Skip to main content
This guide explains how to create templates in Google Docs for DocsAutomator, covering the platform’s template syntax and best practices.
This guide covers Google Doc templates. For PDF templates with visual placeholder positioning, see the PDF Template Guide.
Google Doc invoice template showing placeholders like {{client_name}}, {{line_items_1}}{{service_name}}, and summary fields

​
Template Syntax

DocsAutomator uses three types of variables declared with double curly brackets {{...}}:

​
Text Variables/Placeholders

Basic text placeholders replace content in your document with data from your source. 
{{variableName}}

{{name}}
{{email}}
{{company}}
{{invoiceNumber}}
{{someUniquePlaceholderText}}
Variable names must be unique within a document. However, the same placeholder can appear multiple times—you only need to map the data once.

​
Image Variables/Placeholders

Dynamic image insertion uses the image_ prefix: 
{{image_variableName}}

{{image_headshot}}
{{image_product}}
{{image_companyLogo}}
{{image_signature}}
When declared, the system expects single or multiple images to be passed for replacement. See Dynamic Images for more details.

​
Line Item Variables/Placeholders

Line items enable adding lists of data such as invoice positions, timesheet entries, or product lists. They’re declared as table rows in your template: 
{{line_items_1}}{{description}}  {{quantity}}  {{price}}
Line items support:
  • Static text alongside variables
  • Multiple variables per table cell
  • Nested line items (up to 3 levels deep)
  • Calculations and grouping
See Line Items for comprehensive documentation.
Generated invoice showing Acme Corporation with line items for UI/UX Design, Frontend Development, and Backend Development

​
E-Signature Placeholders

Add e-signature fields to your Google Doc template to collect legally binding signatures through DocsAutomator eSign. E-signature placeholders use the esign. prefix followed by the field type and signer number.

​
Field Types

SyntaxPurpose
{{esign.signature_N}}Signature capture (draw or touch) for signer N
{{esign.date_N}}Auto-filled date when signer N signs
{{esign.text_N}}Text input field for signer N
{{esign.checkbox_N}}Agreement checkbox for signer N
Where N is the signer number (1, 2, 3, etc.). Use different numbers to assign fields to different signers in a multi-party signing workflow.

​
Example: Two-Party Signature Block

SELLER:

Signature: {{esign.signature_1}}
Printed Name: {{esign.text_1_printedname}}
Date: {{esign.date_1}}
I agree to the terms and conditions: {{esign.checkbox_1_agreeterms}}

BUYER:

Signature: {{esign.signature_2}}
Printed Name: {{esign.text_2_printedname}}
Date: {{esign.date_2}}
I agree to the terms and conditions: {{esign.checkbox_2_agreeterms}}
Google Doc showing e-signature placeholders including {{esign.text_1_name}}, {{esign.date_1}}, {{esign.checkbox_1_agree}}, and {{esign.signature_1}}
E-signature signer details (name, email, signing order) are configured in the automation’s output settings, not in the template itself. See DocsAutomator eSign for setup instructions.

​
Generate with AI (Beta)

Instead of building a Google Doc template from scratch, you can describe what you need and let AI generate one for you. See the AI Template Generator guide for details.

​
Tips & Best Practices

Browse the Template Gallery for pre-built solutions rather than creating from scratch. It’s faster and helps you understand the syntax.
Use tables with hidden borders to position elements precisely during design. Set border width to 0pt when finished for a clean look.
Apply fixed positioning to images in headers, footers, or at the top of pages to prevent text flow interference.
Generated Google Docs inherit sharing permissions from either the selected Google Drive folder or the template folder.
Always use preview mode when setting up a new automation to verify your template renders correctly before going live.

​
Common Placeholder Patterns

PatternDescriptionExample
{{field}}Simple text replacement{{name}}
{{image_field}}Image insertion{{image_logo}}
{{line_items_1}}{{field}}Line item rowInvoice rows
{{field|format}}Formatted output{{date|date}}
{{#if condition}}Conditional contentShow/hide sections

​
Next Steps

PDF Template Guide

Upload existing PDFs and overlay data fields

Dynamic Images

Learn how to insert images dynamically

Line Items

Master tables and repeating rows

Conditional Content

Show or hide content based on conditions

DocsAutomator eSign

Collect legally binding e-signatures

Template Gallery

Browse pre-built templates
Last modified on June 4, 2026