Chapter4.Enter info

Chapter 4. Enter info

In this chapter

Write faster using the Graffiti 2 alphabet
Save time by creating custom ShortCuts
Create notes and add them to entries

Graffiti 2 writing and the onscreen keyboard make it easy to enter information and capture your thoughts and ideas. You'll get the hang of writing pretty quickly, but a few tips and techniques can speed you along. Graffiti 2 writing is the system your handheld uses to translate your stylus strokes into letters , numbers , and punctuation marks. You can also type with the onscreen keyboard or buy an optional keyboard (see page 141).

Write on the whole screen

You don't have to limit yourself to the writing area

	From the Home screen, select Prefs > Writing Area . Tap On and check Show pen strokes .
	Open an application such as Memos and try writing anywhere on the screen.
	Tap the small purple square in the lower-right corner to toggle the feature off and on.

The writing area

You write Graffiti 2 characters (see page 41) in the writing areathe space between the navigator and the screen. Write on the left side of the writing area for lowercase letters. Write in the middle for caps, and on the right side for numbers. Try the tip to the left to actually see your strokes as you make them.

Alternatives

Jot (www.cic.com) and TealWrite (www.tealpoint.com) are replacements for Graffiti 2 writing that use different characters.

Ways to enter info

Your handheld gives you several ways to enter info. The onscreen keyboard makes it easy to tap out words. Graffiti 2 writing may take a little practice, but it can be faster. Other methods include using a portable keyboard, receiving beamed information from another handheld, and synchronizing to transfer information from your PC.

Other input methods

Palm Desktop software

When you need to enter lots of info at once, typing on your computer is faster than writing on your handheld. Use Palm Desktop to enter the info, and then sync to copy it to your handheld. For much more about Palm Desktop, see chapter 7.

Portable keyboards

Want to take extensive notes during a meeting, or write a letter during a flight? Wired and wireless keyboards turn your handheld into a smaller, lighter alternative to a laptop. They work like a full- size keyboard but fold up for maximum mobility. For complete details, see page 141.

Receive beamed information

When another person beams information to you from a handheld, you don't have to write at all to add important info to Contacts, Tasks, Calendar, and other applications. Don't forget that you can beam and receive entire categories, not just single entries and files. For details, see chapter 9.

The onscreen keyboard

Tap ABC in the writing area for a keyboard set up like a computer keyboard. Tap Shift to capitalize one letter; tap Cap to type in all caps.
Tap 123 to enter numbers and symbols. Note the international financial symbols, a handy feature for travelers.
Use the international keyboard to enter common international letters and symbols.

Practice writing

The Quick Tour is the best place to start practicing your writing skills. From the Home screen, select Quick Tour > Graffiti 2 and follow the prompts.

Edit typed content

When you're typing with the onscreen keyboard, you can use Graffiti 2 strokes to edit the text before entering it into the application you're using.

Keyboard layouts

From any application that involves writing, you can access the onscreen keyboard. Tap one of the two keyboard icons in the writing area: ABC or 123 .

Capitalization

In applications, the first letter of an entry or sentence is automatically capitalized and the next letters are lowercased, whether you use the writing area or the onscreen keyboard. When you end a sentence with a period, exclamation point, or question mark, the first letter of the next word is capitalized.

Blinking cursor

If you start to write and nothing shows up on the screen, tap the screen where you want your text to go. If a blinking cursor shows up, you know you can enter info.