Examining documentation and help systems since 2002.
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Gordon R. Meyer
Copyright 2002-2008
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Easy job aid creation tool
Blue Mango's ScreenSteps tool for Mac OS X (and forthcoming for Windows) is an easy way to create simple instructional material in PDF and HTML format. The tool automates capturing and annotating discrete steps, providing both the graphics tool and editing environment to create the document as you work through the task. For an example of the end result, see this page from the product's own manual.
A tool like this can be very handy for quickly creating short instructions, but the monotonous screenshot-by-screenshot format isn't always the best instructional approach. The aphorism about everything looking like a nail when the only tool you have is a hammer, certainly applies here. However, for some situations, especially one-off or job reference sheets, it could be all that's needed. All in all, a handy tool to have around at a reasonable price.
Posted: Thursday, February 1, 2007 link to this item, respond to this item