The Template object

A template is a reusable resource in Annature that allows you to generate envelopes without redefining documents, recipients, and fields each time.

Templates streamline envelope creation for common workflows — such as NDAs, onboarding documents, or client agreements — by allowing you to predefine structure, roles, and field placement once, then reuse those settings as needed.

Like envelopes, templates must include at least one document and one role. Roles act as placeholder recipients and are resolved at the time the template is used.

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Template documents

Each template contains one or more base documents. When creating an envelope from a template, you can choose to:

• Use the template’s original documents exactly as they are; or
• Replace one or more documents with updated versions — such as prefilled contracts or customised forms.

Replacement documents must meet two criteria:

1. They must have the same number of pages as the originals. This ensures that all fields can be correctly reapplied to the new document structure.
2. Their dimensions must be nearly identical to the original pages. This is required to maintain accurate field positioning — especially for coordinate-placed or anchored fields.

If these requirements are not met, field transfer will be incomplete or fail silently. For example, fields assigned to page 6 of the original document cannot be carried over if the replacement document only has 5 pages.

This workflow is designed for use cases where the layout stays the same, but content is prefilled externally — such as merging client data into a standard contract before sending.

There is no restriction on adding new documents beyond those defined in the template.

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Template roles

Roles define placeholder recipients for the template. Each role specifies a set of fields and default recipient properties (such as signing order or message content).

When using the template, you’ll provide recipient details (name, email, etc.) and map them to the appropriate role by referencing the role’s id. This allows Annature to copy the role’s properties and apply its fields to the matching recipient.

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Attributes

GET /v1/templates
GET /v1/templates/:id
POST /v1/templates/:id/use

{
  "id": "7e8f68e4c6df9395cd7ff48d69d7e2c1",
  "name": "Non disclosure agreement template",
  "shared": false,
  "envelope_name": "Non disclosure agreement",
  "envelope_message": "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.",
  "envelope_shared": false,
  "created": "2019-12-17T05:30:00Z",
  "account_id": "c64ce66b70b21c03bfd5dfa0ab14b730",
  "group_id": "a5a885caee6286a54ad7bbd4ab5400e9",
  "documents": [],
  "roles": []
}