ApproveMe Importer is an official WPsigner addon that archives signed WP E-Signature / ApproveMe documents into WPsigner. Each import becomes a completed WPsigner document with a secure PDF, file hash, signers, audit trail, and the tag Imported from ApproveMe.
What this addon does
Section titled “What this addon does”| Capability | Detail |
|---|---|
| Detection | Finds ApproveMe database tables and counts signed / awaiting / draft documents |
| Signed-only import | Imports documents with ApproveMe status signed (archive mode) |
| Native PDF | Uses ApproveMe Save as PDF (mPDF) so archived files match the original download |
| Secure storage | Stores each PDF once in WPsigner SecureStorage with a SHA-256 file hash |
| Completed docs | Creates WPsigner documents marked completed with signed signers |
| Tagging | Attaches the tag Imported from ApproveMe |
| Background jobs | WP-Cron queue with pause, resume, retry failed, and live ETA |
This is a migration / archive tool — not a live sync of pending workflows.
Installation
Section titled “Installation”- Install and activate WPsigner
- Keep WP E-Signature / ApproveMe and Save as PDF enabled on the same site
- Download the addon ZIP from the Account Portal → Addons tab (or your distribution channel)
- Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin → install the ZIP
- WPsigner → Addons → Activate (or activate via Plugins)
- Open WPsigner → ApproveMe Import (button: Open Importer)
See Addons Overview for the general install flow.
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”| Component | Minimum / notes |
|---|---|
| WPsigner | Active (WPS_VERSION present) |
| WordPress | 5.8+ |
| PHP | 7.4+ |
| ApproveMe / WP E-Signature | Installed on the same site (tables detectable) |
| Save as PDF | ApproveMe add-on with ESIG_PDF_Admin available |
| Capability | manage_options or WPsigner Permissions::can_use_signatures() |
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”- Backup the WordPress database and files
- Confirm signed documents appear under ApproveMe
- Enable E-Signature → Add-ons → Save as PDF, then refresh the importer page
- Plan for large volumes: ~800 documents may take roughly 30–90 minutes depending on server load
- Keep ApproveMe + Save as PDF active until the job finishes
Import is blocked until Save as PDF is available. Without it, the Start button stays disabled.
Detection screen
Section titled “Detection screen”Open WPsigner → ApproveMe Import.
When ApproveMe tables are found, the Detection card shows:
| Counter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Signed | Documents eligible for import |
| Awaiting | Not imported (re-send from WPsigner if still needed) |
| Drafts | Not imported |
| Already imported | Previously migrated (skipped automatically) |
| Remaining | Signed minus already imported |
Only signed documents are imported. Pending or draft documents should be completed or re-sent from WPsigner.
Background import
Section titled “Background import”Batch size
Section titled “Batch size”| Documents per batch | When to use |
|---|---|
| 3 | Safer on shared / limited hosts |
| 5 | Recommended default |
| 8–10 | Faster hosts with more resources |
Controls
Section titled “Controls”| Action | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Start background import | Builds a pending-only queue and runs via WP-Cron |
| Pause | Stops scheduling new batches |
| Resume | Continues the remaining queue |
| Retry failed | Re-queues documents that failed |
| Refresh | Reloads detection and job status |
While the job runs
Section titled “While the job runs”- Progress bar, imported / skipped / failed counters, and ETA update live
- Safe to close the tab — WP-Cron continues in the background
- Keeping the tab open accelerates processing (browser-assisted ticks)
Each document is:
- Rendered to PDF once (ApproveMe Save as PDF)
- Stored in SecureStorage
- Hashed (WPsigner file hash)
- Marked completed in WPsigner
- Tagged Imported from ApproveMe
What gets imported vs what does not
Section titled “What gets imported vs what does not”Imported
Section titled “Imported”- ApproveMe documents with status signed
- PDF archive (native Save as PDF when available)
- Signers with a valid email (status signed in WPsigner)
- Signature metadata and a migration audit entry
- Tag Imported from ApproveMe
Not imported
Section titled “Not imported”| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Awaiting / draft documents | Not part of archive mode |
| Templates | ApproveMe templates are not migrated |
| Workflows & settings | Not copied |
| Trash | Not imported |
| Cross-site data | Same WordPress install only |
| Signers without email | Omitted (cannot create a WPsigner signer) |
There is no dry-run and no global rollback. Already imported IDs are skipped, so re-running is safe for remaining documents.
PDF design
Section titled “PDF design”| Mode | When | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Native (preferred) | Save as PDF / ESIG_PDF_Admin available | Same PDF ApproveMe would download (mPDF) |
| Fallback | Native render fails for a document | TCPDF-based archive PDF (layout may differ) |
Finding imported documents
Section titled “Finding imported documents”After import:
- Open WPsigner → Documents
- Filter or search by the tag Imported from ApproveMe
- Open a document to review the PDF, signers, and audit trail
Permissions and security
Section titled “Permissions and security”- Admin UI and AJAX actions require a logged-in user with
manage_optionsor WPsigner signature capability - The importer reads ApproveMe data; it does not modify ApproveMe documents
- PDFs are written through WPsigner SecureStorage with integrity hashing
- ApproveMe remains the source of truth until you decommission it after verifying the archive
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Detection error / not installed | ApproveMe tables missing | Install ApproveMe on the same site, or confirm table prefix |
| Start button disabled | Save as PDF unavailable | E-Signature → Add-ons → Save as PDF → refresh importer |
| Job very slow | Low traffic / WP-Cron delayed | Leave the importer tab open; ensure a real cron hit if you disabled WP-Cron |
| Some documents failed | PDF render or storage error | Use Retry failed; check wp-content/debug.log |
| Signer missing | No email on ApproveMe signer | Add email in ApproveMe or accept omission |
| Duplicate worry | Re-run after partial success | Already imported IDs are skipped automatically |
Enable WordPress debug logging if needed:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );Then review wp-content/debug.log for ApproveMe Importer / WPsigner entries.
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Addons Overview — Install and manage official addons
- Account Portal — Download addon ZIPs
- Creating Documents — Work with documents after import
- Audit Trails — Understand WPsigner audit records
- Troubleshooting — General WPsigner diagnostics