General

The FineLine PC Tablet software electronically captures a signature using a Topaz 1x5 LCD signature capture tablet and:

• Displays up to 3 lines of custom text on the tablet for confirmation by the customer (ex: sale price, tax, total)
  
  
• Optionally displays either a text file or the unsigned/signed PDF files on the PC
  
  
• Optionally prints either the text file or the PDF file at any of three different points in the signature process (at launch, after the prompt text, after signing)
  
  
• Optionally opens the signed PDF document in Acrobat Reader after the program finishes
  
  
• Includes a UNIX utility to list all signed PDF documents for a UNIX database record and open the selected PDF on a specified PC using Acrobat Reader
  
  
• Enables the display of a custom "Welcome" screen on the tablet when idle
  
  
• Provides a number of configuration options for easily tuning the package to your particular requirements
  
  

How it works

To create an image file of the signature with the Deluxe version, you only need to execute the FineLine PC Tablet UNIX command which specifies the desired image type and the name of the file to save the image (on UNIX or any networked PC).  A text document can optionally be displayed and printed on the PC, along with displaying up to 3 lines of text on the tablet.

To add a digital signature to a PDF created from your UNIX data (with the Standard or Deluxe version), you only need to execute two UNIX system commands:

1. A FineLine Trapeze command that creates a custom PDF file from your UNIX data
   
   
2. A FineLine PC Tablet command that moves the custom PDF file to a specified PC, signs it and returns the signed document back to UNIX (or to any networked PC)

Since your UNIX data is used to create the PDF file to be signed with our FineLine Trapeze software, you can generate a sales order from your application (for example) and have the customer immediately review and electronically sign it.

Since the signed PDF document is electronic instead of paper, it can be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader by numerous people simultaneously, sent via e-mail, requested from a website with our FineLine WebLink and/or FineLine WebPublish software, and even printed multiple times, if required.  For businesses with multiple locations, these signed documents can be transmitted electronically to the main office immediately - eliminating delivery time and saving a fortune in shipping costs.

Also, since the PC Tablet software only requires you to issue UNIX system commands, there is no programming language requirement - i.e. it can be implemented in any UNIX package written in any programming language.

Supporting multiple document types to be signed

The FineLine Trapeze software provides support for any number of document types, complete with the optional addition of a full-color JPEG "form" the data completes and the ability to control where the signature field resides on the page, including whether it is added to the first or last page of multiple page documents.

Once the PDF file is created, the FineLine PC Tablet software handles optionally displaying the document on the PC, adding the signature and storing the signed PDF document.

Adobe Acrobat requirements

The full Adobe Acrobat software is not required by the FineLine PC Tablet software to capture a signature, although it does provide additional options.

If the full Acrobat (or the discontinued Acrobat Approval) is installed on the PC, the Tablet software includes the ability to display both the unsigned and signed PDF documents, along with the ability to print the signed document directly. Note that these options require the full licensed version of Acrobat and will not work with the free Acrobat Reader (although all signed documents can be later viewed with the Reader software).

If the full Acrobat software is not installed, the original (unsigned) text document can be optionally displayed and printed.  With the vast majority of commercial institutions providing an unsigned receipt to customers after accepting a signature, this is a perfectly acceptable method and saves the substantial cost of purchasing Acrobat for every PC that will be signing documents.  An additional option exists in the Tablet software to automatically open the signed PDF with the free Acrobat Reader after the signing is complete so it can be used to confirm the signature and print the signed document, if necessary.

Also, the Tablet software can be configured to not display any document on the PC and optionally print the document at any of 3 points in the signature process (at launch, after the prompt text, after signing).

Customization

If you have a unique requirement for this software, give us a call.  We can customize the software to suit virtually any application.


Requirements

If you will be adding signatures to PDF documents (versus saving the signature as a separate image file with the Deluxe version), the FineLine Trapeze PDF creator software for UNIX is required to build the PDF document to be signed from your UNIX data.  Note that a special "signature only" version of FineLine Trapeze is available at a reduced cost.

A SignatureGem LCD 1x5 or SigLite LCD 1x5 signature tablet from Topaz Systems is required at each PC to accept digital signatures.

Also, this software requires that all PCs to use the product be connected to the UNIX server over a local network or VPN.  Note that the PCs must either have static IP addresses on the network or use the FineLine PC Tether or Samba software to determine the dynamic IP address.

Supported UNIX platforms

• SCO OpenServer 5 / 6
• SCO UnixWare 7
• Linux
• IBM AIX
  
  

Product licensing

This product is licensed by the number of PCs that will sign and store documents.

Pricing

Topaz Signature Tablets

Product specifications, warranty and pricing may be changed by the manufacturer at any time.  This information is being provided only as a reference.