Field Types Reference Guide - Complete Overview

BreezeDoc has seven field types - Signature, Text, Email, Checkbox, Date, Initials, and Dropdown. Learn what each does, its settings, and when to use it.

Prerequisites

  • Plan: all field types are available on every plan (Free, Individual, and Agency)
  • Document: an uploaded document or template open in the editor
  • Access: for team documents, a team role that can edit

Field Types Overview

BreezeDoc document editor showing the Fields panel with all seven field types available

Choose a signer (party), then drag a field type from the Fields panel onto the page. Every field belongs to one signer, can be moved and resized, and can be placed on any page.

The Seven Field Types

Field What the signer does Required by default Default size (px)
Signature Signs (type, draw, or upload) Yes 260 × 55
Text Types text No 218 × 38
Email Types an email address No 218 × 38
Checkbox Ticks a box No 38 × 38
Date Nothing - filled in automatically No 230 × 28
Initials Adds initials (type, draw, or upload) Yes 100 × 55
Dropdown Chooses one option No 218 × 38

Signature Field

What is a Signature Field?

The signer clicks Click to sign and, in the signature window, chooses Type (their name in a signature font), Draw, or Upload (an image of up to 2 MB), then clicks Save changes and sign. The signature is placed in the completed PDF as an image.

Settings

  • Required - on by default
  • Signature position on line - where the signature sits, for example Left (on the line) or Center (on the line)
  • Size memory - when you resize a signature field, the next one you add uses the same size

Tips

  • Place it on or next to the signature line.
  • Give each signer their own signature field.
  • Keep it large enough to read - the default size works well.

Text Field

What is a Text Field?

A box the signer types into: names, addresses, phone numbers, company details, or notes.

Settings

  • Required - off by default
  • Label - a short description the signer sees
  • Font - choose from 14 fonts (Arial, Calibri, Courier, Courier New, Figtree, Garamond, Georgia, Helvetica, Impact, Roboto, Tahoma, Times New Roman, Trebuchet MS, Verdana). The font shows in the editor and on the signing page. The completed PDF prints Times New Roman, Georgia, and Garamond in a serif font, Courier and Courier New in a monospaced font, and the other fonts in a sans-serif font, all at 11 pt.

Tips

  • Make the field wide enough for the expected answer - addresses need more room than names.
  • Switch on Required for information you must have.
  • Add a Label such as "Full name" or "Company".

Email Field

What is an Email Field?

A box for an email address. The signing page uses an email input, and a required Email field only accepts a valid address.

Settings

  • Required - off by default
  • Label and Font - as for Text fields

Tips

  • Use an Email field rather than a Text field for email addresses, so the format is checked.
  • Switch on Required when you need the address.

Checkbox Field

What is a Checkbox Field?

A box the signer ticks - for accepting terms, confirming they read something, or yes/no choices.

Settings

  • Required - off by default; a required checkbox must be ticked before signing
  • Label - what the checkbox means
  • Default value - start the box ticked

Tips

  • Put the statement right next to the box ("I agree to the terms").
  • Make acceptance checkboxes required.
  • Use several checkboxes when signers may pick more than one option.

Date Field

What is a Date Field?

The Date field fills itself in with the date on the signer's device when they sign, so signers never type it and cannot change it.

How the Date Looks

The date uses the date format set in your account (the document owner's): month-day-year, day-month-year, year-month-day, or year-day-month. Change it with Date format in Settings → Account; see Account Settings.

Tips

  • Place one next to each signer's signature ("Signature: ____ Date: ____").
  • Give each signer their own Date field - it shows the date that signer signed.

Initials Field

What is an Initials Field?

A smaller signature for initialing pages or clauses. The signer clicks Click to add initials and types, draws, or uploads them. Typed initials are limited to 4 characters and appear in a plain font - signature fonts are offered for Signature fields only.

Settings

  • Required - on by default
  • Signature position on line - as for Signature fields
  • Size memory - the next Initials field uses the size you last set

Tips

  • Use initials at the bottom of each page for page-by-page acknowledgment.
  • Be consistent - initial every page, or none.

A list the signer chooses one option from, such as a payment method, a service level, or a country.

  1. Place a Dropdown field on the page and click it.
  2. Under Options, fill in the rows (Option 1, Option 2) and add more rows as needed. A dropdown needs at least two options.
  3. Optionally add a Label and switch on Required.
  • Keep the list short and easy to scan; use a Text field for open answers.
  • Make the field wide enough for the longest option.
  • Dropdowns allow one choice - use checkboxes for several.

Working With Fields

Required and Optional Fields

  • Signers fill in fields marked in yellow on the signing page.
  • Until every required field is complete, the Finalize step shows "Please fill all marked fields before finalize."
  • Optional fields can be left empty.

Assigning Fields to Signers

  • Choose the signer (party) in the editor before adding fields - new fields belong to that signer.
  • Each signer's fields show in their own color.
  • Signers sign in party order - see Multi-Party Signing.

Placing and Sizing Fields

  • Place: drag a field type from the Fields panel onto the page.
  • Move: drag the field.
  • Resize: drag the field's edge to make it larger or smaller. Signature and Initials fields can be at most 15% of the page height.

You can change fields until the document is completed - a document that is out for signature can be reopened with More → Edit on the Documents page.

Troubleshooting

I cannot add fields

  • For team documents, check that your team role can edit.
  • Completed documents cannot be edited - clone the document first.
  • Reload the page if the editor did not load completely.

Text is cut off in the field

  • Click the field and drag its edges to make it wider or taller.

The dropdown shows no options to the signer

  • Click the Dropdown field in the editor and fill in at least two Options rows.

The date is in the wrong format

  • The format comes from the document owner's Date format setting (Settings → Account).
  • The date itself is the signer's date on their own device when they sign.

The completed PDF does not use my chosen font

  • The completed PDF uses three fonts at 11 pt: DejaVu Serif for Times New Roman, Georgia, and Garamond; DejaVu Sans Mono for Courier and Courier New; DejaVu Sans for every other choice.
  • If the text contains a character the serif or monospaced font does not have, the field is printed in DejaVu Sans.

Still stuck? Email support@breezedoc.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all field types available on the Free Plan?

Yes. All seven field types are available on the Free, Individual, and Agency Plans.

Can signers edit the Date field?

No. It fills in automatically with the date the signer signs, in the document owner's date format.

Can a dropdown allow several choices?

No. A dropdown allows one choice. Use several checkboxes for multiple answers.

How do I collect a valid email address?

Use an Email field and switch on Required. A required Email field only accepts a valid address.


Need more help? Contact our support team at support@breezedoc.com - we are here to help!

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