In our first tutorial about Windows Journal, we learned how to get started with Windows Journal, create and save notes, and convert handwriting to text. In this tutorial, we’ll cover some more advanced topics like making templates and sending Windows Journal notes as emails. It might be helpful to review the first tutorial if you’re a newcomer to Windows Journal, just to get a handle on the basics.

NOTE: you can choose the “paper" shape and size, whether it’s lined or not, how far apart the lines are spaced, and whether there’s a margin line or not. You can choose the color of the lines and the background, and if you don’t like a plain background you can fill it with a pattern or a picture. Our first tutorial gives an overview of those options: First Steps in Using Windows Journal.

Making your Own Templates

Once you have the page set up to your liking, you can save it as a template and re-use it whenever you want. Tap the File menu and choose Save. Oddly, in this case, Windows Journal doesn’t act like other Windows products, where Save As on the File menu gives you the choice of document type.

You’ll see a Save As dialog box. Choose the folder you want to save your template in, and then select ’Windows Journal Template (.jtp)’ from the ’Save as type’ list. In the File name box, enter a name for your template and then tap Save.

From then on, when you want to use that template, tap 'File -> New Note from Template -> [your template name]'.

Windows Journal to Email

You don’t need to keep your Windows Journal creations to yourself. You can send them as emails directly from Windows Journal, ether as a graphic attachment, or as converted text.

NOTE: Make sure you have a default email program set up. If you haven’t done that yet, please go check out our complete instructions for setting defaults: How to Set Your Default Programs in Windows 7. Windows Journal can’t send an email if it doesn’t find an email program to send with.

To send a Windows Journal note as an email attachment in graphics format, open the note you want to send and then tap the File menu and choose ’Send to Mail Recipient’.

You’ll be asked what type of file you want to attach. The choices are Journal note, Web page, or Black and white .tif image. Windows Journal explains what happens with each choice. If you know your recipient is using Windows 7, they will have Windows Journal as well, even if they don’t have a tablet computer or pen-and-tablet input device, and will be able to open your file. If you’re not sure, Web page would be a better option, because every computer comes with a browser of some kind. Despite what the box says, Internet Explorer is not required to open those images, but they might display slightly differently in other browsers.

Now, perhaps those choices won’t work for your recipient, or you don’t want to send a graphic file, since they tend to be much larger than text. Windows Journal lets you send your note as text in an email.

To send the email as text, remember how we converted handwriting to text in our first tutorial: tap the Selection Tool, drag a text box around the text you want to send, then tap the Actions menu and then tap Convert Selection to Email. You’ll have a chance to correct mistakes.

Once you’re satisfied, tap Convert and your email will open with the text in a new message ready to be sent.

NOTE: Before you send an email, please read the warning that Microsoft has posted on its web site concerning Windows Journal and email security.

Windows Journal: Write, Draw, Communicate and More

Windows Journal is a versatile tool for people who have tablet or touchscreen computers, or a pen and tablet input device. It’s got features that can be used by almost anyone, even with a mouse or trackball, and when you get right down to it, it’s even fun. Who hasn’t wanted to scribble on a document, or highlight important parts? And then all those marks can be instantly erased, leaving no trace behind. You can actually write emails instead of typing them, and create your own little artistic masterpieces. Microsoft definitely has a winner with Windows Journal.

Related articles:

First Steps in Using Windows Journal
Getting Started with Windows 7’s Tablet Input Panel
How to Work with the New WordPad
Make Screenshots with the Snipping Tool
Do Math the Easy Way with Math Input Panel