (/dashboard/settings)

• Full name, email, company, phone number
• Timezone and language preference
• Notification preferences (email, in-app)
• Privacy settings and data retention

Security Settings (/dashboard/settings/security)

• Change password
• Enable/disable two-factor authentication
• View active sessions and login history
• IP whitelisting (Enterprise plans)

API Keys (/dashboard/settings/api-keys)

Medium Team plan and above

1. Click "Generate New Key"
2. Enter a key name and optional expiration
3. Copy the key immediately (shown only once)
4. Use the key in your integrations via the Authorization: Bearer <key> header

Custom Branding (/dashboard/settings/branding)

Medium Team plan and above

Upload your logo, set brand colors, and customize signing pages and email templates.

White-Label (/dashboard/settings/white-label)

Enterprise plan

Full white-label with custom domain, email sender, and complete UI rebrand.

Billing & Subscriptions

Access billing at Dashboard > Settings > Subscription:

• View your current plan, usage, and billing cycle
• Upgrade or downgrade plans (prorated charges apply)
• Update payment method via Stripe Customer Portal
• View and download invoices
• Cancel subscription (access continues until end of billing period)

Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, ACH bank transfers (Enterprise).

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Cannot sign in

• Verify email address is correct
• Reset password via "Forgot Password" link
• Check for verification email in spam/junk folder
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Try a different browser or incognito mode

Document will not upload

• Confirm the file is a PDF under 50 MB
• Check internet connection stability
• Try a different browser
• Ensure file is not corrupted (can open locally)

Signature looks incorrect

• Draw slowly and steadily
• Use landscape orientation on mobile devices
• Try a stylus for better precision
• Zoom in on the signature area before drawing

Email not received

• Check spam/junk folder
• Verify the email address is correct
• Add noreply@authenlysign.com to contacts
• Check email filtering rules and firewall settings

Fields not saving

• Check internet connection
• Click Save explicitly and wait for confirmation toast
• Refresh the page and try again
• Check if you have edit permissions for the document

Theme not applying

• Clear browser cache
• Refresh the page (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + R)
• Try resetting to default in Appearance settings
• Check if organization has enforced a specific theme

Keyboard shortcuts not working

• Ensure no input field is focused (click elsewhere first)
• Check that no modal or panel is open
• Verify shortcuts are enabled in Settings > Keyboard
• Try pressing ? to open the shortcuts guide

AI Assistant not responding

• Check your internet connection
• Verify you're on a plan that includes AI features
• Refresh the page
• Check if AI service status at the system health page

Browser Compatibility

Internet Explorer is not supported.

Mobile Support

AuthenlySign is fully responsive and works on:

• iOS Safari 14+
• Android Chrome 90+
• Mobile Firefox 88+

Touch gestures supported:

• Tap to select
• Pinch to zoom documents
• Swipe to navigate pages

Getting Help

• AI Chat Assistant: Click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner for instant answers (available 24/7)
• Document AI Assistant: Click the sparkle icon on any document for context-aware help
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Press ? to view all shortcuts
• Help Center: Access via the help button in the navigation bar
• Contextual Tooltips: Hover over info icons for feature explanations
• Support Tickets: File a ticket at Dashboard > Support for human assistance
• Knowledge Base: Browse articles at Dashboard > Support > Knowledge Base
• Community: Join discussions, vote on features, and share tips at /community
• Email: support@authenlysign.com (response within 24 hours; faster for paid plans)

FAQs

Are AuthenlySign signatures legally binding? Yes. AuthenlySign is compliant with the ESIGN Act (USA), UETA, eIDAS (EU), and other international e-signature laws. All documents include PKI digital signatures, timestamps from a trusted authority, and a hash-chained audit trail that is admissible in court.

How secure is AuthenlySign? Enterprise-grade security: AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, PKI-based digital certificates, HMAC-signed webhooks, WAF protection against SQL injection/XSS/CSRF, rate limiting, and comprehensive audit logging. SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliant (with BAA).

Do signers need an AuthenlySign account? No. Signers receive an email link and can sign without creating an account. Account creation is only required for sending documents and managing settings.

Can I try AuthenlySign for free? Yes. We offer a 14-day free trial of the Small Team plan. No credit card required.

How many documents can I send? Individual plan: 100/month. Small Team and above: Unlimited.

Can I cancel anytime? Yes. Cancel anytime with no penalties. Access continues until the end of your billing period.

How do I customize the appearance? Go to Dashboard > Settings > Appearance to choose from 10 themes, set light/dark mode, and configure brand colors. Changes apply instantly across the application.

What keyboard shortcuts are available? Press ? from anywhere in the application to view the complete keyboard shortcuts guide. You can also navigate using G + key combinations (e.g., G then D for Documents).

How does the AI Assistant work? The AI Assistant analyzes your documents to provide summaries, extract key information, answer questions, and suggest fields. Access it by clicking the sparkle icon on any document page.

Can I take the product tour again? Yes. Press ? to open the Help Center and click "Restart Tour" to begin the guided tour from the beginning. You can also access specific tours for different areas of the application.

How do I disable contextual help? Go to Dashboard > Settings > Help & Guidance to toggle tooltips, hints, and feature badges on or off. You can also reset dismissed hints if you want to see them again.

AuthenlySign User Guide v3.1 -- March 2026 For the latest version, visit /resources/docs/user-guide