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Getting started

This section of the manual explains the first steps in handling your signotec signature pad.

Check scope of delivery

Once you have received your signotec signature pad, unpack it and check whether it has any visible damage and that all accessories have been supplied.

The signature pad is shipped in pre-assembled form. USB cable and pen are already attached to the pad.

Connect the pad

Connect the device to a free USB port on your computer. No drivers need to be installed if the device is used locally under Windows. Please refer to the section Use at the computer for more information.

If you are using the device in a terminal server environment, a device with integrated USB-to-serial converter (FTDI) or a driver must be used. Please observe the information provided in the section Use at the terminal server.

Once the signature pad is connected, the display will show a standby image or a slide show. The status LED lights up orange. The device is now ready for operation.

The standby image or slide show can be configured by using the free signotec SlideShow Manager.

Please remove the protective film from the device’s display before using it.

Use with desktop software

To use the signature pad, you always need compatible software. A large number of free and fee-based software products are available from signotec.

If you are not using signotec software, please ask your software vendor to what extent the pads can be used.

Free tools from signotec

The following free software tools are available.

  • The free signotec signoPAD-Tools are available to easily capture signatures as images.

  • The "Lite" version of signoSign/2 is available for signing PDF documents. This version has a very limited range of functions and is ideal for getting started with PDF signatures.

  • The signoPAD-API is available free of charge for integration into your own applications.

A paid licence is required to use the full range of functions of the signature pads and PDF software.

Professional tools from signotec

The following paid software tools are available for professional applications:

  • The “Pro” version of signoSign/2 includes numerous advanced functions for processing PDF documents, secure signatures and automated document processing.

  • With the signotec Adobe Acrobat plug-in, you can sign directly in Adobe Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Pro.

  • With signoSign/Universal, you can edit and sign documents directly in the browser on your PC or on smartphones and tablets. Documents can also be shared with external persons for signing (remote signature).

  • For software developers, signotec provides additional programming interfaces (APIs), in particular for editing and signing PDF documents.

Use with web applications

In order to enable the signature pad to be used in web applications in the browser, e.g. in combination with signoSign/Universal, the interface signotec ‘signoPAD-API /Web’ must be installed on your computer.

If you are not using signotec software, please ask your software vendor to what extent the pads can be used.

Troubleshooting

In an initial error analysis, the following points can be examined:

  1. Ensure that the cable of the signature pad is properly connected to the PC.

  2. Ensure that the computer’s USB port is active. Try another USB port if one is available.

  3. If you have a device with integrated FTDI chip, you will need the FTDI driver. If the driver is not automatically installed by Windows, please install it manually.

  4. Ensure that you are using compatible software. If the signature pad is displaying the standby image or slide show and the LED lights up orange, it is ready for operation. All other functions must be controlled via compatible software.