proofreading on pc

[kalos]

hello!

I want to do proofreading on pc:

I want to have a digital pen and make corrections in doc files and make them appear as if I have made the corrections in a printed paper and then I scanned it

is it possible? what do I need?

thanks!

[Ath]

A tablet?

[kalos]

is it possible in a desktop pc?

[40hz]

is it possible? what do I need?

A tablet PC and a program that does that.

I don't know of any program that does.

You used to be able to do things like that in PalmOS thanks to Graffiti. I don't know it's ever been ported elsewhere.

[kunkel321]

I think many of the free PDFs readers have "freehand" pens, highlighters, etc.

[Edvard]

... corrections in doc files...

Doesn't MS Word have graphics and a freehand line tool?  LibreOffice does, and you can use any standard digitizing tablet (Wacom, etc.) to do the proofread annotations with.  It's a little slipperier than plain ol' pen and paper, and a bit imprecise, but it can be done.  Set the line to red, and take the view up to 150% or thereabouts, so you can get a little more precise.
I'm also assuming you're talking about actual proofreading marks:
http://designerstoolbox.com/designresources/proofing/
and not just a proofreading add-in:
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/word_tip_pages/proofreader_marks_addin.html

[Renegade]

I'm not sure why you'd want to do that.

The accepted practices are to use Track Changes and Comments in MS Word.

[kalos]

arent there any tablets (not whole tablets like ipad, etc, but those that are kinda like touchpad) that can do it?

[Renegade]

arent there any tablets (not whole tablets like ipad, etc, but those that are kinda like touchpad) that can do it?

I'm not sure what you're talking about there. If it's not a tablet, but a touchpad, what is it?

You can edit on an Android tablet. There are office suites for Android. Similar for iOS. It's best to have an external keyboard or keyboard dock though. You cannot reasonably edit with the onscreen keyboard.

[40hz]

@kalos - If you had handwriting input that magically became text (like Graffite on a PalmPilot used to) and it was wedded to a text processor (like it was on the Palm) you'd be home free.

But they don't sell Palm devices any more. And AFAIK - nobody else has offered Graffiti since the demise of the Palm.

So again, I think you're stuck. What you are looking for does not currently exist. Sorry.

[kalos]

sorry but I dont want it to transform my handwritten corrections to typed text!

I want to make annotations like this:

[attach=#]

but not by writing on the screen, but in a smaller device, like a touchpad-like input device

[Edvard]

Like I said, just get a what-you-can-afford Wacom tablet, and see if Office lets you do graphic markups.  Here's a sample from Open/LibreOffice, done with my Wacom Graphire 3:

[kalos]

Like I said, just get a what-you-can-afford Wacom tablet, and see if Office lets you do graphic markups.  Here's a sample from Open/LibreOffice, done with my Wacom Graphire 3:
(see attachment in previous post)

exactly, but:
1) wacom is an expensive option :/
2) in the screenshot you uploaded the lines dont appear well, is it just because you were in hurry? or I shouldnt expect the technology to perform very well?

[Edvard]

1- You can pick up inexpensive digitizing tablets on eBay or Amazon.  Look for older models or the Bamboo line, not the Intuos or Cintiq ones.  Mine cost 20 USD IIRC, picked up on eBay.  Just make SURE if it's a used unit that it comes with the pen.  The pens are rather expensive to find replacements for.  Take your risks with 'off-brand' tablets from Monoprice or DigiPro; Wacom has been in this business for a long time and reading a few reviews will reveal the subtle flaws in other brand graphic tablets. (EDIT: this glowing review of the Monoprice 6.25" x 10" tablet may beg to differ: http://frenden.tumblr.com/post/31659364200/the-little-monoprice-graphics-tablet-that-could)

2- Admittedly, the lines aren't very good.  LibreOffice treats each line as a separate graphic element, and it likes to do some "smoothing" of squiggly lines and square corners.  No such thing as simply drawing on your document.  Microsoft Office might have better tools for graphic annotations, I don't know.  I only worked up the screenshot to show it can actually do the job you are looking for, and if you zoom into the page about 150% or so, you can get a little more exact. 

[Ath]

but not by writing on the screen, but in a smaller device, like a touchpad-like input device

That is why originally recommended to use a tablet (computer) device. More specifically, a Windows 8 tablet.

but:
1) wacom is an expensive option :/

Cheap is not a realistic requirement, in the context you've drawn.

[Edvard]

That is why originally recommended to use a tablet (computer) device. More specifically, a Windows 8 tablet.

Most tablets generally suck at precision, which is required when doing proofreading markups.  Don't know of any modern tablet computers that take pen input AND run Microsoft office.  Do the Surface tablets have pen input?

Cheap is not a realistic requirement, in the context you've drawn.

Sadly, I agree.  Most cheap digitizers sacrifice quite a lot on the lower-price side of things.  The best option IMHO, is  Wacom's Cintiq line, which is basically a pen-input second monitor with lots of very cool functionality. Unfortunately, it's like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer; more tool than is needed for the requested task.

[kalos]

I think there is a parameter that most nowadays digital pen input device manufacturers havent realized that is important:

digital pen on screen moves very smoothly, while regular pen on regular paper movement involves has some kind of friction

if they try to mimick that friction in digital pen on screen, precision might increase

while i havent thought of it more deeply, i think it would improve human-machine interaction experience

[Edvard]

I just tape a piece of paper on my tablet the same size as the working area.  Works great!

[40hz]

I just tape a piece of paper on my tablet the same size as the working area.  Works great!

Smart. A lot easier to remove than whiteout.