MapInfo Pro automatically turns digitizer mode on after you have entered three or more control points. Not only does it turn on automatically, but with the additional capabilities available in digitizer mode, there is little reason to turn it off. Digitizer mode no longer locks you in. You do not have to exit from digitizer mode to do something else. You can do anything in digitizer mode that you can do in mouse mode: open tables and windows, use any of the tools, use the mouse, etc.
You can still, however, turn digitizer mode off and on with the D key. Again, similar to when you have saved control points to a workspace, MapInfo Pro will not turn digitizer mode on if you have only entered one or two control points or if your control points run in a straight line.
The details of the new digitizer mode functionality is explained below.
Using Tools with the Digitizer
You can use any of the tools with the digitizer. You are not limited to just the drawing tools. You can zoom in on the area you are digitizing with the Zoom in tool, use the Ruler tool to measure distances, or add nodes, etc. without leaving digitizer mode.
Mouse Cursor
You can use the mouse and the digitizer at the same time. The mouse is always active, even when digitizer mode is on. So you no longer need to exit from digitizer mode to use the mouse. The mouse cursor is always visible, and can always be controlled with the mouse. Its appearance depends on which tool is selected.
You can also control the mouse with the digitizer using the mouse emulation capability of the digitizer driver (this must be configured outside of MapInfo Pro). If digitizer mode is off, or if digitizer mode is on and a Map window is not active, the digitizer controls the mouse. If a Map window is active and digitizer mode is on, the digitizer controls the digitizer cursor.
Digitizer Cursor
The digitizer cursor is a large cross hair that covers the entire width and height of the Map window. Its appearance does not change to indicate which tool is selected. It is always a large cross hair, making it much easier to see.
The digitizer cursor is always visible as long as a Map window is active. For example, if you decide to open a Browser window while you are in digitizer mode and work in the Browser, digitizer mode will still be on, but because the Browser is the active window, you will not see the digitizer cursor.
The status bar only displays the digitizer cursor location if you choose to display it (on the lower-left corner of the MapInfo Pro screen, click the arrow beside the value, and click Cursor Location from the list).