Use the QCDS Prepare & Send Screen

Understand the request builder, signer strip, routing selector, Identity Verification control, field palette/assignment tools, Check button, and Send Now action.

This guide applies to All plans; sender and follows the accepted QC Digital Signature 2.0.7 implementation. Where older walkthrough language differs from the current interface or source behavior, use the current QCDS state as the authority.

Before You Begin

  • Use a published Template and confirm the required Contacts are present before opening the Request workflow.
  • Finish unsent work in the current browser session. The streamlined flow does not present ordinary new Requests as persistent server-side drafts before Send Now.
  • Confirm Joomla mail and the current request allowance before production sending so a delivery or entitlement issue is found early.

Step-by-Step Workflow

  1. Start from a published Template and open Prepare & Send.
  2. Use Field Assignment search to find a saved Contact by name, linked Joomla username, email, or company.
  3. Use Assign all, Assign selected, or Assign unassigned as appropriate, and use right-click assignment for precise field-by-field control.
  4. Review Sender assignment where the sender should fill a field, and verify linked Signed Date relationships.
  5. Set routing and Identity Verification requirements, click Check, and correct every blocking issue before Send Now.

The request builder

The current visual builder uses the rendered PDF as the coordinate authority. You can move between pages, click or drag fields from the palette, select/move/resize them, use Undo/Redo, Copy/Paste, Delete, Fit Width, zoom controls, bulk assignment, and right-click Field options. Do not save placement against a blank/failed PDF preview: resolve protected-delivery/rendering errors first so coordinates are based on the actual page.

For Use the QCDS Prepare & Send Screen, verify this behavior using the actual object involved rather than a generic assumption. A global administrator setting, a sender-workspace preference, a reusable Template, and a sent Request have different ownership and history rules. QCDS is intentionally designed so changes for future work do not silently rewrite the evidence of an already-sent transaction.

Signer strip

The current visual builder uses the rendered PDF as the coordinate authority. You can move between pages, click or drag fields from the palette, select/move/resize them, use Undo/Redo, Copy/Paste, Delete, Fit Width, zoom controls, bulk assignment, and right-click Field options. Do not save placement against a blank/failed PDF preview: resolve protected-delivery/rendering errors first so coordinates are based on the actual page.

For Use the QCDS Prepare & Send Screen, verify this behavior using the actual object involved rather than a generic assumption. A global administrator setting, a sender-workspace preference, a reusable Template, and a sent Request have different ownership and history rules. QCDS is intentionally designed so changes for future work do not silently rewrite the evidence of an already-sent transaction.

Routing selector

The current visual builder uses the rendered PDF as the coordinate authority. You can move between pages, click or drag fields from the palette, select/move/resize them, use Undo/Redo, Copy/Paste, Delete, Fit Width, zoom controls, bulk assignment, and right-click Field options. Do not save placement against a blank/failed PDF preview: resolve protected-delivery/rendering errors first so coordinates are based on the actual page.

Identity Verification control

The current visual builder uses the rendered PDF as the coordinate authority. You can move between pages, click or drag fields from the palette, select/move/resize them, use Undo/Redo, Copy/Paste, Delete, Fit Width, zoom controls, bulk assignment, and right-click Field options. Do not save placement against a blank/failed PDF preview: resolve protected-delivery/rendering errors first so coordinates are based on the actual page.

Field palette/assignment tools

The current visual builder uses the rendered PDF as the coordinate authority. You can move between pages, click or drag fields from the palette, select/move/resize them, use Undo/Redo, Copy/Paste, Delete, Fit Width, zoom controls, bulk assignment, and right-click Field options. Do not save placement against a blank/failed PDF preview: resolve protected-delivery/rendering errors first so coordinates are based on the actual page.

How This Fits into the QCDS Workflow

The Request editor is the boundary between reusable preparation and an immutable transaction. QCDS lets you make Request-specific choices before sending, then freezes the final participants, fields, routing, message source, and other transaction context when Send Now succeeds.

Because Send Now is the transaction boundary, review the entire transaction immediately before sending: people, assignments, routing, expiration, invitation source, verification requirement, and request allowance.

Verify the Result

  • The Template validates and a new test Request renders the expected field/content behavior without changing older Requests.
  • Request Details shows the expected lifecycle, participant, Timeline, and delivery state after the action.
  • Provider Test Connection succeeds and a representative Level 2 test follows the expected provider flow.
  • A direct follow-up test confirms the change affects future/current workflow behavior without rewriting historical sent Request evidence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Publishing before running Validate and resolving actual configuration problems.
  • Assuming a later Template edit will update a Request that was already sent.
  • Cancelling/recreating an otherwise valid Request just to repair one failed email address.
  • Leaving transient unsent work and expecting it to appear later as a persistent draft Request.
  • Treating provider-backed Identity Verification as required for every ordinary secure-link signing workflow.

Troubleshooting

  • If the PDF preview or completed artifact fails, reproduce with a small known-good PDF and check QCDS Status/Scheduled Task health before changing field data.
  • If Level 2 verification fails, use the provider Test Connection and inspect provider/profile/callback configuration; ordinary Level 1 signing and historical evidence should not be reset.
  • If the Request is partly successful, preserve it and repair the failed participant/delivery step. Successful links and recorded history should remain usable.

Operational Best Practice

Test meaningful changes with controlled data before relying on them in production. Keep QCDS, Joomla mail, Scheduled Tasks, and entitlement health observable; preserve successful Requests and completed evidence; and make the smallest change that solves the actual problem. For handoff or support, record the QCDS version, relevant Request/Template reference, the exact action taken, and the visible result without including secrets.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCDS feature? Visit the QC Digital Signature Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.