1. Getting Started with the DocuSign API
Aaron Liao
Director, Developer Evangelism

2. A Digital World Is a Better World
DocuSign is available in
Hundreds of millions of documents have been DocuSigned by more than
Successful Transactions in 2015
Join the DocuSign Global Trust Network everyday

3. A Digital World Is a Better World

4. DocuSign Product Portfolio
Signature Products and APIs
DocuSign Signature
eSignature APIs
DocuSign Signature Appliance (formerly CoSign Central)
Signature Appliance APIs
Transaction Rooms Products and APIs
DocuSign Transaction Rooms for Real Estate
Transaction Rooms for Real Estate API
DocuSign Transaction Rooms for Financial Services
Transaction Rooms for Financial Services API

5. What’s Possible? DocuSign API
Request legally binding signatures on virtually any type of document
Retrieve form-field data
Embed the signing or sending workflow into your UI
Enforce multi-factor recipient authentication
Track documents in real-time
Much more…

6. Custom End-to-End Workflows via APIs
Accessing DocuSign
Stand Alone
Apps
Pre-Built
Integrations
Custom End-to-End Workflows via APIs
Easy-to-use
Quick to deploy
Flexible
Out-of-the-box
Popular productivity apps
Industry-specific apps
Legacy systems
High volume
Multiple deployment options
Embed in websites
I mentioned that with DocuSign, you can make any approval process 100% digital end-to-end. DocuSign offers the most flexibility when it comes to deployment options, to best address your specific needs:
DocuSign Apps
The first option is our award-winning stand-alone mobile and web applications.
Our native, cloud-based apps offer powerful functionality in a very easy-to-use interface available on any device.
Highly flexible option for automating processes that don’t require integrating to other systems.
You can deploy these apps in as little as a few hours, so ideal for driving immediate results.
Pre-Built Connectors
Or, you can take advantage of our vast ecosystem of out-of-the-box connectors with popular apps
Good option when you need to use DocuSign in conjunction with a popular productivity or industry-specific app
Get more out of your existing investments in other systems
Custom Integrated Workflows
Finally, you can create a custom integrated workflow, leveraging DocuSign’s industry leading REST & SOAP APIs. Ideal when any of these scenarios apply to your use case:
Have multiple or legacy systems you want to connect
Need to automate high volume transactions
Need a hybrid or private cloud deployment
Want to embed eSignature in your customer-facing website, portal or app
And you don’t have to just choose one method--many of our customers use more than one of these options, particularly as they add additional use cases.

7. Common Terms
Envelope: A “package” that contains document(s), recipient(s), tab(s), and workflow. Used to send signature requests. Recipient: Someone who receives an envelope and depending on their settings can sign the document(s), enter information, or take other actions. Tab (or tag): Used to indicate where a recipient signs or takes other actions on the document(s) within a given envelope.
Template: A design-time object used to streamline the sending process. A “cookie-cutter” envelope.
Integrator Key: A 41-digit GUID used to identify your integration and authenticate against the API.

8. Not a one-time decision – you can mix and match!
REST vs. SOAP
DocuSign offers REST and SOAP APIs:
REST allows JSON or XML, SOAP only XML
REST parses faster
SOAP supports WS-Security
Small feature gap
Not a one-time decision – you can mix and match!

9. Developer Center and Tools

10. DocuSign GitHub
Free SDKs, Clients, and Tools Tools generated from Swagger Available through NuGet, NPM, Cocoapods, Packagist, Maven MIT License (open source!)

11. API Recipes Focus on your app instead of DocuSign API mechanics
Multi-language code walkthroughs
C#, Java, Node.js, Obj-C, PHP, Python
Most common API use-cases covered
docusign.com/developer-center/recipes

12. apiexplorer.docusign.com/
Test API calls without writing any code
Instantly see request/response
Test additional options, settings, and features
apiexplorer.docusign.com/

13. API Fundamentals

14. Authentication API Authentication Recipient Authentication
Basic (USER + PWD)
SSO (Oauth)
Recipient Authentication
9 Authentication methods available!
SMS
More...
Phone
KBA
GeoLoc

15. First API Call – Login Login API Notes
Should be first call any integration makes!
Retrieves your accountId and baseUrl
Notes
Only SENDERS need their own DocuSign account
Can be a member of multiple accounts

16. API Signature Request Document Signature Request
File bytes are passed as part of the request
Template Signature Request
Templates are design-time objects that save workflow, docs, tabs, and more
Combination of Templates and Documents
Composite Templates

17. Remote vs. Embedded Recipients
Sign through DocuSign’s UI
Remote Recipients use Notifications to initiate workflows
Full DocuSign functionality
Sign through YOUR UI
Embedded Recipients use URL Tokens to initiate workflows
Avoid context switching, expose DocuSign through your App or Website

18. 3 General Methods for Placing Tabs…
DocuSign Tabs
If no tabs specified: Free Form Signing
Recipient decides where to place tabs
One or more tabs: Guided Signing
Sender designates tab locations
3 General Methods for Placing Tabs…

19. Tab Placement Strategies
Absolute Positioning
Specify x,y coordinates
Units in pixels, cms, inches, etc.
Know position ahead time
Relative Positioning
Auto-Place (Anchor) feature
Location based on actual document content
Can further offset
PDF Form Fields
Based on field location
Easy to automate
Only works with PDFs

20. Real-Time Status Three General Methods: Poll Platform for Status
EventNotification Object
DocuSign Connect

21. API Certification API Certification Checklist
Go Live section of Dev Center
DocuSign conducts security review of your integration
API Limits (1,000/account/hr)
Cannot poll envelope status more than once every 15 mins
Included with API Plans

22. Developer Community on Stack Overflow #DocuSignAPI
Now What?
Create free sandbox
Write an amazing app
Certify and go live
Retire on sandy beach!
Developer Community on Stack Overflow #DocuSignAPI