I've seen the posts suggesting that Windows XP support for Excel data entry
via tablet functionality is very bad. Has anybody tested to see if there are
improvements in Vista? We are considering getting tablets with Vista to
enable some people to fill out store surveys (i.e., fill in information in
Excel fields). Will that work well?

>> We are considering getting tablets with Vista to enable some people
to fill out store surveys <<

While there are probably other options, some thoughts;

What kind of survey?

If it's simply numeric in nature, tablets seem like overkill... perhaps
pocketpc's? If you want to use excel, it's there and the ppc keyboard
has a numberpad toggle on the default keyboard. In addition, the ppc
transcriber is not program specific.

If it's "incrementing" ...i.e. "add 1 to column x" for specific answers,
custom code this... "tap here to increment"

If you just want a numeric pad, try the default windows on screen
keyboard... RUN OSK

You can drag that off the left edge so only the numberpad is visible and
tap away.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Hi Lisa,

There is a product that addresses this:

TipX - Tablet Input Panel for Excel

http://inkenable.com/tipx/Overview.aspx


--
WN
Microsoft MVP - Tablet PC
http://MobilePCWiki.net
http://forums.MobilePCWorld.net
http://TabletPCBuzz.com





"Lisa" wrote:

> I've seen the posts suggesting that Windows XP support for Excel data entry
> via tablet functionality is very bad. Has anybody tested to see if there are
> improvements in Vista? We are considering getting tablets with Vista to
> enable some people to fill out store surveys (i.e., fill in information in
> Excel fields). Will that work well?

Hi again Lisa,

Sorry - I think I may have missed the essence of your question. Let me try
again.

I've been working with Vista and Office 2007 for awhile now, and have gotten
quite spoiled with how well this works. I just ran Excle - Office 2003 to
compare.

I am very pleased with how well Excel (both versions) work with Vista. The
ink recognition is very good, and as you may know, trainable.

If you are entering multiple choice answers, you can set those up with
Data/Validation in Excel so that the choices appear in a drop-down box. This
is easy to do and works very well.

For free text or numbers, the ink recognition is fine. The user experience
is a little clunky but quite workable.

|:
- tap cell
- Tablet Input Panel (TIP) indicator pops up
- tap TIP indicator
- ink something
- tap insert
:|
repeat.

I have done this in large group presentations with a wireless hookup to a
projector. (No pressure - sure). The participants were very impressed with
the ink recognition.



--
WN
Microsoft MVP - Tablet PC
http://MobilePCWiki.net
http://forums.MobilePCWorld.net
http://TabletPCBuzz.com



"Lisa" wrote:

> I've seen the posts suggesting that Windows XP support for Excel data entry
> via tablet functionality is very bad. Has anybody tested to see if there are
> improvements in Vista? We are considering getting tablets with Vista to
> enable some people to fill out store surveys (i.e., fill in information in
> Excel fields). Will that work well?

I made a new spreadsheet today and let Me tell you. I really hate office
2007 interface. The only problem that this novici user had is in copying
formulas-the fill handle is near impossible to grab. I had to open it up and
use the Mouse.
"Lisa" <Lisa@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1C0988FF-7605-444B-8FFF-2F7259BEB187@microsoft.com...
> I've seen the posts suggesting that Windows XP support for Excel data
> entry
> via tablet functionality is very bad. Has anybody tested to see if there
> are
> improvements in Vista? We are considering getting tablets with Vista to
> enable some people to fill out store surveys (i.e., fill in information in
> Excel fields). Will that work well?