1. How do I enter text into a symbol?
2. How do place free-standing text in a drawing?
3. How do I change the color of a symbol?
4. How do I change the color and thickness of a shape's outline?
5. Does PocketDraw run on my Handheld PC running Windows CE?
6. How do I view my drawing on my desktop computer?
7. How big can my drawing be?
8. How do I set the size of my drawing?
9. I have some jpeg images, can make those into symbols and add them to a palette?
10. How do I create my own palette?
11. How do I create my own symbols?
12. How do I export my drawing to another application?
13. How do I print my drawing?
14. Can I edit PocketDraw drawings on my desktop?
15. Does PocketDraw run on devices running the Palm OS, such as the Palm Pilot?
16. How do I paste objects from the clipboard into my drawing?

Q1. How do I enter text into a symbol?

A: If you tap and hold the stylus over the text area of a symbol, the popup context menu will include an item called "Edit Text...". Choosing this item from the menu brings up a text editing box. Any text entered into this box will be placed in the text area of the symbol when you close the dialog.

Q2. How do I place free-standing text in a drawing?

A: The basic symbols palette contains a text object that you can place anywhere you want text in a drawing. The text object can be moved, resized, and rotated.

Q3. How do I change the color of a symbol?

A: Tap and hold the stylus over the symbol. Then choose the "Fill Color..." item in the popup context menu.

Q4. How do I change the color and thickness of a shape's outline?

A: Tap and hold the stylus over the symbol. Then choose the "Frame Style..." item in the popup context menu.

Q5. Does PocketDraw run on my Handheld PC running Windows CE?

A: No, not at this time. However, PocketDraw was written to be cross-platform and we are considering porting it to this class of devices. If you're interested in PocketDraw for the HPC, please contact us at feedback@pocketdraw.com.

Q6. How do I view my drawing on my desktop computer?

A: PocketDraw includes a desktop version that can be used to view, print, and export drawings created on your Pocket PC.

To view a drawing on your desktop:

1. Save it to a folder that's shared with your desktop computer.
2. Sync your Pocket PC so that the drawing file is copied to the desktop.
3. Open the drawing in the PocketDraw desktop viewer app.

Q7. How big can my drawing be?

A: As big as you'd like. There are no practical limits on drawing size in PocketDraw.

Q8. How do I set the size of my drawing?

A: Tap and hold the stylus on any part of the canvas that is not occupied by an object. From the popup context menu choose "Drawing Properties...". Enter the desired drawing size in the dialog and tap "Ok".

Q9. I have some jpeg images, can make those into symbols and add them to a palette?

A: PocketDraw version 1.0 does not support image objects. However, a future version will definitely include this feature.

Q10. How do I create my own Palette?

A: To create your own palette, simply add the objects you'd like in the palette into a new document. Save the document in the "Templates" folder on your Pocket PC. PocketDraw will scan the document and create a new palette containing each of the document's objects. PocketDraw will use the document's name as the palette name.

Q11. How do I create my own symbols?

A: PocketDraw symbols are created in XML with a simple text editor (Notepad.exe works just fine). The documentation necessary to create palette symbols will be posted to the Palette Exchange portion of this site very soon. (If you're adventurous, you can take a look at the standard PocketDraw palettes for some ideas about how they work.)

Q12. How do I export my drawing to another application?

A: PocketDraw 1.0 exports drawings in Windows Enhance Metafile. Many applications, including Word and Powerpoint can import this file format. Since Windows EMF is a vector format, you can scale drawings when you import them with no loss of drawing quality.

To export your drawing:

1. Open it in the PocketDraw desktop viewer (see FAQ #6).
2. Choose "Export" from the "File" menu.
3. Save the exported drawing in a location accessible by the program you'd like to import to.
4. From the other application, import the PocketDraw .emf file. In Word, for example, you would use the Insert->Picture->From File menu choice.

Q13. How do I print my drawing?

A: Pocket PCs don't support printing directly. Therefore, PocketDraw documents need to be printed from a desktop computer. To print a PocketDraw drawing, open it with the desktop viewer (see FAQ #6), then choose "Print" from the "File" menu. PocketDraw will center the drawing if it's smaller than the page, or scale it if it's larger.

Q14. Can I edit PocketDraw drawings on my desktop?

A: Not yet. But, this feature is coming soon.

Q15. Does PocketDraw run on devices running the Palm OS, such as the Palm Pilot?

A: No. PocketDraw is exclusively for devices running Microsoft Windows and Windows CE.

Q16. How do I paste objects from the clipboard into my drawing?

A: To paste items on the clipboard into a drawing, tap and hold the stylus on a blank part of the canvas where you'd like the object to appear. From the popup context menu that apears, choose "paste". PocketDraw will align the new object's upper left corner with the grid point nearest the place where you tapped the canvas with the stylus to get the popup menu.