Digital Workshop

So I am doing the software tutorial mentioned in a previous post and I decided to use the mouse keyboard recorder to provide a "help" function. I started the pub, recorded the login method, put it on a button and loved it. Then I started to do the next segment. When I went back to Tools>Record there was no Record from current page option...rendering it useless for the stated purpose. It's the end of the day here and perhaps I am tired and overlooked something, but about the only way I see to make this useful is to delete all but what I need to record for the tutorials, then restore.

That seems pretty cludgy. Anybody know a better way (besides SnagIt)?

Regards,
Dave

The mouse/keyboard recorder is intended to provide a way to "walk through" a publication for the video\DVD recorder output, and to create rolling demos from existing publications. It is not really designed to be used as part of interactive publications.

Duncan:
So, I will indeed have to use a third-party app, use the delete and restore method, or think of a way to capture the playback in an editable avi or other video format to make it useful.

Certainly no one in my company is going to sit through an entire playback of the application just to find out how to log on or close a work order.

Would it be that difficult to provide a record from current page function or at least an output to an editable video file?

You know I love you guys and this app but this could use a little work to take it from a niche function to a generally useful tool. What I intend to do (by whatever means it takes) is a working tutorial for every major function. It is by far the most effective means of teaching an application. Our rig managers are very impatient and busy folks who require direct, effective, and straightforward remediation and this is the best way to provide it.

Regards,
Dave

Well, it wasn't the easiest way but it worked. I backed up the pub under another name then did a recording of each segment I needed tutorials for while ripping up track behind me. Of course, I had to then add these pages and re-work all the links (which seem to be lost when moved).

However, it works as it needs to, and that is the important thing.

Regards,
Dave

Had you considered Camtasia? (From the same stable as Snagit).
This would do exactly what you require, and produce a video in just about any format you desire (AVI, WMV, MOV, RM, Flash, etc.)

May have to do that as this is a common requirement in my sims/training. However, I was expecting Opus to be able to do it and when I got to where I needed it I wanted it now, not tomorrow or next week.

Thanks for the tip.

Regards,
Dave

Dave --

You can do your recording in a separe Pub, then call that Pub, then call another Pub.

The much simplier way is do a screen grab, and animate a large cursor around on the Page to demonstrate what needs to be done. I have used this method for years. It's easy and simple.

Hi Fred

What an amazingly simple solution!

I've used various techniques over the years, some complex, some less so, but always a lot more work than your suggestion.

Any day I learn something isn't wasted. Thanks to you, this was a fruitful day.

Ray --

I built my first "demo" back in 1984. It was a series of screen grabs on a new thing called a "PC" using an IRMA (not sure that's correct letters now) board which connected the PC to our mainframe IBM computer. I needed a way to show prospects what our mainframe software looked like, step-by-step without using a mainframe. Then, we always had to shoot three grabs, then assembly them into one complete screen. People said it wasn't possible -- but I was able to do it, and sold $1 M in about 9 months. I started "Extraordinary Demo Diskettes" as a result, and started working "on the side" for other software companies which wanted their own demos. I was using Dan Bricklin's Demo II back then. (aahh, a walk down "memory lane").

This method gives you the ability to add Text Boxes with explanations of what they are seeing. It uses almost zero resources (vs a video or other application). As the actual screen changes, you shoot another screen grab, and animate the cursor to another location. I use EZCapture to capture multiple screen shots. I also use OPUS Frames with red Borders to outline specific points of interest. Use a Transition to make them wipe onto the Page.

Thanks for your comments. I'm glad it was helpful.

Well, I found an easier way that was actually obvious. I backed up the pub, then ripped up track behind me again. However, I used the "Revert" function to restore the deleted stuff.

Still think this should not be a major issue for DW to enhance next SP. All we need is a "Record from current Page" function like the "F5" function. While I am "wishing," it would be nice if it could be saved as editable video.

Onward!

Thanks to all...

Dave

Hi Fred

Think we've mentioned this before, but you and I could well be the only people on the forum who know of Dan Brinklin and his amazing program.

1984 would have been about the time I first got involved with making demos.

Ray --

Can't remember if the early PCs even had a mouse? Bricklin used the Function keys (F1-F10) plus Shift for a total of 20 functions to do almost everything. His programming capability was/is amazing. He had two types of Variables: Text or Numbers. There was a programming function which converted either way (ie Text to Number). He used Select -> Case logic as well as IF statements. When I learn Illuminatus, it's logic seemed like a step backward. It wasn't until OPUS that the programming moved forward again, and that was years later.

Bricklin invented VisiCalc, which if I remember correctly, Lotus (1,2,3) stole from him, then ended up settling out of court for a then "huge" amount of money, at which time VisiCalc just went away. He's got a website/blog and has built other specialty software. He did "demo-it!" which was his Windows version of Demo2. It worked until computers moved beyond 256 color monitors, and he decided the market was too small to justify the cost of developing a new "engine" which would work with millions of colors. I've still got diskettes stored with Demo2 and demo-it! projects I did.

Ray, did you save any of your old Demo2 work?