How to Use a Wacom Pen Tablet With Microsoft Office

By Ruri Ranbe

Updated September 28, 2017

Items you will need

  • Wacom tablet

  • Wacom pen

  • Wacom tablet install CD

i Paul Tearle/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Using a Wacom tablet in Microsoft Office is extremely useful if you need to make notes on documents, essays or projects. To use a Wacom tablet in Microsoft Office, you must click the "Start Inking" tool, located on the "Review" bar. However, if you have the Tablet PC components disabled, this option will never appear. Tablet PC components come enabled in Microsoft Windows by default, but certain changes to Windows settings can disable this option.

Click "Start," then click "Control Panel." Double-click "Programs and Features."

Click "Turn Windows features on or off," located on the left-hand side of the window. Click "Continue" if the User Account Control dialogue box appears.

Check the box next to "Tablet PC Optional Components," if it is not already checked. Click "OK." Windows will enable Tablet PC support. Click "Restart Later."

Insert your Wacom tablet install CD into an available CD or DVD drive. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the software and your tablet's driver to your computer.

Insert your Wacom tablet's USB connection into an available USB port. Restart your computer for your changes to take affect.

Click "Start," "All Programs," "Microsoft Office," then select the Office program you want to use.

Click the "Review" tab, then click "Start Inking" to open the "Drawing Tools" menu. Start writing or drawing on your Office document.

Tips

If you are using Microsoft Office 2003, click the pen icon on the toolbar located to the left of the paint brush and to the right of the arrow to begin inking.

To use Tablet PC components in Windows XP, your computer must have SP2 installed.

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