OneNote: pen is grayed out. Cure?

[EricE]

Installed and activated trial OneNote. Purchased digital inoput writing
tablet, which works on, say, paintbrush. In OneNote all pen icons are grayed
out and I canot handwrite. Please advise.

 

[Kathy J]

There is a big difference between the handwriting done with a tablet and
that done with a Tablet PC. While you should be able to still draw with the
pen on your writing tablet (I do it all the time), you will only be able to
have OneNote recognize or convert the handwriting to text if you have a
Tablet PC.

Short version: the sampling rates and quality levels for the writing tablet
are so much lower than those of the Tablet PC that the recognition doesn't
work. I expect that Chris H or Chris P will be in with the technical
explanation by the time this gets posted.

--
Kathryn Jacobs, Microsoft MVP PowerPoint and OneNote
Co-Author of Life on OneNote - Coming Dec 2004 from Holy Macro! Books
Get OneNote answers at http://www.onenoteanswers.com
Get PowerPoint answers at http://www.powerpointanswers.com
Want to learn OneNote? Check out
http://www.eclecticacademy.com/newclasses.htm#onenote

I believe life is meant to be lived. But:
if we live without making a difference, it makes no difference that we lived

 

[Chris H.]

Technical information? OneNote's Ink (Tablet PC variety) is only
available on a Tablet PC, as you've said, because it uses the digital Ink
available only on a Tablet. The Tablet PCs have special detection when the
proper pens are used on-screen, and sample the handwriting digitally - three
or four times faster than the normal writing pad or mouse input - for a more
satisfactory experience.

The handwriting recognition (i.e., conversion to text from digital Ink) is
very much improved on a Tablet PC.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[EricE]

Kathy: I don't need to "recognize orconvert; just to place writing on a
screen (and save it as a graphic). One note simply will not allow me to write
on its pages. Pen is grayed ot. I can write on Paint or Adobe Photoshop. How
to get Onenote to recognize that I'm trying to write and not just push a
mouse around a screen?

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

Eric,

There have been a few occurrences of this recently. One thing worth
trying is to do a Detect and Repair. That option is accessible from
the Help menu.

If that doesn't work can you confirm the version information visible
on Help | About OneNote please?

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath

 

[EricE]

Andrew:
I tried Detect & Repair with no success.
I downloaded OneNote yesterday on and purchased the tablet input device
today. Windows 2000 machine; very reliable and not quirky.
Version of Onenote is 11.6360.6360 SP1.
Thanks for your attention to this.

- Eric
Listening to the sound of cedars when there is no wind

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

Eric,

Which Service Pack with Windows 2000? If it's not the latest then you
should consider updating it.

One other suggestion. Remove the tablet device temporarily and hook up
a mouse. Restart the machine. Do the pen buttons now show up properly?
You won't be able to use the mouse precisely but it would indicate
that something specific to your tablet input device is the source of
the problem.

I better ask ... or Chis will ... what is the make and model of
your "tablet" device? He will probably tell you that it isn't a
tablet.

Another thing to check is the Web site of your input device's
manufacturer to see if there is an updated driver for it.

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath

 

[EricE]

I'm using the latest service pack; everything is up to date. Windows 2K
Service Pack 4 on IBM T thinkpad.
I unplugged the tablet, a Wacom 6X8 usb input device. and rebooted. Pens
still grayed out. For example, on the menu bar with the microphone icon and
text selection icon, the text selection box is ALWAYS selected and the pen is
grayed out and cannot be selected. It is the only icon that cannot be
selected. Likewise clikcing Tools/Drawing and Writing Tools and "Pens" is
grayed out. Likewise Tools/Treat Selected Ink As -- all choices grayed out.
The tech from Wacom downloaded the 30-day trial version to his Windows XP pc
and had the SAME problems. He said he has OneNote 2003 at home with the same
tablet and he does not have this problem. Is this a problem with the 30 day
trial version.? If I use the pen on the tablet, it behaves like a mouse; no
drawing but I can open a window on a page to input typed text. I can use the
pen to draw in Paint or Adobe Photoshop. I do not think the problem is with
the device. I tried Detect & Repair with no change in the problem.
This is very disappointing. I would uninstall/reinstall Onenote except for
the tech's experience just now. (He was very nice; spent a half hour trying
to tweak this.)
Gaaaah! Suggestions?

 

[EricE]

Andrew:
This follows up on my note of earlier today, as yet no reply. I tried
installing the same program on a Windows XP system with the latest updates.
A FULL install. When I was done, the pen worked ..... until I was asked to
"activate" whi9ch was about 15 seconds after the program was open and the pen
owkring. As soon as I activated, the pens were grayed out. WHOA!

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

Hi Eric,

Don't I get to go to bed? ... I am probably on a different
continent from you.

Thanks for all the feedback on my other suggestions.

Pens being greyed out ON activation is a new one on me after working
before activation.

Can you try the Detect/Repair again? If that doesn't work ....

.... I will see what I can find out about other options for a working
way forward.

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

Eric,

I wondered if your problem is now solved? Or persisting?

Thanks

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath