TIP Will Not Undock in Filemaker Pro 8

I have just started using my first Tablet PC, a Lenovo X41, which is
terrific, because it's light and the handwriting recognition works very
well, and it's generally a very nice little laptop. I'm using it largely
for entering data into a database in Filemaker Pro version 8. It works
okay, but I cannot get the Tablet Input Panel to "undock," when I select
that option. The TIP will dock at the bottom of the screen or at the top of
the screen, but just won't undock, no matter what I try. Does anyone have
any suggestions to get the panel to undock, so I can move it around and get
it closer to the fields where I'm entering data? I can manage OK with the
panel docked, but I have to enter a lot of data every week, and I think I
could save some time if I could undock the panel and experiment with various
locations. Thanks for any help you can give me.

In article <E%8Eg.3660$W01.6@dukeread08>, says...
> I have just started using my first Tablet PC, ...I'm using it largely
> for entering data into a database in Filemaker Pro version 8. It works
> okay, but I cannot get the Tablet Input Panel to "undock,"

By this I think you mean that you cannot get the floating button that you
tap on to get the floating TIP. In order to get the floating button the
software in question needs to have been written to be compatible with the
TIP. I don't know if they just include some code or write it to a
specific API or what. There was a lot of discussion of this when the new
version of the TIP was released with SP-2.

You need to get in touch with the manufacturer of the software and
convince them to do the work it takes to get the program to be compatible
with tablet PCs then release an update. But good luck with that.

The next question you are likely to ask is if there is a button or option
on the TIP to just make the docked TIP undocked instead. Unfortunately,
no. The ONLY way to get the undocked TIP is via the floating button. Why
would this be so? My well documented cynical mind tells me that it is a
way for Microsoft to make other manufacturer's products look bad in an
attempt to convince users to buy only Microsoft products. On the other
hand, my critical mind tells me that they just weren't thinking.

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:59:13 -0400, "Alex White" <>
wrote:

>... I cannot get the Tablet Input Panel to "undock," ...

Is it just this software or all software (e.g. Word)?

If it is all software, remember you must place the pen in an input
field after you have floated the TIP. Until then, it will not appear.

Strange as it seems, it took me a week to imagine that.

When you have put the cursor in an input field with the pen and you
see it flashing there, the TIP should pop up below the field. Try it
in Word or even Notepad. Let us know if that works.

Thanks for the replies. The TIP works fine for me in Word, Notepad,
Outlook, etc., but it doesn't undock in Filemaker. From these responses, I
understand now that there probably is no way to get it to undock. I just
wasn't sure if there was anything else I could try. I think it will work
out OK, I just wanted to be able to move the TIP around if I could.

"Leo Bellew" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:59:13 -0400, "Alex White" <>
> wrote:
>
>>... I cannot get the Tablet Input Panel to "undock," ...
>
> Is it just this software or all software (e.g. Word)?
>
> If it is all software, remember you must place the pen in an input
> field after you have floated the TIP. Until then, it will not appear.
>
> Strange as it seems, it took me a week to imagine that.
>
> When you have put the cursor in an input field with the pen and you
> see it flashing there, the TIP should pop up below the field. Try it
> in Word or even Notepad. Let us know if that works.
>

You might contact the support section for the creators of Filmaker and ask
them when they're going to fully support Tablet PCs and pen usage. If the
program is clunking around and not properly written, there isn't much any of
us can do to add "awareness" to it. 8-(
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"Alex White" <> wrote in message
news:emOEg.4125$W01.3293@dukeread08...
> Thanks for the replies. The TIP works fine for me in Word, Notepad,
> Outlook, etc., but it doesn't undock in Filemaker. From these responses,
> I understand now that there probably is no way to get it to undock. I
> just wasn't sure if there was anything else I could try. I think it will
> work out OK, I just wanted to be able to move the TIP around if I could.
>
> "Leo Bellew" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:59:13 -0400, "Alex White" <>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>... I cannot get the Tablet Input Panel to "undock," ...
>>
>> Is it just this software or all software (e.g. Word)?
>>
>> If it is all software, remember you must place the pen in an input
>> field after you have floated the TIP. Until then, it will not appear.
>>
>> Strange as it seems, it took me a week to imagine that.
>>
>> When you have put the cursor in an input field with the pen and you
>> see it flashing there, the TIP should pop up below the field. Try it
>> in Word or even Notepad. Let us know if that works.
>>
>
>

Okay, I will contact them and hope for improvement in a future release.
Thanks.

"Chris H." <> wrote in message
news:%...
> You might contact the support section for the creators of Filmaker and ask
> them when they're going to fully support Tablet PCs and pen usage. If the
> program is clunking around and not properly written, there isn't much any
> of us can do to add "awareness" to it. 8-(
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
> Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
> "Alex White" <> wrote in message
> news:emOEg.4125$W01.3293@dukeread08...
>> Thanks for the replies. The TIP works fine for me in Word, Notepad,
>> Outlook, etc., but it doesn't undock in Filemaker. From these responses,
>> I understand now that there probably is no way to get it to undock. I
>> just wasn't sure if there was anything else I could try. I think it will
>> work out OK, I just wanted to be able to move the TIP around if I could.
>>
>> "Leo Bellew" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:59:13 -0400, "Alex White" <>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>... I cannot get the Tablet Input Panel to "undock," ...
>>>
>>> Is it just this software or all software (e.g. Word)?
>>>
>>> If it is all software, remember you must place the pen in an input
>>> field after you have floated the TIP. Until then, it will not appear.
>>>
>>> Strange as it seems, it took me a week to imagine that.
>>>
>>> When you have put the cursor in an input field with the pen and you
>>> see it flashing there, the TIP should pop up below the field. Try it
>>> in Word or even Notepad. Let us know if that works.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>