ink with windows xp and a wacom tablet

[joyce]

I run windows xp and have a wacom intuos tablet linked in for my graphics.I
have the Ink anotations buttons (in Office 2003 professional) showing but
inactive (greyed). Is there some way I can configure the tablet to work like
a tablet pc and have the handwriting and ink options available to me ?

[flibbertigibbet007]

Chris has answered a similar question to this, and his reply was that no you
can't. WinXP Tablet Edition has special functionality. And that the wacom
tablets cant send data fast enough for inking.
Honestly, you may want to try updating the drivers (for the wacom), and that
may enable it, I doubt it but it might. Also try asking in the Office
Newsgroup.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
They may be better help.
-James

Post by joyce
I run windows xp and have a wacom intuos tablet linked in for my graphics.I
have the Ink anotations buttons (in Office 2003 professional) showing but
inactive (greyed). Is there some way I can configure the tablet to work like
a tablet pc and have the handwriting and ink options available to me ?
--
JB

[Chris H.]

Not entirely correct, James. Office does have "handwriting" functionality
built in, however it doesn't compare to Tablet PC's digital recognizers in
speed or accuracy. They're two different engines and systems. The Office
handwriting must be specifically installed (see my reply to Joyce), and then
is limited to within the Office family programs which support it. It does
not use the same recognizers (no matter the input) available only on a
Tablet PC.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

Post by flibbertigibbet007
Chris has answered a similar question to this, and his reply was that no you
can't. WinXP Tablet Edition has special functionality. And that the wacom
tablets cant send data fast enough for inking.
Honestly, you may want to try updating the drivers (for the wacom), and that
may enable it, I doubt it but it might. Also try asking in the Office
Newsgroup.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
They may be better help.
-James

Post by joyce
I run windows xp and have a wacom intuos tablet linked in for my graphics.I
have the Ink anotations buttons (in Office 2003 professional) showing but
inactive (greyed). Is there some way I can configure the tablet to work like
a tablet pc and have the handwriting and ink options available to me ?
--
JB

[Chris H.]

Joyce, you "sort of" can do that with the external Wacom writing pad because
Office 2003 has built-in "handwriting" capabilities. It isn't configuration
of your writing pad, but making sure the handwriting component is install in
Office. Although not as good as on a Tablet PC, it may just make you want
the "real thing." LOL!

However, the Office 2003 handwriting functionality is not available unless
you specifically do a "custom" install. To check that, go into Control
Panel, Add or Remove Programs and find the listing for Microsoft Office.
When you single click on the listing, you'll see two buttons pop up on the
right side, Change and Remove.

Click Change, then on the first screen put a dot in the radial next to Add
or Remove Features, then click the Next button. On the new screen, make
sure all your component programs for Office that you want installed have
check marks in their respective boxes, then put a check in "Choose advanced
customization of applications, and click the Next button at the bottom.

Scroll the listing down to Office Share Features, click the + sign on the
left, then look for the listing "Microsoft Handwriting Component." Click
the little "down arrow" and select "Run from my computer" and then click the
Update button. This will install the Handwriting Component for the Office
applications.

You should then be set to go, but I would restart your computer before
opening any of the Office applications to try the Handwriting. Just
remember, this handwriting only pertains to the Office programs which
support it, and does not compare with the speed or recognition qualities of
digital setup on Tablet PCs. They're two different items.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

Post by joyce
I run windows xp and have a wacom intuos tablet linked in for my graphics.I
have the Ink anotations buttons (in Office 2003 professional) showing but
inactive (greyed). Is there some way I can configure the tablet to work like
a tablet pc and have the handwriting and ink options available to me ?
--
JB

[joyce]

Hi Chris
Thank you for outlining how I might achieve active ink anotations
I did as you have explained here and have enabled voice and handwriting
recognition to run from my computer as well as the "handwriting" under the
office share features, but whilst the voice and handwriting recognition
functions are active, the ink anotation buttons are still greyed out and
inactive, is there somthing I have missed ?

Post by Chris H.
Joyce, you "sort of" can do that with the external Wacom writing pad because
Office 2003 has built-in "handwriting" capabilities. It isn't configuration
of your writing pad, but making sure the handwriting component is install in
Office. Although not as good as on a Tablet PC, it may just make you want
the "real thing." LOL!
However, the Office 2003 handwriting functionality is not available unless
you specifically do a "custom" install. To check that, go into Control
Panel, Add or Remove Programs and find the listing for Microsoft Office.
When you single click on the listing, you'll see two buttons pop up on the
right side, Change and Remove.
Click Change, then on the first screen put a dot in the radial next to Add
or Remove Features, then click the Next button. On the new screen, make
sure all your component programs for Office that you want installed have
check marks in their respective boxes, then put a check in "Choose advanced
customization of applications, and click the Next button at the bottom.
Scroll the listing down to Office Share Features, click the + sign on the
left, then look for the listing "Microsoft Handwriting Component." Click
the little "down arrow" and select "Run from my computer" and then click the
Update button. This will install the Handwriting Component for the Office
applications.
You should then be set to go, but I would restart your computer before
opening any of the Office applications to try the Handwriting. Just
remember, this handwriting only pertains to the Office programs which
support it, and does not compare with the speed or recognition qualities of
digital setup on Tablet PCs. They're two different items.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

Post by joyce
I run windows xp and have a wacom intuos tablet linked in for my graphics.I
have the Ink anotations buttons (in Office 2003 professional) showing but
inactive (greyed). Is there some way I can configure the tablet to work like
a tablet pc and have the handwriting and ink options available to me ?
--
JB

[Chris H.]

Joyce, you may need to launch the "Ink" toolbars first by going to (in Word)
View/Toolbars and selecting (clicking on) Ink Annotations, Ink Comments and
Ink Drawing & Writing. If that doesn't work for you try to look in the Help
section. If you have a broadband Internet connection, and do an Office
Online search (one of the search options) for "ink". You will get a whole
lot of helpful information in the results.

If you continue to have issues, I would suggest posting to one of the Office
newsgroups where an Office MVP would be better able to assist you directly.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

Post by joyce
Hi Chris
Thank you for outlining how I might achieve active ink anotations
I did as you have explained here and have enabled voice and handwriting
recognition to run from my computer as well as the "handwriting" under the
office share features, but whilst the voice and handwriting recognition
functions are active, the ink anotation buttons are still greyed out and
inactive, is there somthing I have missed ?

Post by Chris H.
Joyce, you "sort of" can do that with the external Wacom writing pad because
Office 2003 has built-in "handwriting" capabilities. It isn't configuration
of your writing pad, but making sure the handwriting component is install in
Office. Although not as good as on a Tablet PC, it may just make you want
the "real thing." LOL!
However, the Office 2003 handwriting functionality is not available unless
you specifically do a "custom" install. To check that, go into Control
Panel, Add or Remove Programs and find the listing for Microsoft Office.
When you single click on the listing, you'll see two buttons pop up on the
right side, Change and Remove.
Click Change, then on the first screen put a dot in the radial next to Add
or Remove Features, then click the Next button. On the new screen, make
sure all your component programs for Office that you want installed have
check marks in their respective boxes, then put a check in "Choose advanced
customization of applications, and click the Next button at the bottom.
Scroll the listing down to Office Share Features, click the + sign on the
left, then look for the listing "Microsoft Handwriting Component." Click
the little "down arrow" and select "Run from my computer" and then click the
Update button. This will install the Handwriting Component for the Office
applications.
You should then be set to go, but I would restart your computer before
opening any of the Office applications to try the Handwriting. Just
remember, this handwriting only pertains to the Office programs which
support it, and does not compare with the speed or recognition qualities of
digital setup on Tablet PCs. They're two different items.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

Post by joyce
I run windows xp and have a wacom intuos tablet linked in for my graphics.I
have the Ink anotations buttons (in Office 2003 professional) showing but
inactive (greyed). Is there some way I can configure the tablet to work like
a tablet pc and have the handwriting and ink options available to me ?
--
JB