After the latest Office update PowerPoint get locked in ink mode

Anonymous
2016-02-20T01:24:06+00:00

after my recent office update, PowerPoint is locked in ink mode and I can't use my pen to do anything but to draw. It's so annoying I can't even select anything with my surface pen in order to re-size the text or change text color. and when I use my finger it only moves the cursor, it won't let me select. what should I do?

[Original Title: power point ink]

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2016-02-28T01:54:03+00:00

UPDATE 4/8:

We have started to roll out the change that also adds the Select button to the Draw tab (#1 in my original email below), so if you want to continue to use your pen to ink by default you can do that, and now use that button to use the pen for selection temporarily.  Of course if you want to use the pen to select by default, the preference we added in the Options dialog and detailed below allows you to do that.

UPDATE 3/15:

I wanted to let everyone know that in the update to Office that started rolling out to Insiders today, you will find a new preference in the Options dialog to allow you to make the pen select instead of ink by default.  Enabling this preference will make the pen function exactly like it did before, plus you can use the options on the Draw tab if you do decide you want to ink.  If you are an Office Insider (which anyone can join), you should get this update within the next day or so.  If you are not an Office Insider, it may take another week or two to reach you.

This is a per-app preference, so you can enable selection by default in Excel for instance while leaving ink as the default in Word and PowerPoint, or you can switch all three.  To access this preference select File > Options, and then in the Options dialog select Advanced and check ‘Use pen to select and interact with content by default’ in the new Pen section.

We’ll be releasing the second piece (#1 below), which is the ability to toggle on pen selection via the Draw tab for those that only want to use the pen to select occasionally, with the next monthly update.

Thanks again to all of you for your feedback, and we hope this change addresses your concerns.

ORIGINAL:

I wanted to first thank all of you for your feedback both here, and on our UserVoice site.  We’ve heard you loud and clear, and as a result we are actively working on two changes:

  1. For people that want to use the pen as a precise pointer temporarily, we will introduce the ability to do that via a button on the Draw tab.  This will keep the new default of having the pen ink on the document canvas, but give the ability to use the pen to do selection when needed.
  2. For people that want or need to use the pen like a mouse by default, we will also add a new preference to the Options dialog that will allow you to restore the previous behavior.  If you want to ink, that will be easier than before because you’ll be able to just tap a pen on the Draw tab and start inking, but you will be able to set your default behavior to be that the pen selects, just like it was before the update.

We are actively working on making these changes so that we can get them out to you as soon as possible.  Note that you may see #2 (the preference in the Options dialog) appear first, because we are prioritizing getting that change to you based on your feedback.

I will keep this post updated with the latest status, or you can follow along at one (or all) of the three relevant UserVoice topics: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

In addition, if you’d like to get these changes even before they are officially released to everyone, please consider joining our Office Insidersprogram.  It’s a great way to preview the upcoming changes and help provide us with feedback early.

Thanks again,

Dan

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-27T18:23:47+00:00

    I also echo the previous posts regarding lost productivity. I am a heavy user of excel and word. The notion of not being able to use my pen as a selection tool has really hampered my ability to seek quick solutions. I bought the Surface because of the flexible application of the pen. Please give the users an option that give us the ability to toggle back and forth between the inking mode and pen selection or mouse mode.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-27T14:26:09+00:00

    <grin> you agree with my theory. 

    "Young" managers might as well be little green men.  As you correctly point out, their experience using technology such as computers is substantially different from that of older generations.  The need for young managers who more thoroughly understand new the technology than older ones do, is also a simple reality. As well, there is the loss of corporate experience and knowledge through layoffs and (often forced) early retirement which contributes to this common problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-27T14:12:19+00:00

    Thank you for that very insightful story.  I agree with your assessment.  Just have to wonder why someone (manager, engineer etc.) would consciously require that the "Stop Inking" button which is already there needs to go away.  This is not a minor change.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-27T08:01:18+00:00

    I had a recent experience that leads me to suspect that youth and lack of good UI documentation rather than green men is the problem. I visited my local MS Store to replace a  defective pen and purchase the new improved pen. The young employees were very helpful and knowledgeable  in using the Surface Touch Screen and OS.  They could

    not imagine why I wanted to use the pen instead of my finger as a mouse.

    After all, they grew up using their fingers to operate smart phones and ipads.  They had no concept that I might have been using a MS pen on a tablet PC for 7 years before the iPad touchscreen tablet was invented.

    Shame on the MS managers if they forgot the history of this loyal user base or weren't trained by their predecessors.

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