> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docsautomator.co/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Placeholder Syntax Reference

> Quick reference for all DocsAutomator placeholder types and template syntax

This page consolidates every placeholder syntax supported in DocsAutomator templates. Use it as a quick reference while building your templates.

<Info>
  This `{{...}}` syntax applies to **[Google Doc](/docsautomator-basics/google-doc-template-guide)** and native **[Word (.docx)](/docsautomator-basics/word-template-guide)** templates, where the brackets sit directly in the document and get replaced at generation time. **PDF templates do not use this syntax.** Don't type `{{...}}` into a PDF; use the [visual editor](/docsautomator-basics/pdf-template-guide) to position fields instead.
</Info>

## Standard Text Placeholders

Replace a placeholder with a text value from your data source.

| Syntax          | Description             | Example            |
| --------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------ |
| `{{fieldName}}` | Simple text replacement | `{{company_name}}` |

```
Dear {{client_name}},

Your order #{{order_number}} has been confirmed.
Invoice date: {{invoice_date}}
```

<Note>
  Placeholder names must be unique within a document. The same placeholder can appear multiple times, but you only need to map the data once.
</Note>

***

## Image Placeholders

Insert images dynamically using the `image_` prefix. Images must be publicly accessible URLs.

| Syntax                | Description                        | Example                  |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| `{{image_fieldName}}` | Single or multiple image insertion | `{{image_company_logo}}` |

```
{{image_headshot}}
{{image_product_photo}}
{{image_signature}}
```

Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, SVG, WebP, and more. PNG files retain transparency. See [Dynamic Images](/features/dynamic-images) for quality settings and resizing options.

***

## Line Item Placeholders

Line items represent variable-length lists of data (invoice rows, attendees, products). They are declared as table rows in your template.

### Basic Line Items

| Syntax                | Description                                           |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `{{line_items_N}}`    | Line item marker (placed at the start of a table row) |
| `{{fieldName}}`       | Field within a line item row                          |
| `{{image_fieldName}}` | Image field within a line item row                    |

Where `N` is the line item set number (1, 2, 3, etc.). The marker goes in the first cell, immediately followed by the first field placeholder. There is no closing tag.

```
{{line_items_1}}{{description}}  {{quantity}}  {{price}}
```

### Multiple Line Item Sets

Use incrementing numbers for separate line item tables:

```
{{line_items_1}}{{product}}  {{price}}

{{line_items_2}}{{service}}  {{hours}}
```

<Note>
  Line item sets must be numbered sequentially (1, 2, 3, etc.), and each number must be unique across the entire template. Even if two line item tables are in mutually exclusive sections, they must use different numbers — e.g. `{{line_items_1}}` and `{{line_items_2}}`, not `{{line_items_1}}` twice.
</Note>

### Images in Line Items

```
{{line_items_1}}{{image_product_photo}}  {{name}}  {{price}}
```

See [Line Items](/features/line-items) for complete documentation.

***

## Nested Line Items

Create hierarchical data structures with up to 3 levels of nesting. Currently available for Airtable and API data sources.

| Level                | Prefix               | Example                               |
| -------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Level 1 (Parent)     | `{{line_items_N}}`   | `{{line_items_1}}{{product_name}}`    |
| Level 2 (Child)      | `{{line_items_N_1}}` | `{{line_items_1_1}}{{component}}`     |
| Level 3 (Grandchild) | `{{line_items_N_2}}` | `{{line_items_1_2}}{{specification}}` |

Where `N` is the line item set number.

### API Data Structure

When using the API, pass line items inside the `data` object using the `children` key for nesting:

```json theme={null}
{
  "docId": "your-automation-id",
  "data": {
    "project_name": "Website Redesign",
    "line_items_1": [
      {
        "product": "Service A",
        "price": "$100",
        "children": [
          {
            "task": "Task 1",
            "children": [
              { "detail": "Detail 1" }
            ]
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

See [Nested Line Items](/features/line-items/nested-line-items) for setup steps and configuration.

***

## Section Placeholders

Sections wrap larger areas of your document for conditional rendering. Everything between the opening and closing tags can be shown or hidden based on conditions configured in the automation settings.

| Syntax              | Description                                |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `{{section_NAME}}`  | Opening tag (start of conditional section) |
| `{{/section_NAME}}` | Closing tag (end of conditional section)   |

```
{{section_premium_content}}

This entire area only appears if the condition is met.
You can include text, images, tables, and line items.

{{/section_premium_content}}
```

### Available Conditions

| Condition        | Description                  |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------- |
| equals           | Value exactly matches        |
| does not equal   | Value does not match         |
| contains         | Value includes substring     |
| does not contain | Value excludes substring     |
| exists           | Value is present (not empty) |
| does not exist   | Value is empty or missing    |

See [Sections](/features/sections) for use cases and configuration.

***

## E-Signature Placeholders

Add e-signature fields to collect legally binding signatures. Fields use the format `{{esign.TYPE_SIGNER}}`.

| Type      | Syntax                       | Purpose                                                          |
| --------- | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Signature | `{{esign.signature_N}}`      | Full signature capture (draw/touch)                              |
| Date      | `{{esign.date_N}}`           | Date picker with auto-fill                                       |
| Text      | `{{esign.text_N_label}}`     | Text input field (append `_label` for a unique name per field)   |
| Checkbox  | `{{esign.checkbox_N_label}}` | Agreement checkbox (append `_label` for a unique name per field) |

Where `N` is the signer number (1, 2, 3, etc.).

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

Co-signer: {{esign.signature_2}}
Date: {{esign.date_2}}
```

See [DocsAutomator eSign](/features/docsautomator-esign) for signer configuration, email customization, and API reference.

***

## PDF Template Placeholders

PDF templates use a visual editor instead of text-based syntax. Rather than typing `{{placeholder}}` in a document, you upload an existing PDF and position data fields on top of it. The PDF itself is not modified — DocsAutomator overlays your data onto the original layout at generation time.

PDF templates support the following placeholder types:

| Type             | Description                                                                           |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Text             | Replaced with text data, with configurable font, size, color, alignment, and overflow |
| Image            | Replaced with an image, auto-scaled to fit the placeholder bounds                     |
| Checkbox         | Draws a checkmark when the value is truthy                                            |
| E-Sign Signature | Signature capture field for e-signing                                                 |
| E-Sign Date      | Auto-filled signing date                                                              |
| E-Sign Text      | Text input for the signer                                                             |
| E-Sign Checkbox  | Agreement checkbox for e-signing                                                      |

Each placeholder has a **Name** property that maps to your data source fields, just like `{{fieldName}}` in Google Doc templates.

See the [PDF Template Guide](/docsautomator-basics/pdf-template-guide) for detailed instructions on uploading PDFs and using the visual editor.

***

## Advanced Placeholder Options

These features are configured through the settings/gear icon next to each placeholder in your automation settings. They do not require additional syntax in your template.

### Conditional Paragraph / Row Deletion

Automatically remove entire lines or table rows when a placeholder value is empty.

| Context        | Behavior                    |
| -------------- | --------------------------- |
| Outside tables | Entire paragraph is deleted |
| Inside tables  | Complete row is deleted     |
| Line items     | Line item row is removed    |

See [Conditional Paragraph / Row Deletion](/features/advanced-placeholder-options/conditional-paragraph-row-deletion).

### Conditional Show / Hide

Show or hide individual placeholder values based on conditions (equals, contains, exists, etc.). Combine with row deletion to remove the entire line when hidden.

See [Conditional Show / Hide](/features/advanced-placeholder-options/conditional-show-hide).

### Conditional Styling

Apply dynamic text formatting (color, bold, italic, font size, and more) when conditions are met.

See [Conditional Styling](/features/advanced-placeholder-options/conditional-styling).

### Markdown Formatting

Interpret a placeholder value as Markdown to render headings, bold, italic, lists, and links in the generated document. Enable per-placeholder via the settings gear.

See [Enable Markdown Formatting](/features/advanced-placeholder-options/enable-markdown-formatting).

### Hidden Values

Set a placeholder to "Always hide" so its value is never rendered in the document. Useful for driving section conditions or email routing without displaying the data.

See [Hidden Values](/features/advanced-placeholder-options/hidden-values).

***

## Auto Row Numbers

Enable automatic sequential numbering for line item rows. Configured in the line item settings (not via template syntax).

| Scenario          | Output                          |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Flat line items   | 1, 2, 3, ...                    |
| Nested line items | 1, 1.1, 1.1.1, 1.2, 2, 2.1, ... |

See [Auto Row Numbers](/features/line-items/auto-row-numbers).

***

## Quick Reference Table

| Feature                 | Template Syntax       | Configured In      |
| ----------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------ |
| Text placeholder        | `{{fieldName}}`       | Template           |
| Image placeholder       | `{{image_fieldName}}` | Template           |
| Line items (marker)     | `{{line_items_N}}`    | Template           |
| Line items (field)      | `{{fieldName}}`       | Template           |
| Nested level 2 (marker) | `{{line_items_N_1}}`  | Template           |
| Nested level 3 (marker) | `{{line_items_N_2}}`  | Template           |
| Section (open)          | `{{section_NAME}}`    | Template           |
| Section (close)         | `{{/section_NAME}}`   | Template           |
| E-signature             | `{{esign.TYPE_N}}`    | Template           |
| Row deletion            | --                    | Settings gear      |
| Show/hide               | --                    | Settings gear      |
| Conditional styling     | --                    | Settings gear      |
| Markdown formatting     | --                    | Settings gear      |
| Hidden values           | --                    | Settings gear      |
| Auto row numbers        | --                    | Line item settings |
| PDF text/image/checkbox | --                    | Visual editor      |
| PDF e-sign fields       | --                    | Visual editor      |

***

## Related Pages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Google Doc Template Guide" icon="file-lines" href="/docsautomator-basics/google-doc-template-guide">
    Template creation guide and best practices
  </Card>

  <Card title="PDF Template Guide" icon="file-pdf" href="/docsautomator-basics/pdf-template-guide">
    Overlay data fields on existing PDFs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Line Items" icon="list" href="/features/line-items">
    Variable-length lists and tables
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sections" icon="square-dashed" href="/features/sections">
    Conditional document sections
  </Card>

  <Card title="DocsAutomator eSign" icon="signature" href="/features/docsautomator-esign">
    E-signature configuration and workflows
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dynamic Images" icon="image" href="/features/dynamic-images">
    Image insertion and quality settings
  </Card>
</CardGroup>