Computer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) -- TabletPC:  Edit Text Using Gestures

Introduction

You can use gestures in Tablet PC Input Panel and Windows Journal to format and edit text. A gesture is symbol that you draw with your tablet pen to send a command to your Tablet PC.

For example, imagine that you are using Journal to take notes in a meeting. You need to erase a few words quickly so that you don’t miss any other important information from the meeting. Though you can use the eraser tool, the fastest way to make this kind of correction is to use the scratch-out gesture. When you use this gesture, all of the writing beneath the gesture disappears. Then you can continue taking notes. The scratch-out gesture also works in Input Panel.

In Input Panel, you can also use gestures to control the insertion point in a program. For example, you can use gestures for BACKSPACE, SPACE, ENTER, and TAB. When you use gestures to perform these actions, you get the same result that you would get if you pressed the corresponding key on a standard keyboard.

Using Gestures to Perform Keyboard Actions in Input Panel

You can use gestures in the writing pad and in the character pad in Input Panel. You draw the symbol for the gesture in the writing area, which is the same place that you enter your handwriting.

• To use a gesture, ensure that the writing area is clear of handwriting ink and then draw the gesture symbol in the writing area. When you use a gesture in the character pad, ensure that the strokes of your gesture cover the width of two or more writing spaces.

In the table, the dots in the gesture symbols indicate where you should start drawing the symbol.

For example, if you use the enter gesture in the writing pad, it might look like this:

How to Use the Scratch-out Gesture in Input Panel and Journal

You can use the scratch-out gesture in Input Panel and in Journal to erase one or more pen strokes.

To use the scratch-out gesture

• Without removing the tip of your pen from the screen, draw a horizontal line back and forth at least three times through the handwriting that you want to erase. Be sure to keep your gesture strokes horizontal and to completely cover the pen strokes that you want to erase.

For example, by using the scratch-out gesture in the writing pad, you can erase a single ink stroke like this:

When you use the scratch-out gesture in the writing pad, the erased ink disappears immediately. The corresponding recognized text also disappears.

Using the scratch-out gesture in Journal

In Journal, the scratch-out gesture is useful for erasing several ink strokes at once, like this:

You can use the scratch-out gesture to erase anything that you wrote by hand. The gesture does not erase typed text, text boxes, flags, or pictures.

Troubleshooting

If you still have trouble using gestures in Input Panel or Journal, try the following suggestions.

Backspace and space gestures

• Make sure that the tip of your pen stays connected to the screen as you draw the gesture.
• Make sure that the writing area is completely clear of ink before you draw the gesture.
• Try drawing a longer line.
• Try drawing the gesture faster.

Try drawing the backspace gesture like this:

Try drawing the space gesture like this:

Enter gesture

• Make sure that the tip of your pen stays connected to the screen as you draw the gesture.
• Make sure that the writing area is completely clear of ink before you draw the gesture.
• Try drawing the gesture faster.
• Draw the left portion of the stroke two to four times longer than the down portion of the stroke.
• Draw a 90-degree angle, not a curve, between the down and left portions of the stroke.

Try drawing the enter gesture like this:

Tab gesture

• Make sure that the tip of your pen stays connected to the screen as you draw the gesture.
• Make sure that the writing area is completely clear of ink before you draw the gesture.
• Try drawing the gesture faster.
• Draw the right portion of the stroke two to four times longer than the up portion of the stroke.
• Draw a 90-degree angle, not a curve, between the up and right portions of the stroke.

Try drawing the tab gesture like this:

Scratch-out gesture

• If you are using the scratch-out gesture in Journal, make sure that you are in pen mode. To use pen mode, tap the Pen button on the Pen toolbar.
• Make sure that the tip of your pen stays connected to the screen as you draw the gesture.
• Make sure that you almost completely cover the stroke that you want to erase when moving the pen back and forth.
• Try drawing longer lines.
• Try drawing more lines.
• Keep the lines of the gesture horizontal.
• Try drawing the gesture faster.

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