Installing and Using MoboCalc
Answers to the most common MoboCalc installation and usage questions and support issues are listed below. Select one of the following categories or browse through the entire list of FAQs to find an answer to your question.
Installation questions
Can I use MoboCalc with an external tablet on Windows Vista?
Yes. All versions of Windows Vista except Home Basic allow you to use an external tablet in exactly the same way as an on-screen tablet.
Can I use MoboCalc on a standard Windows XP system?
No. MoboCalc requires the Tablet PC Edition of XP for handwriting support. Even with an external tablet, MoboCalc will not operate correctly on a standard version of XP.
How do I run MoboCalc?
Just run Excel as you normally would. MoboCalc will start automatically.
I don’t see MoboCalc in my Start menu. Why not?
Since MoboCalc is an add-in, it can’t be run as a separate program. When you run Excel, MoboCalc will start automatically.
What is the Product Improvement Program? Should I join it?
We hope you will join. The Product Improvement Program helps us enhance the recognition of handwritten formulas by collecting handwriting samples from program participants. Samples are uploaded to a secure server where they are analyzed and any problems can be corrected. All uploads are performed in the background and do not interfere with your use of MoboCalc or Excel. Only ink data, Excel formula translations, and the formula recognition results you get are sent to Enventra. No Excel files, individual cell values, or calculation results are uploaded, and no personal information is transmitted. You can opt in or out of the program at any time from the General tab of the MoboCalc Options dialog.
Using MoboCalc
How do I enter values and formulas?
Enter values just as you would type them in Excel. Remember to start each formula with an equal sign, and take advantage of MoboCalc’s support for formula layout and function shortcuts to speed input and minimize errors. See MoboCalc help or our online documentation for additional tips.
How do I control the way MoboCalc displays my formulas?
Very easily. Tap the Options toolbar button to display the Options dialog and select the Display tab. You can choose which functions to display as symbols, turn simplified logical expressions on or off, or select standard Excel formula display. By default, only division lines, square root symbols, and exponents are enabled, so you should select any functions you want to display as symbols.
My handwriting is terrible. Will MoboCalc recognize it?
Probably, but if you or your friends or family can’t read your writing, chances are MoboCalc may have trouble as well. The best way to find out is to download a free 30-day trial and see for yourself. If your first attempts aren’t successful, keep trying. Your results will improve with experience.
How can I improve the recognition of my handwriting?
In general, write legibly along a reasonably straight line. In formulas, be sure to print. See MoboCalc help or our online documentation for more information on how to improve your results.
If I see a mistake, can I fix it?
Yes. MoboCalc lets you add text to any entry, select, delete or erase parts of an entry, insert space, add new text, rearrange formulas, request alternate recognition results, or write corrections on top of existing characters. See MoboCalc help or our online documentation for additional information on editing values and formulas.
Can I stay in the same cell after tapping the Enter button so I can see what I’ve entered?
Yes. By default, the Enter button behaves just like the Enter key and uses the current Excel setting for moving the selection after Enter. You can change this by unchecking “Move selection after Enter” on the General tab of the MoboCalc Options dialog. You can also use MoboCalc’s Check button instead of the Enter button to preview your entries.
Can other users open my files even if they don’t have MoboCalc?
Absolutely. MoboCalc doesn’t add anything extra to your Excel files, so anyone can use them.
Troubleshooting
I tried to enter a formula and got a strange text string instead. What happened?
Either your leading equal sign wasn’t recognized correctly or you forgot to enter it. Clear the result with the Cancel button and enter your formula again, being careful to write the equal sign clearly.
Why do I see a “MoboCalc was unable to format this formula for display.” message?
This generally means that some element of your formula is too wide to fit into the MoboCalc window – a very long division line or square root symbol for example. Move to a different cell to temporarily avoid seeing the error message, widen your MoboCalc window, and move back to the original cell. Your formula should now display.