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)