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Part VI: Using Microsoft Office 2003 with the Tablet PC

Using Microsoft Office 2003 Applications with Your Tablet PC

Microsoft OneNote 2003

Chapter 15. Using Microsoft Office 2003 Applications with Your Tablet PC

In This Chapter

How Office 2003 is Different from Office XP
Downloading Office XP Pack for Tablet PC
The Power of Ink in Office 2003
The Power of Voice in Office 2003
Tablet PC Features in Office 2003
Tablet PC Features in InfoPath 2003
Tablet PC Features in Visio 2003

Office 2003 leverages digital ink (hereafter referred to as "ink") and voice input. Using ink, you can scribble notes in the margins of a document, and even include hand-drawn graphics. As you learn to utilize the pen and voice-input capabilities in Office 2003, you will find new ways to use the applications and new ways to impress others and gain efficiency.

In just the few months that I have been using the Tablet PC with Office 2003, I have had numerous people look at what I'm doing and say "Wow!" Inserting hand drawings in Word, annotating an Excel spreadsheet, writing down audience comments in PowerPoint during a presentation, and enabling pen input in Access is now possible.

This chapter assumes that you already know how to use each of the Office applications, or that you can find another book or resource to learn the applications. Because it is beyond the scope of this book to teach more, I will show you how to use each application's Tablet PC-specific tools only.

This chapter will show you the general tools available in many of the applications, and then will provide specific guidance for each application. You will soon discover that there is no reason to run any version of Office prior to Office 2003 when you have a Tablet PC.

How Office 2003 is Different from Office XP

One of the primary differences between Office XP and Office 2003 is that Office 2003 includes native ink support, whereas Office XP requires the Office XP Pack for Tablet PC. Even with the add-on, Office XP does not have the integrated feel of inking that Office 2003 offers.

For example, in Office XP, when you add an ink annotation, a box appears in which you must make the annotations, as shown in Figure 15.1.

Figure 15.1. In Office XP with the Office XP Pack for Tablet PC, you are able to add ink in boxes.

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In Office 2003, however, ink can appear anywhere on the workspace in Word and PowerPoint. This means that unlike Office XP with the add-on, you can check off check boxes and annotate directly over text and other graphics, as shown in Figure 15.2.

Figure 15.2. In Office 2003, you can add ink anywhere you want in a document.

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Downloading Office XP Pack for Tablet PC

Downloading the Office XP Pack for Tablet PC will allow you to add functionality to Office XP and Windows Journal. You can download the add-on from http://www.microsoft.com/office/tabletpc/; once it's downloaded, simply install it on your machine.

Tip

Install the Office XP Pack for Tablet PC whether you have Office XP or Office 2003. The Pack adds functionality to Windows Journal as well as Office XP applications.

The add-on to Office XP adds ink capabilities to Office XP applications that would otherwise not exist. In Word, for example, the add-on adds ink capabilities, as shown in Figure 15.3.

Figure 15.3. The Office XP Pack for Tablet PC adds functionality to Office applications, such as the ink options shown here in Word XP.

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After you have finished installing Office XP Pack for Tablet PC, you will be asked if you want to run the tutorial. I recommend going through it (see Figure 15.4).