ROW Signature Sidecar
Capture customer signatures on a Topaz pad and stamp them directly onto your RO Writer invoice PDFs — without changing your payment processor, your software, or your workflow.
Signatures shouldn’t dictate your payment processor.
RO Writer’s integrated signature workflow runs through Merchant Partners First Mile Middleware, and First Mile requires an active Merchant Partners merchant account. The signature pad sits behind the payment processor — not next to it.
That means shops who use a different payment processor — or want the freedom to switch later — lose access to integrated signature capture entirely. They’re stuck collecting paper signatures, or tied to a processor they may not want.
The Signature Sidecar removes that constraint. It captures signatures and stamps them onto the printed invoice independently of whatever payment processor the shop uses.
A six-step automated flow.
From the writer’s perspective at the counter: print the invoice, hand the pad to the customer, click one button. Everything else happens in the background.
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Writer finalizes the invoice in RO Writer.
Standard RO Writer workflow. Click “Print Invoice” → select the signature PDF printer → the invoice lands in the watched folder. No RO Writer configuration changes beyond picking the printer.
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Sidecar detects the new PDF.
File system watcher picks up the new invoice within 1–2 seconds, reads the invoice number off the PDF, pops itself to the foreground, and arms the Topaz signature pad.
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03 /
Customer signs on the pad.
Signature streams into the app’s preview in real-time. Writer can clear and retry — or skip a wrong document entirely, which quarantines it so it never blocks the next customer.
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Signature is stamped onto the PDF.
Anchor detection finds the “Customer Signature” line anywhere in the multi-page invoice (page 1, last page, or in between) and places the signature directly on the printed line, with the date in the adjacent date field.
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Signed invoice prints automatically.
Full multi-page invoice goes to the default Windows printer. Writer hands the printed copy to the customer.
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06 /
Audit log entry written.
Tab-separated log records timestamp, RO number, page signed, mode used, SHA-256 hash of the signed PDF, Windows user, and print result. Defensible record format for any future signature dispute.
What you need to know.
Topaz signature pads
SigLite, SignatureGem, and SignatureLite families via Topaz SigPlus drivers. Confirmed working: T-S460, T-LBK462, T-LBK750. Other Topaz models should work with the same software.
Wacom STU-540 support is on the roadmap.
Workstation prerequisites
Windows 10 or 11. Topaz SigPlus 4.x or later. Microsoft Print to PDF (built into Windows — our setup script configures a dedicated “RO Writer Signature” printer for you). Any default printer. Everything else ships in the package — no separate runtime installs.
Tested with v3.1
Built and tested against RO Writer v3.1. Should work with v2.2 and later as long as the printed invoice contains a “Customer Signature:” text label. Custom invoice templates may need a one-line config update.
Doesn’t wedge, doesn’t nag
Runs unattended all day. Problem PDFs get moved to a Failed folder instead of jamming the queue, duplicate prints are deduplicated, and only one instance can ever run at a time.
Everything stays local
Invoices, signatures, and audit logs are all stored locally on the workstation. No cloud uploads. No telemetry. No account required.
One JSON file
All paths, printer name, and behavior toggles live in appsettings.json. Edit with Notepad. Changes take effect on next app launch.
Common questions.
Do I need a Merchant Partners account?
No. The Sidecar captures signatures and stamps them onto your printed RO Writer invoices independently of your payment processor — no Merchant Partners account or First Mile middleware required.
Which signature pads are supported?
Topaz SigLite, SignatureGem, and SignatureLite pads via the Topaz SigPlus drivers (confirmed on the T-S460, T-LBK462, and T-LBK750). Wacom STU-540 support is on the roadmap.
Will it change my payment processor or RO Writer setup?
No. It runs alongside your existing processor and workflow. The only RO Writer change is selecting the signature PDF printer when you print an invoice.
What does it cost?
$399 per computer as a one-time fee, plus a $99/year support and updates plan that keeps it compatible as RO Writer and Windows change.
Which Windows and RO Writer versions are supported?
Windows 10 or 11, built and tested against RO Writer v3.1 (and should work with v2.2 and later), as long as the printed invoice includes a Customer Signature label.
Is there an audit trail?
Yes. Every signing writes a log entry with timestamp, RO number, page signed, a SHA-256 hash of the signed PDF, Windows user, and print result — a defensible record for any dispute.
Get the ROW Signature Sidecar
The support & updates plan keeps your Sidecar running — new versions, compatibility fixes as RO Writer and Windows change, and direct email support. An active plan is required to keep using the software.
Quick form, then we follow up within one business day with your invoice and download link. Ships as a zipped package with the application, printer setup script, and a full deployment guide.
Have feedback or a feature request? Send us a note.