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
    2020-04-13T16:22:42+00:00

    The reason behind is simple:

    Search needs OCR + indexing.

    In OneNote 2016 this happens locally on your computer. So it works.

    For all other OneNotes it SHOULD happen on the server. Dumb design decision for cutting costs. Now in those times of server overload concerning many Microsoft services it doesn't work or has been intentionally shut down.

    To see it positive: excellent promotion for good old OneNote 2016.

    Bernd

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-20T17:19:23+00:00

    Hello,

    this is plus one for me! How handwritten notes on iPad become searchable is a pure mistery to me, some are searchable some are not and it's impossible to identify a pattern.

    It looks like I'm not the only one confused on this issue since I found another thread dated two years ago with the same issues and (sigh!) the same answers!

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-20T18:58:01+00:00

    You should read my reply. Just above yours.

    Bernd

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  4. 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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  5. 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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