During the installation of CalliGrapher 8.4, the over 100 page User Guide along with tutorials on Write Pad and Write Anywhere are installed.  The User Guide covers every detail of Calligrapher and is in PDF format meaning you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC to view it (Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free download from http://www.adobe.com (PC) and http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readerforppc.html (Pocket PC).  The Tutorials are written in CHM format, the standard Windows help file format.  It is highly recommended that CalliGrapher you - both new and existing owners - go through the tutorials provided.  They are highly detailed and informative, making CalliGrapher easier to use and less frustrating if running into difficulties with recognition.

There are times however where mistakes are made either in spelling by the user or by a poor recognition by CalliGrapher.  Thankfully there is no need to delete the word and start over.  CalliGrapher has an included Spell Checker which by tapping and holding on a word, is displayed.  Likewise there is included soft keyboard for more traditional tap-typing.  The soft keyboard also features an inline auto completion. On some devices, this soft keyboard may be more useable than the included one on your device.  This is the case for me and my O2 Xda Atom which requires me to use multiple taps to use numbers on the built-in soft keyboard.  The CalliGrapher keyboard saves me many screen taps!

Figure 8:  The Spell Checker in CalliGrapher 8.4	Figure 9:  CalliGrapher's Soft Keyboard

New in Calligrapher 8.0 and enhanced in 8.4 is the CalliGrapher Statistical Analyzer or CSA.  Essentially the CSA learns your writing gestures and, over time, learns how to better auto correct recognition errors.  So no longer is it a matter of the user learning how to best use the application.  Now CalliGrapher learns as well.  It is important to note that the CSA does take time.  For most you, two or three weeks of daily use will start building the CSA information file.  Also note that this file is based on individual users so the CSA file for one user is going to be completely different than for another.  

Also improved in version 8.4 is the Write Pad log file.  This is an optional feature which allows for Write Pad recognition sessions to be recorded, including handwriting and typed information.  In PhatPad 3 you can view this file.  The reason for this file and for allowing you to view it is rather ingenious by PhatWare.  The log file collects handwriting samples by you and can be sent to PhatWare.  PhatWare in return uses these log files to improve the recognition engine in minor and major releases of CalliGrapher.  The benefit for the user being able to see this file is to see the original handwritten file in case a word or character is not recognized.  This allows the user to adapt to be more successful with CalliGrapher.

In addition to handwriting recognition, CalliGrapher also integrates with PhatWare’s PhatPad.  PhatPad is a note and drawing application that allows you to create handwritten notes or drawings then save them in a graphic format, thus allowing anyone to be able to read or use the file.  A full review of PhatPad 3.0 is available here on Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com at http://www.clintonfitch.com/reviews/phatware/phatpad-3-0/default.asp.  To access PhatPad from CalliGrapher, tap the PhatPad icon on the toolbar.  This will automatically start PhatPad.

Likewise, CalliGrapher also integrates with PhatWare’s PenCommander.  PenCommander allows you to perform many functions such as editing or inserting text, opening other applications or any custom command by writing a command then putting a circle around it. For example, if you write “www” and circle it, PenCommander will type in http://www.  Further you can write “all” and all of the text will be selected on the page.  There are many pre-written commands including during the installation of CalliGrapher with you able to create their own through the PenCommander icon.  Additionally, PenCommander can also run scripts or scripts created by you. The script editor is essentially a macro script that performs a designated function.

Figure 11:  PenCommander's Interface	Figure 12:  PenCommander's Script Editor

One of the challenges of any handwriting recognition application is that of mathematical formulas.  Often the operators such as + or - are not understood.  With CalliGrapher, RiteCalc is included which alleviates many such errors.  To use RiteCalc, simply write out a mathematical formula making sure to include an equal sign at the end and to have the formula as one sentence.  The equal sign indicates to RiteCalc that it is a formula and treats it as such

Figure 13:  Write out a formula...	Figure 14: ... and RiteCalc will complete the formula automatically

As is customary with PhatWare’s applications, CalliGrapher is highly customizable to fit any you preferences or needs. Customizations available include the ability to change the icons that appear on the CalliGrapher toolbar, the thickness and color of the ink used, the dictionary used by spellchecker, recognition settings and so forth.  There is virtually no aspect of CalliGrapher that cannot be adjusted to the liking of any user.  The ability to make these types of changes truly make CalliGrapher user friendly and easier to use than it already is out-of-the-box.

CalliGrapher 8.4 is simply brilliant.  It is head-and-shoulders above any similar application and this version only strengthens that position.  It is one thing to simply maintain the life of an application.  Clearly PhatWare has gone well beyond this in version 8.4 and has set the standard just that much higher for themselves and everyone else in the industry. I have enjoyed this application since the 6.0 days and it has done nothing but continue to improve.  I would recommend CalliGrapher to any Windows Mobile user including those with QWERTY keyboards built-in.  Its speed and accuracy make it a reliable way to enter text into a document without having to slide out the keyboard.

As if the application itself wasn’t enough, the support provided by PhatWare is second-to-none.  Their built-in help within CalliGrapher 8.4 is well organized and comprehensive in nature.  If great support is needed, the technical staff at PhatWare is courteous, accurate and most of all speedy.  Rarely is a question not addressed within hours of the email being sent to support.

Finally, as with previous versions CalliGrapher, PhatWare has a wide range of language packages that can be purchased for the application.  These multi-language packages allow for recognition of text in different languages and can be alternated in use while in the application.  Currently there are 11 languages packs available including Dutch, Spanish, Swedish and Italian as well as a English Medical pack.  For more information, visit the CalliGrapher 8.4 website at http://www.phatware.com/calligrapher/index.html. These additional languages packs range from $14.95 to $19.95 (US).

CalliGrapher 8.4 is compatible with Pocket PC 2003 and higher as well as Pocket PC 2003 Phone Edition and higher.  The application supports landscape mode and VGA as well as Windows Mobile 5.0. 

CalliGrapher 8.4 is available for new you at $39.95 while existing 7.x you can upgrade for $24.95.  If you buy CalliGrapher 8.4 before January 2007 you will receive a $5 discount.  Existing owners are encouraged to check out the PhatWare website for upgrade information.  You can try or purchase PhatWare's CalliGrapher 8.4 at the Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com! Software store by clicking here.

Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!