Using Microsoft Transcriber

  • Microsoft Transcriber Features
  • Starting Microsoft Transcriber
  • Selecting Text
  • Editing Text
  • Microsoft Transcriber Gestures
  • Microsoft Alternates List
  • Microsoft Transcriber Keyboard
  • Microsoft Transcriber Iconbar
  • Microsoft Transcriber Correction Window
  • Microsoft Transcriber Calculator
  • Customizing Microsoft Transcriber

  • Microsoft Transcriber Options
  • The General Options Dialog
  • The Recognizer Options Dialog
  • Letter Shape Selector

  • Microsoft Transcriber Features

    Starting Microsoft Transcriber

    Start Microsoft Transcriber by selecting Transcriber in the input method window (located in the system toolbar in the lower right corner of the screen). When Microsoft Transcriber is running, you will see the 'hand with a pen' icon.

    Selecting Text

    When Microsoft Transcriber is active it interprets pen movement across the screen as handwriting input.

    There are two methods of selecting text:

    Editing Text with Microsoft Transcriber

    Microsoft Transcriber provides convenient gestures for text editing. They allow you to remove, capitalize, and perform cut/copy/paste operations with just a stroke of the pen.  

    Microsoft Transcriber Gestures

    Enter: Equivalent to pressing "Enter" on the keyboard. Make sure that the horizontal part of the gesture is at least two times longer than the vertical part.

    Space: Inserts a space at the current text cursor position. Make sure that the horizontal part of the gesture is at least two times longer than the vertical part.

    Backspace: Equivalent to pressing "Backspace" on the keyboard. To perform the gesture, draw a line from right to left.

    Quick Correct: This gesture opens the alternates menu or the Microsoft Transcriber keyboard. To perform this gesture, draw a line straight down then back up again. If a word is selected the alternates menu will open. If no text is selected, this gesture launches the Microsoft Transcriber Keyboard.

    Case Change: Changes the capitalization of a selected letter, word or block of text. To perform this gesture, draw a line in an upward motion.

    Undo: Equivalent to pressing "Ctrl-Z" in most applications. To perform this gesture, draw a line straight up then retrace the same line back down.

    Copy: Equivalent to pressing "Ctrl-C" in most applications. To perform this gesture, draw a line from left to right then retrace the same line back to left.

    Cut: Equivalent to pressing "Ctrl-X" in most applications. To perform this gesture, draw a line from right to left then retrace the same line back to right.

    Paste: Equivalent to pressing "Ctrl-V" in most applications. To perform this gesture, draw a line starting from the bottom going up to the right and without lifting the stylus continue the line back down to the right.

    Tab: Equivalent to pressing the "Tab" key. Make sure that the horizontal part of the gesture is at least two times longer than the vertical part.

    Correction: Opens the Microsoft Transcriber Correction Window. To perform the gesture, draw a large checkmark.

     

    Microsoft Alternates List

    If Transcriber does not recognize a word, you can use the alternates list to quickly correct the error. To use this feature:

    Microsoft Transcriber Correction Window

    The Correction Window allows you to edit any highlighted text on your screen. This feature is useful for correcting handwriting mistakes or recognition errors. To correct an error, highlight the character, word, or phrase, and then open the Correction Window in one of the following ways:

    Once the Correction Window is open, you can make corrections in any of these ways:

    Write directly over a letter or word to change it, and then tap OK to close the Correction Window and save your corrections to your document.

    Double-tap a letter or word in the Correction Window to open the Alternates menu where you can:

    Select a word or letter, then tap the caret underneath the text to open a menu where you can:

    Double-tap the Correction Window in an area that is not directly over a word or the caret to open a menu where you can:

    The Correction Window includes these toolbar buttons:

     

    Microsoft Transcriber Calculator

    Transcriber has built-in calculator functionality capable of recognizing and completing simple mathematical equations. This means that you do not have to open the separate Calculator application when you need to perform a simple calculation. To use this feature, write the formula like you would text. For instance: 2+2=. Transcriber will recognize your ink and return the answer with your equation as text. Example: 2+2=4.

    Microsoft Transcriber Options

    You can access the configuration dialog boxes by selecting 'Options'  from the input method window (the small upward triangle next to the input method button in the bottom right corner of the screen). Confirm that Transcriber is listed in the box as the Input Method then tap the Options box below it.

    The General Options Dialog

    The Recognizer Options Dialog

     

    Letter Shape Selector

    Allows you to adapt the recognition engine to your personal writing style. To open Letter Shape Selector, click the icon on the Transcriber Iconbar.

    You can teach Microsoft Transcriber how you write each letter and number by clicking the handwritten letter shape and selecting whether you write the character in that particular fashion 'often', 'rarely' or 'never'. Since Transcriber will have fewer letter shapes to search, it will work faster and more accurately. For example, if you do not use a triangle-shaped letter 'A' as a lower case letter, check 'never'. This helps Microsoft Transcriber select the right capitalization, as it will now consider this shape to be a capital 'A' most of the time. Or, if you do not write 'Q' similar to '2', disable this way of writing 'Q' to help Microsoft Transcriber better recognize digit '2'.

    Also, to view how Transcriber expects characters to be written, tap on a character you wish to explore, then click one of the pictures of this character. It will slowly redraw, showing the writing sequence.

    Letter Shape Selector supports two profiles labeled 'Master' and 'Guest'. You may select which one will be used in the 'File' menu. Typically, the master profile is used by the Pocket PC's primary user. If the device is temporarily used by another person, they should use the Guest profile. The Master user will be unaffected by the settings selected by the Guest user.

    You can save or load current profile to or from a file using the Load and Save commands found on the File menu.

    Use Original Settings - Resets the Letter Shape Selector to its default settings.

    Microsoft Transcriber Keyboard

    By using the Quick Correct gesture or the 'keyboard' button on the Iconbar when no text is selected, you can open the Microsoft Transcriber Keyboard. The Keyboard provides an easy way to add punctuation or a special symbol to the existing text. The keyboard will remain visible until you tap the OK button. To make the keyboard close automatically after entering a symbol, tap the Push Pin button in the upper left hand corner of the keyboard.

    Microsoft Transcriber Iconbar

    The Iconbar is a set of buttons that may appear in the bottom of the screen when Microsoft Transcriber is active. It provides an easy access to:

    Control of Writing Orientation -- The arrow points 'upwards' relative to the selected direction of writing -- You should always write perpendicular to the direction of the arrow.

    Recognition Mode -- Choose from unrestricted 'a' (all symbols/words allowed), uppercase 'A' (everything you write is automatically capitalized) and numeric mode '12' (numerals and some letters allowed)

    Microsoft Transcriber Keyboard -- Allows the inputting of punctuation and other symbols that may be difficult to write by themselves.

    Letter Shape Selector -- Tool for adaptation of the recognition engine to your personal writing style.

    The Correction Window -- Makes correction easier by isolating words or phrases in a seperate window.

    Undo -- To undo recent actions one at a time, click Undo.

    Options -- The options button opens the Options dialog.

    Help -- Opens this help file.

    Close -- Closes Transcriber. To reactivate it, tap the Transcriber Icon (hand with a pen) in the lower righthand corner of the screen.

     

     

     

     


    Microsoft Transcriber Version 1.51 

    for Pocket PC.

    Copyright ©2001 Microsoft® Corporation.

    www.microsoft.com

    Windows is the trademark of Microsoft Corporation.