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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

7 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

196 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-23T17:41:44+00:00

    Mr. Parish,

    Several reasons of why this new change needs to be optional:

    1. Functionality  - those of use who have used a stylus over a certain period of time (5 yrs for me) have become so accustomed to its use that it has replaced the mouse in the work environment. This new change takes away a perfectly functional tool, and forces us to use our imprecise finger tips instead.
    2. UNProductivity - It doesn't make sense. Maybe in PowerPoint where the functionality is more concern on using the sheets as editable canvases, it does not make sense for WORD/EXCEL/ACCESS/ where dragging text around and scaling images, buttons, and comboboxes requires a finer touch of a pointer and keyboard.
    3. Redundancy - Microsoft has a tendency to: CHANGE good working tools first; WAIT for complaints later; ACT much later. Remember how annoying it was to open two instances of Excel in a small screen? - You had to disable DDE association or go around changing the registry to be able to open multiple windows.. It took you guys waaay too long to get it right. However, I was pleased with what you guys had in this latest version. UNTIL this new update.

    Mr. Parish, I hope I somewhat managed to help prove a point that many others are trying to make here. 

    Please bring sexy (in our workflow) back :)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-23T17:45:48+00:00

    Thank you! I'm going through it right now.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-23T19:06:48+00:00

    Everyone wants their pen back, can you change this? If I wanted just an electronic pencil and paper I could paid less and buy another device. I paid for surface because of its pen abilities. We should be given options to choose from depending on our need!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-23T20:32:15+00:00

    Dan,

    I work in construction and have 10 Sales Consultants using Surface 3's in the field. I specifically wrote excel files so that our product takeoffs can be done on the computer and sent directly to our production department, drastically cutting down lead times for us and saving time over hand written takeoffs. This excel program (which took months to roll out) is now utterly useless. I can't possibly expect my co-workers to take a wireless mouse out with them to a construction site and click away--they need the precision tip of the surface pen! For those of us with fat fingers, taking away our stylus makes selecting from drop down lists a nightmare. I'd be more than happy to send you my file and you can see for yourself just how much harder life is without the surface pen acting as a stylus. Even better, take your Surface into a house with no countertops or furniture and you'll understand where I'm coming from.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments