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I have a problem using Forms. What should I do?
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Written by Ferdinand
Updated over 3 months ago

📖 Table of contents

I have a problem using Forms. What should I do?


Here you will find a list of frequently asked questions during the preparation and execution of a form and the associated answers.

I can't add my source document


If you are unable to add your source document:

  • Make sure your document is in the correct format (.docx). Forms do not support any other format than .docx at the moment. If your document is in another format (e.g. .doc, .dotx., .pdf), you must first convert the document to .docx format, e.g. via Word.

  • Make sure that your document has not reached the maximum size (5MB). If your document is too large, it probably contains "heavy" elements such as images. You can reduce/compress the size of the images in your documents or simply remove them. You can find more information on how to reduce the size of your Word documents on the Microsoft Help Center here.

  • Make sure your document does not exceed the maximum number of pages (30 pages). If so, you should see the following error message "your document cannot exceed 30 pages". Please reduce the number of pages in your document. This is an opportunity to simplify it. At Yousign, we find that short contracts are read and therefore signed more quickly.


I can't configure my variables


When you add your source document in the creation phase of your form, Yousign scans your document to retrieve the variables you previously marked with the double braces {{ }}.

Yousign then creates a question for each different variable.

If the document contains identical variables - for example, your document contains the variable {{address}} twice in two different places in the document - Yousign assigns it to a single question. In this case, the answer to the related question - for example, "what is your home address" - is injected into each place in the document.

If you are unable to add your source document:

  • Check that your document contains at least one variable marked with the double braces {{ }}. If it does not, you should see the following error message "your document must contain between 1 and 500 variables".

  • Check that your document does not contain more than 500 variables marked with the {{ }} double brace. If so, you should see the following error message "your document must contain between 1 and 500 variables".

  • Check that your document does not contain a variable longer than 64 characters (including spaces). If it does, you should see an error message. Review your document to ensure that a variable does not contain more than 64 characters.

At Yousign, we find that short, simple contracts are read and therefore signed more quickly. We see technology as a way to simplify everyday work, not as a way to perpetuate a complicated process.

Forms contain limits on the size and number of pages of the document. These limits are necessary for the performance of the interface. They allow us to guarantee a smooth and fast navigation. These limits are considered to be high enough to cover everyday business contracts. If your base model exceeds these limits, we invite you to modify it to fit these limits.

The exercise represents an opportunity to simplify your document and thus speed up your contractual process even more.


I can't automate my source document as it is


Forms were designed to automate simple contracts. The promise of Forms is speed of installation. Setting up a form takes an average of 5 minutes for immediate results.

The speed of installation comes at the cost of less sophistication. With Forms, you can already automate a lot of things. But you can't do everything.

The following limitations apply:

  • No conditionality. It is not possible to define conditions such as "if the answer to this question is 'yes', go directly to this question". It is also not possible to display or remove text in the document based on an answer given to a question in the form.

  • No mass creation of contracts. It is currently not possible to use Forms to create contracts in bulk.

At Yousign, we observe that short and simple contracts are read and therefore signed more quickly. We don't see technology as a way to codify the complexity of a process, but rather as a way to simplify everyday work.


I'd like to create a lot of forms


Check that you have not reached your forms limit (50).


If you have, you should see the following error message "your account has reached the limit of 50 forms". For application performance reasons, we have to set a limit to the number of forms you can create on your Yousign account. If you should ever reach this limit, please contact your Yousign account manager who will work with you to find a suitable solution.


I can't add a new version of a document


Check that you have not exceeded the maximum number of versions per signature request (30).


If so, you should see the following error message "no more than 30 documents". In this case, we invite you to download the most recent version, make the necessary changes and transform it into a PDF with Word for example, and use it to create a new signature request.


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