Wacom PL Series User manual

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Pen Display
Software User’s Manual
CONTENTS
About the manual 2
Navigating the manual 3
CUSTOMIZING 4
Opening the control panel 4
Control panel overview 5
Control panel settings 6
Calibrating the pen display 7
Customizing the pen 8
Adjusting tip feel and double-click 8
Adjusting eraser feel 9
Advanced tip and eraser pressure settings 10
Customizing pen buttons 11
Button functions 12
Using the pen display with other monitors 17
Using and customizing the Radial Menu 18
Working with Display Toggle 19
Application-specific settings 20
Creating an application-specific setting 21
Changing application-specific settings 22
Removing application-specific settings 22
Installing multiple tablets 22
GLOSSARY 23
INDEX 25

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ABOUT THE MANUAL
This document provides quick access to information about the pen display. Click on a navigation button or
highlighted word to move through the document. The information is common to Windows and Macintosh
computers and Windows screen captures are shown, unless otherwise noted.
Note: This manual does not contain information for installing the pen display. Please refer to your product
installation guide for details on installing the pen display.
If you are new to electronic documentation, be sure to read navigating the manual.
•S
MALL CAPITAL LETTERS are used to identify the names of keyboard keys, dialog boxes, and control panel
options.
• Remember that you can always use your viewer zoom-in tool to increase the size of the page on your
display screen.
• The following kinds of information are not included with this product: information about your specific
computer hardware or operating system, or information about your application software. Your best
source for this information is the set of manuals and disks that came with your hardware, operating
system, or application.
• Many graphics applications have built-in support for pen display features (such as pressure sensitivity).
Visit Wacom’s web site to find a listing of applications that support these features. For information on
how best to use pen display features within a specific application, see the instructions in that application’s
manuals.
Wacom’s philosophy is to continually improve all of its products. As a result, engineering changes and
improvements are made from time to time. Therefore, some changes, modifications, and improvements may
not be covered in this document.

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NAVIGATING THE MANUAL
Use the navigation controls to move through the manual:
Go to front page.
Go to table of contents.
Go to index.
Go back to previous view.
Page back, or page forward.
Go to topic.
Topic continued.
Adobe Reader provides you with additional tools for using and printing the manual. See the Adobe Reader
help for more information.
Contents
Index
topic

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CUSTOMIZING
After you master the basics of using your pen display, you may want to customize the way the product works.
This chapter describes how to use the Wacom Tablet control panel to adjust your pen display and pen
settings.
Advanced users can learn how to further optimize the pen display by creating application-specific settings.
Opening the control panel
Control panel overview
Control panel settings
OPENING THE CONTROL PANEL
To open the Wacom Tablet control panel, use the pen on the pen display:
•Windows. Click on the Windows START button and choose ALL PROGRAMS. Then select WACOM TABLET
and choose the WACOM TABLET PROPERTIES option.
•Macintosh. Open SYSTEM PREFERENCES from either the Dock, the Apple menu, or from the
APPLICATIONS folder. Then click on the WACOM TABLET icon.
After you have opened the control panel, you can begin customizing the pen display.
Note: User-specific preferences are supported. After logging in, each user can customize their personal
settings in the Wacom Tablet control panel. Switching to another user will automatically load the settings for
that user.

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CONTROL PANEL OVERVIEW
Use the Wacom Tablet control panel to customize the pen display.
As you explore the control panel, experiment with different settings to find what works best for you.
Any changes you make will take effect immediately, but you can always click DEFAULT to return a tab to the
factory settings.
Tool Tips are available for most control panel items. Simply position the screen cursor over an item and let it
rest there; in a few moments the Tool Tip will pop up.
Additionally, your keyboard tab and arrow keys can be used to navigate the control panel.
Tabs display
customizable settings
for the selected T
OOL.
See control panel
settings.
Displays a dialog
box containing
information about
the pen display
tablet and software,
including an option
to access the
DIAGNOSTICS dialog
box.
The DEFAULT button
resets the selected tab
to its default settings.
The upper portion of the control panel displays icons
representing your TABLET, TOOL, and APPLICATION settings.
Choose FUNCTIONS to
customize the Radial
Menu settings.
Choose PEN to
customize your pen
settings.
Displays advanced options. Displays this manual.

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Control panel lists and tabs: The control panel TABLET, TOOL, and APPLICATION lists allow you to select the
tablet, tool, or application for which you want to change settings. To change tool settings, open the control
panel and either choose FUNCTIONS or PEN. See customizing the pen for more information.
Note: The APPLICATION list is for advanced users; it is not necessary to select or add applications in order to
customize your pen.
CONTROL PANEL SETTINGS
Use these sections as a reference when working with the Wacom Tablet control panel; they provide detailed
information about each tab and some of the more complex topics. Many of the sections also contain useful
customizing tips.
Calibrating the pen display
Customizing the pen
Using and customizing the Radial Menu
Working with Display Toggle
Application-specific settings
Installing multiple tablets
The TABLET list displays an icon for any
supported tablet that has been installed on
your system. All settings shown below this
list apply to the selected tablet.
The T
OOL list displays an icon for the tablet
FUNCTIONS and for the PEN.
Note: When the pen is first used on the
tablet it is automatically added to the T
OOL
list, and functions with the default settings.
The APPLICATION list lets you define TOOL
settings that only apply to a specific
application. See application-specific
settings.
See also installing multiple tablets.
Your current selections are highlighted.

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CALIBRATING THE PEN DISPLAY
You will need to calibrate the pen display tablet in order to align the screen cursor position with the position of
the pen on the display screen. This is required to adjust for parallax caused by the display screen cover
glass and coating. Set the pen display in its working position, then follow the procedure below.
Important: When using a VGA connection with
the pen display, make sure the LCD monitor is
properly adjusted before calibrating the tablet.
1. In the Wacom Tablet control panel, select the
PEN from the TOOL list and then select the
CALIBRATE tab.
2. If you are working with multiple monitors,
select the MONITOR option corresponding to
the pen display. (Only monitors that are set
to one of the resolutions supported by the
pen display will appear in the list.)
3. Click on the CALIBRATE... button to activate
the calibration screen.
4. Hold the pen and position your head as you
normally do when working with the pen
display. Use the pen tip to click on the center
of the crosshairs in the upper-left corner.
5. Then click on the center of the crosshairs
that are displayed in the lower-right corner.
6. Test the alignment by positioning the pen at
a few different points on the display.
Click OK to accept the calibration. Click T
RY
AGAIN to recalibrate.
Be sure to read the directions in the
calibration screen for detailed instructions
and additional options. The calibration
setting applies to all applications.
Note: If more than one pen display tablet is
installed on your system, be sure to select the
pen display unit you are working with from the
control panel’s TABLET list.
Crosshairs
Adjustment pattern for pitch and phase.
See the pen display Installation Guide and
Hardware Manual for details on adjusting pitch
and phase for a VGA connection.
Tip: If you prefer to see the screen cursor slightly offset from the actual position of the pen tip, calibrate by clicking on
a spot showing that offset from the crosshairs. For example, to have the screen cursor appear 1/10th of an inch above
and to the left of the pen tip, calibrate by clicking on a spot 1/10th of an inch below and to the right of the crosshairs.

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CUSTOMIZING THE PEN
Customizing your pen is easy. First open the Wacom Tablet control panel using the pen. The pen will be
selected in the T
OOL list and the appropriate tabs will be displayed. Select a tab and choose from the
available options.
Adjusting tip feel and double-click
Adjusting eraser feel
Customizing pen buttons
Application-specific settings
ADJUSTING TIP FEEL AND DOUBLE-CLICK
To adjust the tip sensitivity of your pen, select the PEN tab. To create broad brush strokes or to click with a
light touch, use a soft tip setting. For maximum control while drawing thin lines, use a firm tip setting.
Customizes the amount of pressure
needed to click or draw.
With your screen cursor positioned over an empty area of
your control panel, press down on the tablet with your pen
tip to test the current tip feel setting. You can use the
CURRENT PRESSURE bar to determine how hard you must
press on the pen to reach maximum pressure.
Displays the tip FEEL DETAILS dialog
box where you can further
customize the tip sensitivity.
Hints:
• Use a soft TIP FEEL for a wider range of pressure values with most pressure-sensitive applications.
• In some applications a soft pressure setting can make the pen overreact – any small press on the pen is
magnified on the screen. If you experience this, try a firmer TIP FEEL setting.
• To make double-clicking easier, expand the tap area that accepts a double-click (the double-click distance).
Note: A large double-click distance may cause a delay at the beginning of your brushstrokes in some drawing
applications. If you notice such effects, try setting a smaller double-click distance and using the side switch to
double-click.
Adjusts the size of the double-click
area. A larger setting makes
double-clicking easier.
Drag the slider to the OFF position if
you do not want double-click assist.

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ADJUSTING ERASER FEEL
To adjust the eraser sensitivity of your pen, select the ERASER tab.
Note: Some product configurations may include a pen without an eraser.
Select the button function to
perform when using the eraser.
Customizes the amount of
pressure needed to erase.
Displays the eraser FEEL DETAILS
dialog box where you can further
customize the eraser sensitivity.
With your screen cursor positioned
over an empty area of your control
panel, press down on the tablet with
your pen’s eraser to test the current
eraser feel setting. You can use the
CURRENT PRESSURE bar to
determine how hard you must press
on the eraser to reach maximum
pressure.

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ADVANCED TIP AND ERASER PRESSURE SETTINGS
To further customize tip or eraser pressure settings, from the PEN or ERASER tab click on the DETAILS... button
to display the FEEL DETAILS dialog box. The options within this dialog box enable you to change the tip or
eraser pressure sensitivity and click threshold settings independently. (In the PEN and ERASER tabs, these
settings are adjusted simultaneously with the TIP FEEL or ERASER FEEL slider.)
Important: The TIP FEEL or ERASER FEEL slider overrides the detail pressure settings. If you
customize the detail settings, then drag the slider, your detail settings will be removed.
Drag the slider to adjust
the click threshold level.
This setting determines
the amount of force
required to generate a tip
click.
Using your pen tip or
eraser, make several
strokes within the box to
test the results of your
changes.
Drag the slider to select a
pressure sensitivity setting.
If you have a soft touch and
want to achieve full pressure
without having to apply full
force to your pen, choose a
softer setting.
The PROFILE graphically
displays the selected
pressure SENSITIVITY curve
and CLICK THRESHOLD
settings.
A curve that increases
quickly makes the pen feel
more sensitive.

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CUSTOMIZING PEN BUTTONS
Select the PEN tab to change the functions assigned to the side switches and tip of your pen.
Note: Some product configurations may include a pen without side switches.
Select the button function to
perform when pressing the upper
or lower side switch.
When you bring the pen tip within
5 mm (0.20 inch) of the tablet
surface without touching the tablet
and press the upper or lower side
switch, the selected function
occurs.
Hint: To make double-clicking
easier, set the side switch to
double-click automatically by
selecting DOUBLE CLICK.
Double-click here to change the
function assigned to the pen tip.
• At least one pen button should
be set to the CLICK function.
• The tip must be set to CLICK in
order to draw in most graphics
applications.
Note: You can change the SIDE
SWITCH MODE to best fit the way you
like to use the pen when making
right-clicks or other click functions.
To access the SIDE SWITCH MODE
settings, click on the OPTIONS...
button at the bottom of the control
panel. In the OPTIONS dialog box
that appears:
•SelectH
OVER CLICK to perform
click functions without touching
the pen tip to the tablet surface.
• When CLICK & TAP is selected,
you must press the side switch
while touching the pen tip to the
tablet surface in order to
perform a click function.
CLICK & TAP enables the
precise placement of your click
functions, and is the default
setting for Tablet PCs.

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BUTTON FUNCTIONS
The following options are available for pen or Radial Menu settings. Please note that not all options are
available for all controls or pen display models.
CLICK.This option simulates a primary mouse button click. Be sure at least one
button performs this function so you can always navigate and click.
DOUBLE CLICK.Simulates a double-click. For easier double-clicking, use this
function instead of tapping twice with the tip of your pen.
MIDDLE CLICK.Simulates a middle mouse button click.
RIGHT CLICK.Simulates a right mouse button click, which displays a context menu.
CLICK LOCK.Simulates holding down the primary mouse button. Press the pen
button once to initiate click lock. Press the button again to release click lock.
Click lock is useful for dragging objects or selecting blocks of text.
4TH CLICK.Simulates a 4th mouse button click.
BACK.Simulates the BACK command in browser applications.
5TH CLICK.Simulates a 5th mouse button click.
FORWARD.Simulates the FORWARD command in browser applications.
PAN/SCROLL.Enables you to move a document or image in any direction within the
active window using your Wacom pen.
APPLICATION DEFINED.Reports only the button number to the application. This is for
applications, such as CAD programs, that have built-in tablet support.
DEFAULT.Returns a button to its default setting.
DISABLED.Disables the button function.
ERASE.Default setting for the eraser. See your hardware manual for information on
using the eraser.
INK TOGGLE.(Macintosh.) Toggles the “write anywhere” function of Inkwell on and
off. Inkwell automatically recognizes and converts your handwriting into text and
inserts it into a document. Ink must be turned on for this function to work. See your
Macintosh help for information on working with Inkwell.

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KEYSTROKE....Enables you to simulate keystrokes.
MODE TOGGLE....Toggles between pen and mouse mode.
MODIFIER....Enables you to simulate modifier keys.
OPEN/RUN....Opens an application, file, or script.
PRESSURE HOLD.Locks the pressure at the current pressure level until the button is
released. For example, you can paint with pressure sensitivity until you reach the
brush size that you like. You can then press the button and continue painting with
the same size brush until the button is released.
PRECISION MODE.Changes the mapping around the current pen tip position such
that you must move the pen twice as far for the screen cursor to cover the same
distance on the display screen. To activate, press and hold a pen button to which the
function has been assigned. Releasing the button returns to normal mapping.
DISPLAY TOGGLE.For multiple monitor systems. Enables you to toggle the screen
cursor between the pen display and your other displays. When selected, your
product can be used either as a pen display (the screen cursor is positioned at the
pen tip location) or as a standard Wacom tablet (the screen cursor can be moved
across the entire desktop or additional displays). See working with Display Toggle
for more information.
RADIAL MENU. Displays a Radial Menu on your screen. Each level of the
hierarchical menu consists of eight menu slices which may contain various features
and options to choose from.
JOURNAL.(Windows Vista and Tablet PC systems that include Microsoft Journal.)
Opens Microsoft Journal.
TABLET PC INPUT PANEL.(Tablet PCs and Windows Vista systems that support the
Tablet PC Input Panel.) Opens the Tablet PC input panel when you press a pen
button set to this function.
SHOW DESKTOP.Minimizes all open windows to display a clean desktop.
SWITCH APPLICATION.Brings up the application switching dialog with focus on the
next open application. On Windows Vista systems running Aero, Flip 3D will be
activated with focus on the next open applications.
EXPOSÉ.(Macintosh.) Tiles all open windows.

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•KEYSTROKE.... Enables you to simulate keystrokes. Selecting this option displays the DEFINE KEYSTROKE
dialog box where you can enter a keystroke or keystroke sequence to play back.
You can manually enter a
keystroke or keystroke
combination in the KEYS entry
box. Keystroke combinations
can include letters, numbers,
function keys (such as F3) and
modifier keys (such as SHIFT,
ALT, or CTRL for Windows, or
SHIFT, OPTION, COMMAND, and
CONTROL for Macintosh).
You can also select special
keystrokes or keystroke
combinations from the ADD
SPECIAL drop-down menu.
When you make a selection it is
added to the KEYS entry box.
After defining a keystroke or
keystroke sequence, click OK.
Important: Because the
ENTER (Windows) and
RETURN (Macintosh)
keys can be selected as
a defined keystroke,
they cannot be used to
select OK. You must
use your pen to click on
the OK button.
If prompted, enter a name for the
keystroke definition. The name
will be displayed with the
respective control or in the
Radial Menu, as applicable.
You can create different
keystroke functions for different
applications. See application-
specific settings for more
information.
Clears the keystroke entry box.
Deletes only the last entry in the
keystroke entry box.

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•PAN/SCROLL.Lets you move a document or image in any direction within the active application window
by pressing a button set for PAN/SCROLL and then dragging with the pen tip across the tablet’s active
area.
•OPEN/RUN.... Opens a dialog box where you can select a specific application, file, or script to launch.
When you select PAN/SCROLL, the PEN SCROLL SPEED
dialog box prompts you to set a scrolling speed that
will be used in applications that do not support
grabber hand (pixel-level) panning within a document
or image.
As you move the pen tip, the document or image is
repositioned to follow the direction of pen movement
on the tablet. Release the button or lift the pen tip
from the tablet surface when you are done.
In some application windows the document will
precisely follow the screen cursor as you move the
pen tip, while in others it will simply move in the same
general direction as the screen cursor.
Click BROWSE... to locate an application, file,
or script to launch. The selection you make
appears in the APPLICATION TO RUN box.
Click OK to accept the selection. The dialog
box will close and the OPEN/RUN... option
you have selected will be assigned as your
pen button option.
If your selection is for the Radial Menu, it will
be displayed in the Radial Menu.

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•MODE TOGGLE.... Toggles between pen mode and mouse mode. When first setting a pen button to MODE
TOGGLE..., the MOUSE MODE dialog box is displayed where you can adjust the mouse acceleration and
speed.
•MODIFIER.... Enables you to simulate modifier key(s) (such as SHIFT, ALT, or CTRL for Windows, or SHIFT,
OPTION, COMMAND, and CONTROL for Macintosh). Many applications use modifier keys to constrain the
size or placement of objects.
Sets the screen cursor
acceleration when in mouse
mode.
Sets the screen cursor tracking
speed when in mouse mode
Note: Mouse mode settings can be accessed from a number of different locations within the control panel.
However, for each pen and application that you are customizing, only one MOUSE ACCELERATION and SPEED
setting can be made.
In addition to choosing one or
more modifier key options, you
can select the CLICK box if you
want a mouse click to occur
whenever you press the pen
button.

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USING THE PEN DISPLAY WITH OTHER MONITORS
When you are working with the pen display and additional monitors on the same system, the screen cursor
movement on the standard monitors will depend on your system configuration.
If a second monitor is connected in mirror mode, both the pen display and the other monitor will show the
identical images and screen cursor movement.
If you are using the pen display with other monitors in extended monitor mode, you have several options for
navigating on the other monitors:
• Set a pen side switch to the DISPLAY TOGGLE function. You can then press the button to toggle the screen
cursor between the pen display and your other displays. For example, your product can be used as a
pen display (the screen cursor is positioned at the pen tip location) or toggled for use as a standard
Wacom tablet (the screen cursor can be moved across the entire desktop or additional displays).
See working with Display Toggle for more information.
• Set one of the pen side switches to MODE TOGGLE. You can then quickly switch between pen mode for
working on the pen display and mouse mode for working on the other monitors.

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USING AND CUSTOMIZING THE RADIAL MENU
To display the Radial Menu, set a pen button to the RADIAL MENU function. Whenever you press that button,
the Radial Menu is displayed. The menu will extend over the entire desktop.
• The hierarchical Radial Menu appears in circular
format. Each level of the menu consists of eight
control slices which may contain various features
and options to choose from.
• Select an available option by clicking on it within
the Radial Menu.
• The menu closes after you make a selection.
To close the Radial Menu without making a
selection, click on the ‘X’ located at the center of
the menu or on a control slice that has no
function assigned to it. You can also again press
the button used to display the menu.
Use the RADIAL MENU tab to customize the available functions on the Radial Menu.
Returns the currently displayed
Radial Menu layout to its default
values.
1. Select a menu or submenu to
customize.
2. Select a control slice for which
to customize settings.
3. Choose the function(s) to
perform.

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WORKING WITH DISPLAY TOGGLE
DISPLAY TOGGLE is available only on multiple monitor systems. The feature allows you to use your pen on the
pen display tablet to navigate the screen cursor to any display on your system. After setting a pen side switch
to the DISPLAY TOGGLE function, you can then press that button to toggle the screen cursor between the pen
display tablet and your other displays. For example, your product can be used as a pen display where the
screen cursor is positioned at the pen tip location, or toggled for use as a standard Wacom tablet where the
screen cursor can be moved across the entire desktop or additional displays.
When you open the Wacom Tablet control panel and the pen display is the selected tablet, the DISPLAY
TOGGLE tab will be available if the system has two or more displays. The DISPLAY TOGGLE tab enables you to
define how the tablet mapping will be applied to each toggled display.
• When PEN DISPLAY TO DESKTOP
is selected and you press a pen
button that has been assigned
the DISPLAY TOGGLE function,
the screen cursor will toggle
from your pen display to the
entire system desktop.
Pressing the button a second
time returns the screen cursor
to the pen display.
• When PEN DISPLAY TO OTHER
DISPLAYS is selected and you
press the pen button, the
screen cursor is toggled from
your pen display to another
active pen display or monitor.
If additional displays are
attached to the system, the
screen cursor will toggle to each
display in turn until it returns to
the pen display from where the
initial toggle began.
ACTIVE AREA options enable you to determine the size of the pen display
tablet’s active area where the pen is functional. When you make a selection,
the red indicator updates to illustrate your choice.
•F
ORCE PROPORTIONS adjusts the size of the tablet’s active area to
maintain correct vertical and horizontal proportions between the pen
display and the entire desktop or newly mapped-to display.
Depending on your settings, some portions of the tablet active area may
no longer be usable when this option is selected.
When deselected, the correct scale or proportions are not maintained –
for example, drawing a circle on the pen display may create an ellipse on
a mapped-to display screen.
•U
SE INSET AREA limits the tablet’s active area to a sizing of 6 x 8 inches.
If FORCE PROPORTIONS is also selected, this sizing may be less.
When deselected, as much as possible of the entire tablet active area will
be used for tablet-to-display mapping.
Important: If you are using
application-specific settings
with DISPLAY TOGGLE, make
sure that each customized
application in the APPLICATION
list (including ALL OTHER) has
a pen button that is assigned
to DISPLAY TOGGLE.

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APPLICATION-SPECIFIC SETTINGS
You may wish to customize your pen for use with a particular application. For example, you may want a firm
pen tip pressure setting in one application and a soft pressure setting in another. The APPLICATION list
enables you to add an individual application to the list and then customize your settings for that application.
•When no application-specific settings have been created and the pen is selected from the T
OOL list,
the APPLICATION list displays the ALL icon containing tool settings that apply to all of your applications.
In the example below, no application-specific settings have been added for the PEN so the ALL icon is
displayed and the PEN will have the same settings in all applications.
•When application-specific settings are added to the APPLICATION list, the ALL icon changes to ALL
OTHER, and an application icon is displayed for the newly added application(s). In the following example,
application-specific settings have been added for the PEN.
In the example above, if you select the ALL OTHER icon and make changes to the tab settings, your
changes will apply to the PEN in all applications except those which you have added to the APPLICATION
list. If you select an application icon and make changes to the tab settings, your changes will apply to the
PEN only while you are using that application.
When you create application-specific settings, you are creating a separate group of settings for the selected
pen and application. See the following sections for additional details:
Creating an application-specific setting
Changing application-specific settings
Removing application-specific settings
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