PlanetPress Capture Pen Management Tool

The Pen Management Tool screen is used to manage the pens that are registered in the PlanetPress Capture Database. The number of Anoto Digital Pens you may register on this screen depends on the licenses available within your PlanetPress Capture License.

Options and Controls

Top Toolbar
  • Read PGC File: Click to display a File Open dialog. Browse to an existing PGC file, and open it. PlanetPress Capture will read the serial number from the PGC file and register the pen.
  • Print Pen Activation File: Click to print a page containing a special pattern. Any pen that writes on this pattern and is then docked will be registered in the database.
  • Save Pen Data into Database: Once all your pens are entered in this window, click to save the list of pens in the database.
Pen Data List: Displays a list of registered pens and those pens you just added.
  • Pen ID: The serial number of pen, as written on the Anoto Digital Pen. You can double-click this area to edit the Pen ID if necessary.
  • Pattern Sequence: The pattern sequence the pen is assigned to. You can double-click this area and edit the pattern sequence as required.
  • User ID: The name of the user assigned to this pen. You can double-click this area to edit the user ID. This can also be custom information.
Bottom Toolbar
  • Button: Click to add a new line in the Pen Data List, then edit the information on this new line.
  • Button: Place a checkmark on the line of any pen you wish to remove from the database, then click this button.
  • Search in column Pen ID: Enter a search term for a Pen ID, then click the Search button. The Pen Data List will highlight any pen containing your search term.
To register a new pen manually
  1. Click on the icon
  2. Enter the Pen ID (located on the pen after the word "Serial: ")
  3. If necessary, enter an optional pattern sequence and User ID (identifier of who will use the pen).
To register a pen using the registration pattern
  1. Click on the Print pen activation file button in the top toolbar of this dialog.
  2. Use the Windows Print dialog to print to the desired printer.
  3. Write or make a line on the printed pattern.
  4. Dock the pen in its cradle.
  5. Click on the Read PGC File button in the top toolbar of this dialog.
  6. If necessary, enter an optional pattern sequence and User ID for each pen.

Multiple pens can be registered at once simply by writing on the registration pattern and then docking each pen before clicking the Read PGC File button.

If the pen that is being registered already exists in the pen database, the Replace User ID (Description) dialog appears, with the following options:

  • Pen ID: Displays the Pen ID (serial number) to identify the pen
  • Old desc.: Displays the content of the User ID field for the pen as it is now.
  • New desc.: Type the new description to identify the pen
  • Replace: Click to save the modification to the description
  • No Change: Click to save the registration without modifying the description.
  • Modify: Click to enable edits in the Old desc. field. The current information can then be modified. After modifications, click Apply to save the changes and exit the dialog.
  • Cancel: Click to cancel any modifications to the pen registration.