About using ink in InfoPath

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003

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About using ink in InfoPath

If you are using a Tablet PC, you can add ink to your Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 forms. You can write directly in fields on the form by using a tablet pen and then convert that ink to text. Depending on the design of your form, you can also write or draw inside certain controls and then save the ink along with your form.

Show Fill out forms in ink

In ink entry mode, you fill out forms by writing on them with your tablet pen. If you're using a Tablet PC, InfoPath automatically starts in ink entry mode when you open a form. If you want, you can clear the Always start InfoPath in ink entry mode check box in the Options dialog box to prevent this from happening.

In ink entry mode, you can do the following:

Add ink to fields When you're using a tablet pen, you can immediately start writing in the fields on your form. Unlike other programs, InfoPath doesn't require you to tap first to select the field. You can use the options on the Ink toolbar to change ink options, insert ink drawing and writing sections, and switch between using a pen and using a keyboard.
Correct mistakes If you make a mistake when filling out a form, you can use the scratch-out gesture to quickly erase the mistake. You can either erase ink strokes before the ink is converted into text or erase text after it has been converted.
Note You can also use the on-screen keyboard of the Tablet PC Input Panel to make corrections. However, the scratch-out gesture is generally faster. You cannot use the scratch-out gesture to erase ink inside ink drawing and writing sections or ink pictures.

Use the helpful ink guide Your handwriting doesn't have to fit within the text boxes or other fields on the form. When you start writing in a field, a transparent ink guide appears on top of that field. This guide reminds you that your writing can be both taller and wider than the field itself. In the ink guide, you can quickly convert ink to text by clicking the check mark icon in the lower-right corner of the ink guide.

Convert ink to text After writing inside a field, you must covert the ink into typed text. You can do this in one of two ways:

If ink guides are enabled, you can click the check mark icon in the lower-right corner of the ink guide.
You can wait for InfoPath to convert the ink into text after a 3-second delay. If you want to change the timing, you can do so on the Ink tab in the Options dialog box.

Add handwritten or hand-drawn content If your form contains certain types of rich text fields, you can use the Ink Drawing and Writing command to insert an ink drawing and writing section inside those fields. You can then create handwritten or hand-drawn content. For example, you can quickly sketch an idea or jot down a thought.

Unless you specify otherwise, InfoPath saves your drawing or writing as ink when you save your form.

Show Design forms for Tablet PC users

If you're a form designer, you can add an ink picture control to your form. This type of control allows Tablet PC users to add ink to their forms by drawing or writing in the field. By default, InfoPath inserts an empty ink picture control onto the form, into which users can draw or write. Depending on your needs, you can add a picture to the background of this control. This allows users to draw directly on top of the picture with their tablet pen. For example, in an insurance claim form, an insurance adjuster can circle areas of damage on a picture of a car.

Users can also insert an ink drawing and writing section inside a rich text control, as long as you selected the Full Rich Text (images, tables, etc.) check box in the Rich Text Properties dialog box.

Note The information in this topic may not apply if you are working with a form designed using Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 without the service pack installed. Learn more

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