Installing and Using MoboMath
Answers to the most common MoboMath 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. If you can't find an answer here, post your question in our online forums.
Installation questions
Can I use MoboMath with an external tablet?
Yes. If you don't have a tablet PC, you can use MoboMath on any standard Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP (SP2 or later) system with an external tablet.
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 math expressions 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 MoboMath. Only ink data and the recognition results you get are sent to Enventra. No documents are uploaded, and no personal information is transmitted. You can opt in or out of the program at any time from the Registration tab of the preferences dialog on the edit menu.
Using MoboMath
How do I use MoboMath?
Start MoboMath using the desktop icon or the Enventra / MoboMath entry in the Start menu. When the MoboMath window appears, write a math expression as you normally would and convert it to text using the Enter button in the toolbar (the button on the far left). Once your expression has been converted, choose an appropriate format from the Export menu and copy and paste your expression into the application where you want to use it. In most cases you can also drag the expression into the target application. See the MoboMath documentation for more information.
How do I enter math expressions?
Enter expressions just as you write them on paper. After you have written an expression, tap the Enter button or use the Enter gesture to convert it to text. MoboMath recognizes one expression at a time, so if you are entering multiple expressions be sure to convert each one after entering it. See MoboMath help or our online documentation for additional tips.
My handwriting is awful. Will MoboMath recognize it?
Probably, but if you or others can’t read your writing, MoboMath may have trouble recognizing it 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, and be sure to print. You can also improve your results – often dramatically – by disabling any characters you don't normally use through the Grammar / Character Set dialog or the Configuration Wizard in MoboMath. This is particularly true for infrequently used Greek or special symbols. Many Greek characters are almost identical to their Roman counterparts (nu and 'v' look almost alike, for example), and many special characters are rarely used, so disabling them reduces the chances of a recognition error. See MoboMath help or our online documentation for more information on how to improve your results.
If I see a mistake, can I fix it?
Yes. MoboMath lets you add text to any expression, select, delete or erase parts of an expression, request alternate recognition results, write corrections on top of existing characters, and drag parts of expressions to new locations. Besides fixing mistakes, you can use these tools for other editing tasks. The MoboMath video tutorials are a great way to see how editing works. For even more information about editing, see MoboMath help or our online documentation.
How does MoboMath work with other applications that use math expressions?
MoboMath can export expressions in many standard equation formats, including Mathematica, Maple, Microsoft Word 2003 and 2007, MathMagic, TeX, and MathML. To copy expressions from MoboMath into another application, first select the appropriate export format and then drag or copy and paste your expression into the target application. To import expressions into MoboMath for editing, drag them into MoboMath from the source application or use copy and paste.
Can other users open my files even if they don’t have MoboMath?
Yes. Since MoboMath supports standard math formats, your expressions are saved normally by target applications and can be viewed or changed by anyone.
Troubleshooting
I tried to enter a formula and got something strange instead. What happened?
If the recognized expression is close to what you entered, you can use MoboMath’s editing tools to correct any errors. When you are getting used to MoboMath there may be times when it is easier to clear the screen and reenter the expression. Also be sure that you are writing an expression that MoboMath can handle. MoboMath help and the online documentation include much more information on using MoboMath successfully.
Why did I see a “MoboMath was unable to handle this expression” message when I dragged an expression into MoboMath?
MoboMath does not handle every possible expression – it handles standard notation through calculus and linear algebra. You get this message when you try to import expressions outside this set. If there are other types of expressions you would like MoboMath to support, post your suggestions in the MoboMath Usage area of our Support Forums.