MobileWrite 3.2 User Guide

Version 3.2, updated on May 14, 2004

 

Introduction

MobileWrite makes it easy to enter text and data in to your favorite Palm OS applications using your handwriting. It is an alternative to the Graffiti and Graffiti 2 software. This handwriting recognition software supports the standard English letters, numbers, symbols, accented letters and other letters used in European languages.

 

Installation

If you are upgrading to a new version, disable the current version by deselecting the Enable Checkbox, otherwise, the new version may not install properly. There is no need to delete the existing version, the new version will replace the old one.

Quick installation

Double click on the mobilewrite.prc file. This will automatically load it into the Palm Desktop software. An install dialog window should pop up. Put your handheld into the cradle, and perform a HotSync. This will install MobileWrite on to your handheld.

 

Manual installation

 

After Installation

To run MobileWrite, press the large red "M" icon in the Applications Launcher. Press the ReadMe button for important tips, then press the Tutorial button to try the characters. The "Show" button in the Tutorial shows all the supported characters through animation. The buttons below each letter will animate only that letter. The online help only lists the important tips, refer to this manual for detailed information.

Purchase/Registration

MobileWrite has a 15 day evaluation period, after this period, the software will stop working. To continue using this software after the evaluation period, it must be purchased. After purchasing this software, a registration code (also called a Serial Number) will be emailed to you. Simply enter this registration code in the Register screen to unlock this application.

You will be asked your HotSync user ID during the purchase. This ID can be found on the Registration screen in the MobileWrite application and also in upper right corner of the HotSync program screen. This ID is case sensitive, so it must be entered as exactly as shown. There is no need to download another version for registration.

Options On the Main Screen

Enable MobileWrite Checkbox - This checkbox must be enabled to use MobileWrite.

Where to write button - This pops up the Where To Write screen

The Word option allows a word or several characters to be written across the screen, as it is done on paper. The One Letter option is used to enter one letter at a time. If you are used to writing one letter at a time on your PDA, you may prefer this option.

When using the Word mode, write letters on the lower half of the screen, numbers, symbols on the upper half of the screen. For many letters, the size determines if the letter is uppercase or lowercase, as is done on paper. For uppercase, write it an inch or larger. This height can be reduced by selecting the "Smaller capitals" option. In the Graffiti input box, write letters on the left, and numbers, symbols on the right side.

When using the One Letter option, write lowercase letters (a - z) on the left side of screen, capitals (A - Z) in the center, and numbers, symbols on the right side. There is one exception, however, if a lowercase letter is entered in the center, it is output as a capital letter.

When writing several letters across the screen, a gap must be present between each letter.

Punctuation and Gestures may be written anywhere.

Write on screen Checkbox - If this option is selected, the strokes drawn on the screen will be recognized.

Write in Input Box Checkbox - Some PDAs and Smartphones have a Graffiti input box below the screen. If this checkbox is selected, the strokes in this box will also be recognized.

Show Ink Checkbox - This turns on/off the temporary trail of ink from the stylus.

Show Alternates checkbox - Allows alternate letters to be displayed in the upper left corner.

Your writing speed slider - Your Writing Speed slider is used to adjust the time limit for completing multi-stroke characters. If you need more time, move the slider to the left. If you want to write faster, move it to the right.

 

Supported Characters

All the supported characters and commands can be viewed in the Tutorial screen by pressing the "Show" button. Individual characters can be viewed by pressing the button below each character. The circular heavy dots indicate the start of a stroke. Notice the number of strokes required for each character and the direction of travel.

Using MobileWrite

To begin, tap on the Enable checkbox, to enable MobileWrite. Then set the focus in the field you want to enter text or data into, by tapping on it. You should see a blinking cursor inside the field.

Note: The trail of ink does not show on top of an input field with the focus.

Entering a period or a Dot - When writing on the screen, a period or a dot is only recognized if it is written immediately following another character. This restriction enables taps on the screen to select buttons, checkboxes etc. In the Graffiti input box, this restriction is not there, so a dot or a period can be entered at any time. Alternate ways of writing the period and the colon are available. To see how to write these alternates, press the button below the letters on the Punctuation Tutorial screen.

Entering a shortcut - The shortcut name has to be entered after writing the shortcut stroke. Shortcuts can be added/edited/viewed in the "Prefs" PalmOs program.

Entering a Palm OS Command - There are one letter commands on the pulldown menus of many applications. To execute one of these commands, draw the command stroke and then write the one letter command. On most PDAs, a toolbar is displayed after the commnd stroke is drawn, in this case, the command can be selected from the toolbar instead

Replacing a letter with an alternate - Alternate letters are displayed in the upper left corner. These letters will only appear if there are alternate characters to display. This feature will make it easier for the writer to complete an entire word and correct any problems later, instead of inspecting each letter. To make a change to a previously entered letter, first move the cursor behind the letter that needs a change. Then select one of the alternate letters in the upper left corner by tapping on it. Tap on the first letter to toggle upper/lower case. Tap on the second to replace with a close match.. This is limited to the last 10 letters entered.

Highlighting Text - To highlight a section of text in an input field, hold the stylus down for 1 second (until a clicking sound is heard) and then drag it over the text. To highlight a word, double tap on top of it. To highlight a sentence, triple tap on top of it. The highlighted text has a different color than the regular text.

Cut/Copy/Paste - These strokes are displayed on the Gestures screen in the tutorial. Before using these strokes, the text must be highlighted as described above.

Writing accented letters - Accents are added to the previous letter if written immediately (within 2 seconds) after entering the letter. The accents must be written in the same area as the symbols, this area depends on the options selected on the "Where To Write" screen. See above. The Palm OS Keyboard popup shows which letters can take accents.

Improving accuracy

 

Troubleshooting

Recognized characters are totally wrong

Handheld occasionally resets

Can't enter a period or a dot

MobileWrite has stopped recognizing

A particular character is not recognized

The trail of ink on the screen is not smooth

 

History

 

Version 3.2.1 - 5/14/2004

 Version 3.2 - 5/10/2004

Version 3.1 - 3/10/2004

Version 3.1 - 3/4/2004

Version 3.0 - 12/26/2003

Version 2.2 - 11/28/2003

Version 2.1 - 10/28/2003

 Version 2.0 - 9/5/2003

Version 1.0 - 8/9/2003

 

Notice