Making instructions for users

[Darkstar]

What's a good way to take screenshots of programs for users for instructional purposes where I can add text and easily manipulate the images?? This Paint and paste into Word sh!t is getting old.

What do you guys use?

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by Darkstar
What's a good way to take screenshots of programs for users for instructional purposes where I can add text and easily manipulate the images?? This Paint and paste into Word sh!t is getting old.

What do you guys use?

What about alt/print screen, then past into Word? The Alt will select only the active window. So even if it is just a small popup, as long as it is active it is all that is copied to the clipboard.

[Gabriel]

We use a special program which takes the screen and "record" it as a movie SWF. I can't remember the name I will post it here l8r...


Cheers,
Gabriel

[Stalemate]

ALT-PRTSCRN too, but depending on the use I'll go with MSPaint or Photoshop.

Most of the time I just pump the images right into Word or Publisher and write straight over them.

Excellent idea to incorporate as many pics as you can in a user manual. Less phone calls to your desk.

[Green_Eyed]

I do try to be as exact as possible, and I email instructions to users quite a bit. I usually conclude with 'call me if this doesn't work' but it usually does.

Sounds like you are treating your users better than I am treating mine. Either that or there's a trust/mental capacity thing going on

[Darkstar]

Thanks yall. Forgot about the alt+print screen. Saves the cutting process.

One thing, How can you get Word to let you type directly on the image and draw arrows, etc.

[Ya_know]

The Drawing toolbar in Word might give you some options for arrows, and circles, but the text boxes are less than desirable in my opinion. It depends on what you need to do, they might be adequate for you, check it out...

[PuterGeekGirl]

I use the alt/printscreen method into word as well. Seems to work well...gives them SCREEN BY SCREEN what they will see...seems to work well. I just type any text needed right below the image.

I figure its about as (l)user proof as I can get...and tbh, its working quite well. Been doing this for several months now...much easier than fielding questions.

[Stalemate]

Originally posted by Darkstar
Thanks yall. Forgot about the alt+print screen. Saves the cutting process.

One thing, How can you get Word to let you type directly on the image and draw arrows, etc.

Right-click the image itself and - somewhere in the Format Picture tabs - you should have a possibility to make that image independant from the text and have it flow over your image.

[silencio]

I use Lview Pro 1.D. It's old, small, simple and works great.

[ilovetheusers]

I used printscrn and alt+printscrn and paste into word. You can manipulate as you wish after with size and whatnot.

For arrows and getting just what I want out of a screenshot (cropping) I use photoshop or one of many free photo manipulation tools to edit the image. I then import the image into word.