Use handwriting recognition

This feature is available in the Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean language versions of Microsoft Office.

Write as you naturally do on a paper surface, using cursive style, printing, or a combination of both. As you write, enter entire words without pausing after each letter, and leave space between words.

1. Place the insertion point where you want to insert handwriting.
2. Select a writing area by doing one of the following:

   Write on a lined area on the screen

   1. On the Language bar, click Writing Pad .

      If Writing Pad is not available, click Handwriting on the Language bar, and then select Writing Pad .

   2. To increase or decrease the size of the Writing Pad box, move the pointer to an outside edge of the box until it changes into a double-headed arrow, and then drag to the desired size.
   3. Move the insertion point into the Writing Pad box. When it changes to a pen , you're in an area of the screen that you can write in.

   Note   You can move the Writing Pad box to different areas on the screen by dragging it.

   Write anywhere on the screen

   • On the Language bar, click Write Anywhere .

     If Write Anywhere is not available, click Handwriting on the Language bar, and then select Write Anywhere .

   Note   You can move the Write Anywhere toolbar to different areas on the screen by dragging it.

3. Select the type of input you want in the program. Do one of the following to insert:

   Writing in handwritten form

   • Click Ink on the Writing Pad or Write Anywhere toolbar. 

   Example: 

   Note   If Microsoft Word is enabled as your e-mail editor, you can use this feature in Microsoft Outlook.

   Writing as typed text

   • Click Text on the Writing Pad or Write Anywhere toolbar.

   Example:  hello

4. To write, use a handwriting input device, or move your mouse on your mouse pad to form words.

   If you use the Writing Pad box, write on the line, just as you would on lined notebook paper.

   Your handwriting is automatically recognized and entered at the insertion point in the program.

5. To close the handwriting box, click Close on the Writing Pad or Write Anywhere toolbar.

Tips

• You can format writing inserted in handwritten form in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook just as you do with typed text. For example, change font size and color, or apply other types of formatting, such as bold. You can also find and replace text in handwritten form in the same way you do with typed text.

• To enter handwriting into an application immediately without waiting for a recognition delay, click Recognize Now on the Writing Pad or Write Anywhere toolbar.

• You can turn automatic recognition on or off, and select options such as changing the rate at which handwriting is recognized, or change pen color and width. Click Options in the upper left corner of the Writing Pad box or the Write Anywhere toolbar, and then click Options.