OneNote should stop automatically changing the font size.

[SuperMinnick]

I wish there was an option to stop OneNote from changing the font size while
handwriting. I like Times size 14, so I set it as the default font. When I
write inline formulas as the last thing on a line, OneNote usually changes
the font size to 11 or 16.5 for the next line, and I have to stop change it
back. I'd think that this would be an easy feature to include: the ability
to turn off a feature.

Overall, I think OneNote needs more options. In the ~780 hours I've used
the program, the limited option list is my only complaint -but it's a
substantial one. They don't give you the ability to set hotkeys or turn off
auto-font changing, but for some reason everyone has the choice of whether to
"list font names in their own font." Unlike Excel or Word there's no macro
programming to save you here...

 

[Chris H.]

Are you on a Tablet PC? If so, the font selection "guesses" according to
your handwriting size in the Tablet Input Panel. I write pretty small, so
it comes out fine.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[SuperMinnick]

I am on a tablet PC. But I've never written anything in the tablet pc input
panel; in fact, I wish I could remove the button from my taskbar. Are you
saying OneNote guages which font size I'm trying to write in by how big my
writing looks in some Tablet PC Input Panel record?

 

[SuperMinnick]

I am using a tablet PC, but have never used the Tablet PC input panel. What
I do is write formulas directly on the screen (why would I write something I
could be typing? Unfortunately, there's no integral key on my keyboard...)
Are you saying that OneNote gauges my handwriting's intended font size
against some log of handwriting from the tablet PC input panel?

Thanks,

SuperMinnick

 

[Chris H.]

Yes. Are you running Windows XP SP2 and the Tablet PC Edition 2005?
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Erik Sojka]

Chris is talking about the native Ink support in OneNote, not the text
that is input via the TIP.

OneNote does indeed make the font size of the converted text roughly the
same size as the original handwriting.

 

[superminnick]

Yes.

Yes. Are you running Windows XP SP2 and the Tablet PC Edition 2005?
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[superminnick]

Indeed it does; or rather, it tries to. It's understandable that math would
mess it up, as some math letters are way bigger than others. Now; how do we
stop the "feature"? that's my question.

Thanks,

superminnick

 

[Chris H.]

You don't. It is an estimate of the user's desired text size. As I said, I
write fairly small, and it works out to about 10 pt. I would suggest trying
to write a bit smaller and see if it makes a difference for you.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

You can insert a character that looks pretty much like an integral
symbol by typing 222B then hitting Alt+X.

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath

 

[superminnick]

Unfortunately, the estimate is wrong. Writing smaller changes nothing but
anyone's ability to read what was written; specifically, it doesn't change
the font size. Here's another one for you: if I hit return while the pen is
close-by, it changes the size to 16.5; but if the pen is far away and I was
just writing, it changes it to 11. Besides, for something that should let me
take notes the way I want, there should definitely be more options. This is
not a "feature" as far as I'm concerned; if it can't estimate right, then the
estimate is just annoying.

Thanks for your time Chris

 

[Ken J.]

I wish there was an option to stop OneNote from changing the font size while
handwriting.

Greetings. I'm a new user of OneNote. I like it, but I too am bothered by my
handwriting being converted to different font sizes. I realize that the
program is keying off of the size of my handwriting, but hey, my handwriting
is imperfect, like most people's, and I want it to be converted consistently
in the font size I choose. In other words, like Superminnick, I want to be
able to turn the auto-adjustment feature off. Apparently this is not
possible. And writing smaller would make no difference, since there will
still be variations, even at a smaller size, of my writing, and therefore the
font size would be adjusted.

So, just wanted to add my name to the group of people wishing we could
simply specify what size we want our handwriting to be converted to.

Thanks.

Ken

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

Don't worry about converting the handwriting. OneNote will be able to
convert behind the scenes for you so that you can search the contents of
your written notes. I never explicitly convert my handwriting in OneNote
for this reason.

If you still decide that converting the handwriting to text is necessary,
there's a relatively quick fix for the font problem. Perform the
conversion, then press Ctrl-A (Select All) enough times until enough of
the desired converted text is selected, then use the Font Task Pane or
the dropdown on the Formatting Toolbar to change the font size of all of
the selected text to the desired value.

 

[Ken J.]

Thanks for the reply, Erik. My reason for converting is not so much for
search purposes. I just like the order and precision of typed text instead of
my scribbly handwriting. And even considering the search aspect, if I don't
know if certain words have been converted properly behind the scenes, how can
I be sure the search would find them?

Thanks for the select all tip, but in tablet mode selecting Control A can
only be done through the input panel, right? Otherwise I have to use the edit
menu, etc. I don't see a quick way to do "select all" several times in tablet
mode.

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

The Tablet conversion engine is fairly accurate, as it looks at an entire
word and makes some logical assumptions about what the word is likely to
be. (e.g. "nice" is most likely, since "nicc" and "niee" and "niec" are
not in the dictionary). OneNote also stores several alternate
conversions in its index to ensure that some borderline translations are
still counted.

You can use the Tablet Pen in Type/Selection mode to select a lot of
text.

Your best bet is to use the rule lines as a reference and ensure you stay
within the lines and stay consistent with your writing. Just like in
grade school