Output Literal Placeholder Text in Documents Using {{\literal}}

The {{\literal}} command is a template configuration that enables authors to output literal {{...}} text in a generated document, instead of having it interpreted as a placeholder.

Document generation normally treats every {{...}} expression in a template as a placeholder that has to be mapped to a variable. Any expression that is not mapped is removed from the generated document. 

With {{\literal}}, you mark such an expression as content rather than as a placeholder, and it is written to the generated document exactly as typed.

If you want to insert dynamic content instead, use regular placeholders.

Why use literal placeholders?

Some tools that process your generated document expect their own markers in curly braces. Without an escape mechanism, the BRYTER document generation would strip those markers before the document ever reaches the tool.

The most frequent case is e-signature text tags. Adobe Sign, for example, detects signature fields by scanning the document for text tags such as {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}}. If that tag is written as plain text in a BRYTER template, document generation treats it as an unmapped placeholder and deletes it, meaning, the signature field never appears in the signing workflow.

Escaping the tag keeps it intact all the way to the signature provider, so the workflow can generate the document and send it for signature in one run, without manual rework in between.

How to use literal placeholders

1. Write the command in your template:
   Wrap the expression you want to keep in {{\literal ...}}:

   {{\literal {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}}}}

   Note the closing braces: two for the inner expression and two for the \literal command itself.

2. Place it inline where the text should appear:
   The command can be used anywhere regular placeholders are allowed, including inside tables and lists.

   Signature of the contractor: {{\literal {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}}}}

3. Upload the template in the Create document action:
   Escaped placeholders are not placeholders, so they do not appear in the mapping list of the Create document action. There is nothing to map and the content is already fully defined in the template.
4. Generate the document:
   The generated document contains {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}} as plain text, ready to be picked up by the receiving system.

Known limitations

The value must be exactly one {{placeholder}} group.
The \literal command is designed to escape a single curly-brace expression:

• Correct: {{\literal {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}}}} outputs {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}}

Anything that is not exactly one placeholder group – plain text, several groups, or a partially written group – is written to the document as typed and is flagged as a warning when you upload the template. Review these warnings before publishing; they usually indicate a typo in the number of braces.

• Warning: {{\literal Sig_es_:signer1:signature}} – inner braces are missing.
• Warning: {{\literal {{Sig_es_:signer1:signature}} {{Dte_es_:signer1:date}}}} – two groups. Use one command per tag instead.