OneNote not able to search handwriting 2

Anonymous
2020-03-12T02:45:54+00:00

OneNote could be great - if it was working

I am using an Ipad with ipad pen for handwritten notes

when I search for handwritten words in the search function it only searches my first 2 pages -

No handwritten notes are searched after the first 2 pages of my note book - it does search typed text beyond the first 2 pages - INFACT all the pages search for typed text

It works perfectly on the first 2 pages for handwritten text - it finds every word - even those that are quite poorly written in terms of legibility and identification of each letter

It searches nothing at all handwritten on the pages after the first 2 - no matter how perfectly written or easily identifiable the word or numbers are

PLEASE NOTE EDIT - it turns out it actually won't search any handwritten notes that have been made since the first day I stated using the App and the first 2 pages - if I erase something written in page 1 or 2 and re write it - much neater as perfectly as my hand writting will manage - that word no longer searches - when it did before the re write - the words are synced through Ipad, PC on Onedrive online - but wont search ?

NEW EDIT - If I open a new note book with a new section and a new page that new page is searching handwritten text - but only on the first page 

Is there any solution to this ?

Can hand written text only be searched on the first page of any given notebook ?

I really like the App but if it doesnt work I cant see how I can keep using it

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-26T00:28:02+00:00

    No, this is not a known issue.

    About 2016 this feature was not implemented on all platforms.

    The current problem is a SERVER problem resulting from bad design/implementation (OCR + indexing outsourced on overloaded servers). Now it works only on OneNote 2016 because this feature runs locally.

    Bernd

    Thanks for clarifying. I did find other threads with the same/similar issues dating a few years back but, either way, it’s a problem. 

    Do you feel that Microsoft will fix it soon? Otherwise, I will need to start researching replacements. I’m already pretty invested in OneNote so would prefer to stick with them.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-25T20:47:43+00:00

    No, this is not a known issue.

    About 2016 this feature was not implemented on all platforms.

    The current problem is a SERVER problem resulting from bad design/implementation (OCR + indexing outsourced on overloaded servers). Now it works only on OneNote 2016 because this feature runs locally.

    Bernd

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-25T20:00:28+00:00

    I am having the same exact issue. I recently bought an iPad Pro with the specific reason for taking notes in OneNote. I have been a long time OneNote user and was excited to “hand” write my notes with the Apple Pencil and have my notes be searchable. Well, I am extremely disappointed now to learn it is not. The only way it works is if you highlight the Notes in OneNote 2016 and convert from a drawing to hand writing. This is tedious to do for each note and not a good solution. 

    I have tried both OneDrive personal and business accounts with both not working. 

    Microsoft - from all of the research I have done on this, this has been a known issue since 2016. PLEASE FIX NOW! Thanks!

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-04-23T23:34:58+00:00

    I just pulled up my notebooks in onenote 2016 and none of the notes from these past few weeks are searching for handwritten notes. The notes I took at the beginning of April are searchable. I don't understand how it's working for some sections / pages, and not others. I'm extremely frustrated having to depending on a learning / study tool that simply does not work.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-04-23T23:32:11+00:00

    I, too, am experiencing this issue on Windows 10. 

    I've tried:

    uninstall and reinstalling onenote on all three computers that I use for school.

    Removing cache folder and letting the cache build back up

    Updated the indexing options to include properties and file contents

    None of these things have worked. 

    I guess I'll open it up in onenote 2016 and see if I can search in there for now. This is ridiculous.

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