OpieUserManual/Handwriting

= Handwriting =

The Handwriting input mode recognises stylus strokes and converts them into letters, numbers and symbols. To use this mode, you will need to adapt your handwriting style slightly to the way Opie expects characters to be drawn, and you enter characters on the spot (rather than moving your position as you write, as you do when you write on paper).

The handwriting area is split up into three parts from left to right - upper case letters (marked ABC), lower case letters (marked abc), and numbers and symbols (marked 123). There are four buttons to the right of the handwriting area - backspace, enter, help, and settings (pen icon).

Training
A good way to learn how to use the handwriting input mode is to use the trainer. To access the trainer, tap on the help button (? icon) and select the Trainer tab. Select each character in turn - Opie will show you an animation of how to draw the character on the left. Try writing the character in the test area on the right, and Opie will tell you how accurately it is able to work out which character you just drew.

You will get the best results if you draw characters similarly to the way they are drawn in the animated example. Read the Tips tab for more useful hints on how to best enter text with the handwriting input mode.

Settings
Other than the Customize tab, there are just two settings you can change here - the multi-stroke character timeout (the time allowed between strokes to enter a multi-stroke character, eg. f); and the splitting of the handwriting area - you may choose to have a two-part area (toggling between upper/lower case in the letter side).

Customize
If you wish, you may edit the strokes used to enter text in the handwriting input method on the Customize tab. Choose the character set you wish to edit from the drop-down list. You can select a character from the list, and see the strokes associated with it using the arrow button (if there is more than one). Use the actions below to perform your editing.

Adding a new stroke
To add a new stroke to an existing character (a different way of entering the same character), draw it carefully in the entry area at the bottom of the screen, and then press "Add". If you make a mistake, press the Clear button and start again.

Adding a new character
To add a new character (one not already in the list), draw it carefully in the entry area at the bottom of the screen, and then press "New...". If you make a mistake, press the Clear button and start again.

Removing strokes
To remove a stroke from a character, use the arrow buttons to select press the Remove button

Resetting a character
To reset the selected character's strokes back to the defaults, press the Default button.