Finding the tools to create software training videos

Finding the tools to create software training videos

By Zatni Arbi

JAKARTA (JP):: Have you ever been asked by a friend to show
him how to create macros in MS Word? You can explain the
procedure step-by-step in a lot of words, taking a lot of time in
the process so that he understands.

For example, you can tell him "Go to Tools menu item, click on
Macros and then on Create New Macros, etc., etc." It is exactly
the way I do it in this column if I have some tips to share with
you.

Unfortunately, this lengthy way of showing the steps involved
in creating macros may not be very effective.

Wouldn't it be easier for your friend to see the actions on
his screen? Wouldn't it be nice if you could create a video file
and send it over the Internet to him and he could play it on his
computer?

Lotus Development, now a subsidiary of IBM, has long been
providing SmartSuite users with a utility called ScreenCam. Quite
a popular utility, ScreenCam will capture each movement of the
cursor and all the changes on the screen.

ScreenCam can work with a large number of software
applications, too. However, while it is distributed for free as
part of SmartSuite, it will cost you almost US$100 -- and that is
not including shipping and handling charges.

TechSmith Corporation, a 14-year-old company based in East
Lansing, Michigan, has been developing several tools for creating
video screen captures that will help tech support, HelpDesk and
software manual developers in their job.

The best thing about their products, I guess, is that we can
download the trial versions directly from the websites
(www.techsmith.com). The trial versions are full-featured, but we
can only use them for a specific period of time.

SnagIt

For simple image, text and video capture, TechSmith's SnagIt
5.2 is a set of capable tools. SnagIt can capture a screen image,
capture an image of text and convert it into editable text, or
capture screen videos.

A screen display can be captured in many ways. Windows
actually allows us to capture the entire screen by pressing the
Print Screen button on the keyboard. Pressing the same key while
holding Alt down will capture only the active window instead of
the entire screen.

These methods, however, have their limitations. For example,
they cannot be used to include the mouse cursor or automatically
add borders to the captured image.

More sophisticated tools such as CorelCAPTURE and my favorite
Hijaak Capture offers far more options, such as having the cursor
included in the captured image and a borderline around it. With
these tools, we can even go so far as to capture an application's
menu list, which is, unfortunately, impossible to do with Print
Screen.

SnagIt's ability in capturing text can be very useful. For
example, I was able to capture text from a dialog box or a menu
list that would not have been possible with other applications.
The captured text was converted into text that I could edit, copy
and paste into any text editor.

This facility, for example, enabled me to copy the list of
recently opened file under MS Word's File menu.

One drawback as opposed to Hijaak Capture, however, is that
SnagIt can only save the captured image in a few graphics file
formats. Fortunately, these are popular Windows file formats such
as BMP, PCX, GIF and JPG.

This program's ability in creating video capture is also
excellent. I told SnagIt to start capturing the screen by
pressing the hotkey, which can be changed as necessary. Then I
began creating a new macro in Word. When I was finished, I
pressed the same hotkey again to tell SnagIt to stop recording.
Now I have a video file that can show other people how to create
a macro in Word.

The program's Preview window has a set of VCR-like buttons
that allow us to play back the recently captured video. SnagIt
uses Windows' AVI video format, and therefore we may also use
Windows' Media Player to play back the video file.

Versatile programs

If you need more sophisticated tools plus the ability to save
in other video file formats, you should opt for TechSmith's $150
Camtasia. This program can even save the captured screen actions
in streaming video.

Both SnagIt and Camtasia can include audio in the video files,
so that you can add narration to your presentation. If you prefer
to have add the audio track later, or want to have a version of
the video in a different language, TechSmith also offers DubIt.
This software will help you add or edit your recorded voice to
video or still images.

So, if you want to create video clips to show other people how
they should use a particular feature of an application, these are
some of the software tools that you can use. They can be
downloaded and used free of charge for 30 days or so, so that you
can really decide whether you like them before you pay for them.

And that, by the way, is the way software should be sold,
isn't it? (zatni@cbn.net.id)