Digital Workshop

Playing with Opus v7 and having a quick look at some of the features that I'm impressed with. When I find something that impresses me I'll post here.

Icons, Opus publications now support high quality icons. This is really great and perfect for Windows Vista and 7. Icons are displayed beautifully.

Aero, publications now work great with Vista and Windows 7. They no longer turn off Aero.


There are a few other features and things I'll try out over the next few weeks and report back.

Thanks for the info...
50 "major new features" --

I've upgraded as well...

Paul

Many of these 50 "major new features" are really useful - particularly work with flash.
Unfortunately, not added features to create serious applications: datagrid, sliders, working with arrays and display the various controls (lisbox), enhanced and comfortable working with databases, data visualization in the form of graphs, etc.

The new OPUS V7 is fabulous! I pulled in a Pub I need to update from V6, and I LOVE V7. Glad to hear it works well with Windows 7. I'm still using XP, and have not had a single problem.

They've fixed the Create Hypertext "bug" which now has made doing multiple links so much faster. Thanks DW!!! There's a new feature which fills LATIN into a Text Object, so you can show your client what the Page will look like with simulated text -- very cool.

I've played with the "tween" animation feature. It took time (and help from Chris Jones) to get my brain to understand how it works. I was trying to make it too hard. You can now not only move an Object, but you can change it's size (for example) during an animation -- all within OPUS. I've been told by a beta tester that the Learning Management System SCORM interface absolutely works. If you build computer based training, this is a MUST HAVE version of OPUS.

I'm going to highly recommend you UPGRADE to OPUS v7 ASAP. Not only will you have the advantages of all the new features, and fixes they've included for a multitude of minor issues, but you'll be helping to insure the continuation of this incredible product. I'm sure this upgrade cost DW a great deal of money. We must support their efforts. Everything they do benefits us. This upgrade is absolutely worthwhile. I can't imagine trying to build a Publication using anything but v7. If you are still on v5.5 or 6.? you need to get this new version. No professional multimedia builder will want to be without this product.

Exactly.

For the price (which is fantastic value) the Windows Vista & 7 support alone is worth it.

I will be importing lots of v6 publications and publishing over the coming weeks so will be great to offer our customers better Vista and 7 support.

As a previous Illuminatus II user, this has to be the upgrade I have long been waiting for. Two major reasons to upgrade have to be easy SCORM support, and improved Flash support. This is a truly exciting development as it brings Opus back with the rest of the crowd, so to speak. SCORM and Flash support have been around for ages but not so for Opus, much to my regret. This seems to have changed. I work extensively with Articulate and I see that I can now easily create mini interactions in Opus and integrate them within my Articulate presentations. This is a much needed and long waited improvement to the program and congrats to those who made it finally happen after so many years.

I like the new case function and the improvements with flash. But I do hope that version 8 will have better database control too. A datagrid would be really good, so would other gui items such as a tree view, drop down menus etc. (I know you can program these)

This image sums up what I would like to see next

Jez,

Post such wishes over in the Wishlist... if you want them SEEN for the next go-round.

I think DW has already signaled the direction they are moving in...
Looking at that AutoIt image above, you could probably do that in Opus already...

Paul

Been using Opus 7 for a few days now and it seems very stable, fast and I love the new features (like others, I need to spend some time getting my head round these particularly tweening). One considerable improvement, in my opinion, has been with displaying flash files with different frame rates. Opus 6 was very picky about this at publishing stage. So far I have I haven't had any issues. One small gripe is that the Opus web plugin keeps getting larger. Inevitable I know as more and more features are supported, but it does make for longer download time for end-users.

Overall - thoroughly impressed. Well done DW.

Very happy with this and feel that the upgrade had been worth it.

As a user of Presto 2 I did not find Tweening all that hard to come to grips with, what does take some getting used to is having to realise that the programme now takes all the hard work out of the equation for you.

As has been said 'think simple' then start throwing anything you want into the tween to see what works, you will be surprised to see how powerful this addition to the programme is once you get that the old 'I wonder if' words start to creep in.

Well done DW, but no time to rest on your laurels when is 8 coming out

LH

What Paul said, except not only can you build you own version of these objects but you're not tied to the bog standard format of build-in version provided by other applications.

Mack

Hi Everyone

just wanted to say what a great job DW have done on Opus 7. I know it was a long time coming but well worth the wait.

DW: any chance you could update the manual and produce a nice ring bound hardcopy. I sure most people would be willing to pay for them.

Cheers

Mark

Installed flawlessly

Looks great

Thanks DW

Cheers

Graham