If you have a handwriting pointing device such as a Tablet PC, a graphics tablet used with 3-D drawing or computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs, or even a mouse, you can use the new handwriting recognition feature in Microsoft Office XP. With handwriting recognition, you can write Microsoft Word documents, fill in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, or create e-mail messages in Microsoft Outlook® — all by hand. The handwriting recognition feature is available in all of the Office XP programs. (To use handwriting recognition in Outlook 2002, you must use Word as your e-mail editor.)

When you use handwriting recognition in Office XP, words that you write are converted to typed text. If you use handwriting recognition in Word 2002, text that you write by hand can be inserted directly into documents. By using handwriting recognition, you can add a handwritten signature to Outlook e-mail messages. For more information about handwriting recognition in Office XP, read Try writing instead of typing in Office XP and Sign your name in Word 2002 and Outlook 2002.

Note  Handwriting recognition is only available in the English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language versions of Microsoft Office XP.

More information

For more information about handwriting recognition, see Help in the Microsoft Office XP program you are using.