Posts Tagged ‘tablet pc’

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Windows 8 – Tablet PC – Tablet Input Panel or On Screen Keyboard

Saturday, February 9th, 2013

Mindjet 11 Ink mode is working well in Windows 8 but correcting the ink to text is painful when I am in slate format on my HP2740p Tablet PC.  I can’t easily correct the text because the on screen keyboard does not pop up.  I have found a solution.

In all previous Tablet PC versions of Windows (XP Tablet onwards) when I clicked on a text entry field with my pen the Tablet Input Panel icon appeared. I clicked it and entered text using either the onscreen keyboard or ink to text panel.  In Windows 8 this is missing for legacy applications like Mindjet and MindManager.  When I tap a field in a new Windows 8 apps, the half screen touch keyboard pops up but its too big for pen input.  I can access the half screen keyboard in the old desktop apps by swiping in from the right hand side of the screen  > Settings > Keyboard or by opening the old task bar and tapping the keyboard icon.  This is a painfully slow process compared to the past.

After some searching on the internet I realised a solution.  It’s a combination of the old – Wacom Tablet Driver and the new – On Screen Keyboard.

  1. Install this driver from Wacom  Tablet PC – Enhanced Tablet Driver. I know it says Windows 7 and beta but its been working fine on my Windows 8 PC for several months. I had the pen button programed to be the Ctrl key.
    • Open Control Panel
    • Open Pen Tablet Properties
    • Open the Button drop down menu
    • Select Open/Run > Browse to C:\Windows\System32\osk.exe
    • Change name if you wish to “On Screen Keyboard”
    • Click OK.
  3. Go to a field, press the button on your pen and the small on-screen keyboard opens.

Using on screen keyboard with Windows 8 and Mindjet

If I have missed an easier way to do this, please tell me?

If you know a way to pop up a small handwriting ink to text panel, I would pleased hear about it?

 

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Will ink take off on Windows 8 Tablet PCs?

Friday, December 7th, 2012

Ink has been available on Tablet PCs since Windows XP Tablet PC edition in 2002. Mindjet released an ink version of MindManager in 2004.  I think this tool has been under exploited except perhaps by artists (see these galleries on ArtRage and DeviantArt) and delivery men taking your signature. Will Windows 8 revitalise this functionality for business applications?

I have my doubts. Have you seen any native ink applications for Windows 8? Is the ink “keyboard” a useful alternative to the touch screen keyboard? Why does it have to take up half the screen. It’s not optimised for the stylus users. I liked the smaller pop up inkboard that Windows used to have.

I have enjoyed using MindManager’s ink mode since it was first released in 2004. It’s a quiet way of recording a boardroom style meeting. Ink does not intrude in the same way as either a traditional or virtual keyboard. It’s a fluid way of building the map. As the meeting wanders around the agenda or a comment on one item becomes relevant to another, I can easily add subtopics in different locations on the map.  I think it’s a powerful and under developed tool. Mindjet having only made minor improvements to their ink tool set since its release?

Yesterday at a Business Scene event sponsored by Dell I had the opportunity to see their new Tablet PCs. Neither have Wacom (pressure sensitive and very precise stylus) screens but they are making good use of Windows 8.

The Windows 8 RT XPS™ 10 Tablet is a light weight iPad sized slate which plugs into a keyboard docking station. Reminiscent of the HP TC1000 & 1100 both of which I enjoyed using between 2004 and 2008. I still have three TC1100s in my draw, so I can send a squad of MindManager inkers to events. No RT version of Mindjet as yet, so no immediate use to me. It is a tempting piece of kit. It only weighs 635g compared to the 1470g of the keyboard less TC1100, is a lot more powerful, has two cameras and I bet the battery lasts a bit longer even if it isn’t replaceable.

The rotating screen Ultrabook™ XPS™ 12 which folds into a slate and runs Windows 8 Pro.  It is useful to me because I can run Mindjet Desktop in Ink mode using my finger or a capacitive stylus (yuk!). Will it replace my HP 2740p, not yet.  I want a Wacom screen please (well maybe I should give the new touch screens a trial.  My address is ……).
Back to the original problem with Windows 8 and Mindjet 11: From Windows XP through to Windows 7 the virtual keyboard and ink pad have lurked at the edge of the screen waiting to be used. Run MindManager full screen in Windows 8 and you will find it difficult to call up the virtual keyboard in slate mode. And when you do, it occupies half the screen. Have you found a way to get the old floating keyboard or similar on Windows 8?Have you seen any applications where ink is taking off on a Windows 8 Tablet PC or any other OS for that matter?

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Using a Graphics Tablet with MindManager or Mindjet Windows

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Once upon a time it was discovered that you could get MindManager to work in Ink mode (automatically enabled for Tablet PC users) for those with a graphics tablet e.g. Wacom Bamboo. A recent exchange of emails brought it all back to me especially when my correspondent found my blog of 2008 Can a Vista PC with a graphics tablet become a Tablet PC? on Ecademy.  What follows  may be valid for Vista, XP, 7 and 8; and MindManager 8, 9, 2012 and 11.

Try this first.  You can enable the Tablet PC tools in Windows via the Control Panel > Program and Features > Turn Windows Features on and off > Enable Tablet PC tools.  This is not present on my Tablet PC in Windows 8 but it might be for non-Tablet PC. The Snipping Tool in Tablet PC tool set can be used by anyone.  Restart MindManager and see if you have Ink mode.

This is worked for my correspondent. You need to be confident editing the Registry (backup first if not). Adding this entry to the Registry cannot cause any harm.

  • Open the Registry (Type “regedit” in the Run command in Start menu)
  • Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Mindjet > Mindmanager7 > Settings (choose your current version of MindManager)
  • Right click Settings > select New > DWord (if Vista 32 bit, possibly QWord if 64 Bit)
  • Name the key: TabletPC
  • Press Enter twice, once to close the name editor, once to open the value
  • change the value to: 1
  • Restart MindManager

If this has worked, the Pen mode icon bottom right will be blue and when in Pen Mode there will be a new Task Pane called Tablet with gestures and help.

If you don’t get the Ink options the following may be useful:

  1. Right clicking the bottom toolbar and ticking the Pen Mode/Mouse Mode option?
  2. Right clicking on the Ribbon tabs, Customising the Ribbon and adding the Tablet tab?

If you try this please tell me what happened.

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Increase the height of the ink input field to write extra lines

Friday, November 25th, 2011

You can write more than one line in the ink input feld of a topic when using MindManager in ink mode. Always start your writing at the top left corner of the box not on the line.  If you write the second part of your “sentence” above the first it becomes the first part of the sentence when converted to text.

Tablet PC - Two lines of ink in MindManagerTo make it easier to write multiple lines, increase the Height of the ink input field in the MindManager Options. Something between 90 and and 120 allows me to enter 2 or 3 lines.

MindManager Tablet PC options
Thanks to Maurice Poole for asking the question yesterday.

If you have any other questions about MindManager Ink mode settings, please ask them in the comments.

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Using MindManager to prepare for an interview

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
MindManager map of questions and keyword answers for an interviewToday I was interviewed by Chantal Cooke from Passion for the Planet about Mind Mapping and Mind Mapping software for her digital radio station. Chantal sent me an email with an outline of the interview, so I could prepare my thoughts.  I copied and pasted the questions to a  MindManager Map and inked my responses to them in keywords / phrases. Click the map to see full size.

I think this really helped me answer the questions and made my responses sound professional.  I was not looking at the map during the interview.  You will have to wait until November to hear the result and the actual content.

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iThoughtsHD has released version 2

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

I don’t have an iPhone or an iPad but I know many people who do have and use iThoughts HD. They are always very complimentary about the product. Today one of those people, my younger brother as it happens, emailed me that they have released version 2 of iThoughts HD. Click the link to find out the details of the improvements around topic images, hyperlinks, text styles and width plus improvements to the notes view.

Why mention iThoughtsHD here, because it is compatible with MindManager files. You can share files via DropBox and other cloud services between the mobile device and your desktop or laptop.

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Using MindManager’s ink mode to create a To Do map

Monday, February 21st, 2011

This video shows how I create a To Do list in MindManager using the ink mode on a Tablet PC. Topics are being added by using gestures with the pen. A horizontal line adds a topic at the same level. A L shape inserts a subtopic. Topics are selected by tapping with the pen. When entering ink I can invert the pen and erase the ink.

I do not advise watching all 5 minutes. Slide it forward.

The next video shows how easy it is to convert ink to text. Magically in this map all the text is correct bar some of the individual cases. I also add colour to the lines, topic shape fill and give the lines leaving the central topic extra width. Finally I turned on the organic appearance for the lines. This means the width of the line reduces all the way to the end subtopic of each branch.

I hope you have enjoyed this demonstration of MindManager working in Ink Mode.

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Posts about using MindManager in Ink Mode and Sketching

Friday, December 17th, 2010


Tablet PC MindManger Ink Sketch Draw

Ink Sketches in Topics – Achieving Higher Quality Export Images Ink Sketches in Topics – Achieving Higher Quality Export Images Ink to Text – What is the best strategy in MindManager Ink to Text – What is the best strategy in MindManager Forget the Text. Just use Pictures. MindManager and the Tablet PC does the job Forget the Text. Just use Pictures. MindManager and the Tablet PC does the job Using MindManager on the Tablet PC in ink mode Using MindManager on the Tablet PC in ink mode Using the MindManager Sketch Tool for the Tablet PC Using the MindManager Sketch Tool for the Tablet PC Using MindManager Ink Mode with the Tablet PC Using MindManager Ink Mode with the Tablet PC

Yesterday I received an enquiry about sketching with MindManager.  I quickly linked a map (by dragging and dropping the relevant search results off my blog to the map) to the related blog posts and emailed it to them.  Subsequently I have added some comments, used a sketch in the title and added the snow!

I have cheated with the font in the main topics. It has nothing to do with MindManager’s ink mode.  It was created with a web based tool which converts your handwriting from a Tablet PC or graphics tablet in to a font. Wish I could remember where.

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Ink Sketches in Topics – Achieving Higher Quality Export Images

Monday, November 1st, 2010

With MindManager in ink mode on a Tablet PC (or a Windows 7 / Vista PC, a graphics tablet and Tablet PC tools enabled) you can sketch in a topic by making a traingle gesture. It’s a powerful tool for sketching ideas when brainstorming or making rough copies of graphs in a presentation.

I have always been frustrated when I turn the map into a graphic or web page. The rendering of the ink in the image is poor compared to the native on-screen ink (See images 1 and 2 below). This afternoon I realised there is an easy solution to the problem using the Snipping tool (screen grabber) that comes with Windows. Here is my process which replaces the sketch in a topic with an image (you may wish to save a sketch copy of the map first):

  1. Increase the map zoom to 200%. To get a higher resolution image.  You might want a higher zoom.
  2. Open the Snipping tool
  3. Select the sketch
  4. Copy
  5. Return to MindManager
  6. Select the topic with sketch
  7. Ctrl-Shift-Alt-v will the paste the image, replacing the sketch
Screen grab of the sketch in MindManager
Screen grab of the sketch when
the map is exported as an image
Screen grab of the sketch after
snipping in MindManager,
pasting in to the topic and
exporting as an image

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Special Offer on On-Line MindManager Training

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Potential On Line MindManager Training & Coaching Topics

For  several years I have been coaching people on-line to use MindManager more effectively. Some clients have been within 30 miles of Alresford, nr Winchester, Hampshire, England where I am based. Others have been in San Francisco and Sydney!  They all benefit from having a session which is specific to them, takes place at a time to suit them (and me. I have not had a session between midnight and 6am yet!) and, involves no lost time and cost travelling to a training venue.  I recommend a 45 minute session. This is long enough for you to pick up several tasks, some of which may take you a few days to complete or practice.

“This is a really cost-effective, energy efficient and time-saving way to meet and share material, and I can’t recommend the approach highly enough”

The normal process is to book a free fifteen minute technology testing and briefing session. We could be using phone, Skype, RealVNC, Live Meeting, Team Viewer, NetMeeting depending on the requirements of the session.  The briefing is to find out what you want to do in your session or series of sessions. This is so I can be prepared with examples including the ones you send me and think about the structure for your particular requirement.

“It was only today when I had to get a project completed quickly, a project I had no idea how to tackle or even what to do – that I realised the full value of the training.”

During the session I will share my desktop with you and you may be showing me your issues from yours. When the session completes I will provide a map with a summary of the session, links to relevant follow up material and some homework. Hopefully you will come back for further session suitably spaced so we can review progress and I can suggest next steps.

“Sessions are always on time and very concentrated. Andrew has solved most of the problems my work has presented us with, and left me copious notes (in map form) for me to study afterwards.”

Normally I charge £87 plus VAT per 45 minutes including preparation and post session activities.  Until the 31st October I will be charging £67 plus VAT.

You can contact me on 44 1962 73534 or 44 7813 211451 or Skype ajwilcox or Twitter ajwilcox.

If you want to suggest some dates and times, send me 3 proposals including the 15 minute briefing via Meeting Wizard to email andrew@cabre.co.uk.  If I can accept one of your proposed session times I will send an invoice which you can be settled by credit card or electronic bank transfer.  Payment has to cleared before the session.

As a trial until 31st October 2010 I will also offer the option of booking a 30 minute unprepared session for £37 plus VAT.  I will not do any post session work unless we agree terms for this. Use Meeting Wizard to propose some times.

Notes on VAT: In the UK its 17.5%.  If you are resident in the EU and you give me your VAT number I can supply without VAT otherwise its 17.5%.  If you are in the Rest of the World the charge is VAT free.

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