> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.emsigner.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.emsigner.com/initiate-and-sign-envelopes/using-templates/creating-and-managing-templates/configure-a-flexi-form-template/adding-participants-and-signature-placeholders.md).
# Adding Participants and Signature Placeholders
**Add Participants and Signature Placeholders**
The **Add Participants** step is the second stage in setting up a Flexi Form Template. This step defines who will sign the document, in what order they will sign, and how each participant's access and signing experience is configured.
In a Flexi Form Template, the document, fields, and signature placeholders are configured during template setup, while field values are provided later when the template is used to initiate a signing transaction.
***
**Adding Participants**
Participants can be added in either of the following ways:
**Option 1: Add Signatories** Click the **Add Signatories** button at the top of the panel. Use the **Search & Add participants** bar to find existing users — enter a minimum of 4 characters to search by name or email. Select the user to add them to the workflow.
**Option 2: Add External Participant** Click the **Add external participant** button to add a signer who is not an existing user in the system.
Once added, participants appear in the left panel as **Signatory 1**, **Signatory 2**, and so on. Each signatory row includes an **Assign Signatory** option to map a specific user to that slot.
***
**Configure Workflow Type**
The **Workflow Type** toggle is available at the top of the participant list. Select the appropriate signing flow:
* **Serial** — Signatories sign one after another, in the defined order.
* **Parallel** — All signatories can sign simultaneously, irrespective of order.
* **In-person** — Signing is facilitated in a face-to-face setting.
***
**Configuring Settings for Each Signatory**
Click on a signatory from the left panel to open their **Configure settings** panel on the right. Each participant must be configured before you can proceed to the next step.
**Role** Assign the participant's role in the workflow:
* **Signer** — The participant is required to sign the document.
* **Reviewer** — The participant reviews the document but does not sign.
* **CC Recipient** — The participant receives a copy of the document for information purposes only.
**Signatory Settings**
Expand the **Signatory Settings** section to configure the following:
*Configure Attachment Profile* Select a **Profile Name** from the dropdown to define the type of attachments the signatory is required to submit as part of the signing process.
*Access Controls*
* **Allow to add exceptional users and define access controls** — Enable this toggle to permit the addition of users outside the standard participant list and to define custom access rules for this signatory.
* **Don't Allow to download documents** — Enable this toggle to restrict the signatory from downloading the document during the signing process.
*Attachment & Comment Visibility* A table at the bottom of the settings panel lists all other signatories in the workflow. For each, you can control:
* **Hide Attachments** — Prevent this signatory from viewing attachments submitted by the listed co-signatory.
* **Hide Comments** — Prevent this signatory from viewing comments added by the listed co-signatory.
Once all settings are configured for a signatory, click **Save Details** to apply the configuration before moving to the next participant.
***
**Key Notes**
* Each participant must be configured before you can proceed to the **Set Signature** step.
* The workflow type and participant roles defined here are locked into the template structure and will apply each time the template is used for a signing transaction.
* In a Flexi Form Template, the document uploaded during setup is the final document — fields and signature placeholders are predefined, and users will fill in values and complete signing when the workflow is initiated.
***
**What Happens Next?**
Once all participants are added and configured, click **Next** to proceed to the **Set Signature** step, where signature placeholders and field components will be placed on the document and mapped to the respective signatories.
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