Introduction

Man do I feel great! There is nothing more uplifting than holding a training class with a group that is fun, genuinely kind, and really interested in ToolBook. Last week we had a class just like that. In fact, it seems that every time I teach a ToolBook training class, it is filled with great people. Jeff has had similar experiences with his VBTrain.Net classes. The yearly conference is more of the same. You all are great!

At Platte Canyon, we're happy to serve the community by taking over the ToolBook Listserv next month. You'll see more on this below.

We're also very excited because we have just released a brand new Learning Management System that works with ToolBook's DHTML content. Because it works with any content that implements the SCORM Runtime Environment, it also supports content created with other tools as well!

We also have a ton of other products and news in this issue. So let's get on with the content!

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ToolBook Tips and News

Plug-In Pro Tool Spotlight: Options Secrets

For this issue of the Enter Page, I thought I'd share some lesser-known features that come with Plug-In Pro's seemingly endless set of tools that are available via custom menu or customizable toolbars. Let's talk about some of the Plug-In Pro Options.

Graphic Paste
When pasting from PhotoShop 6 or 7 for example, graphics are pasted as TB Pictures. One would think that they would come is as Paint Objects since Photoshop works primarily with bitmap (raster) images. Well, if you want all of your graphics to be pasted as Paint Objects, just choose the "Paste as Bitmap" feature and you're all set. No more settings to ever choose.

Text Paste
When pasting text into a ToolBook field from a word processor, it may very well come in formatted. Even though your field is set to show Arial 14, the text you copied could paste into the field as Times New roman 10. Just check Plug-In Pro's "Paste all text as Unformatted" box and this problem goes away.

Show Actions Editor Properties
This advanced feature lets you see the actual Actions Editor properties when you view the Properties Browser. Ever wonder what you were really setting when you were assigning actions? Just check this box in Plug-In Pro and dig into the properties for the object.

Interface Mode
Did you know that Instructor can be turned into Assistant? With Plug-In Pro's Options screen, just choose the "Assistant" mode. Next time you start Instructor, it will have the simplified look of Assistant. (It's also a fun way to play a prank on another ToolBook developer in your office).

More information on Plug-In Pro is available at:
http//www.plattecanyon.com/pluginpro.aspx

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Expert Information from the "Learning & Mastering ToolBook..." Series

to handle extFSCommand string flashCommand
	send lrn_implementNavButtons flashCommand to this page
end extFsCommand

	when key = keyTab
		forward
		if focus <> null
			if focus contains "Shockwave"
				send lrn_changeFocus
			end if
		end if

notifyAfter firstIdle
-- This script is used to set the first focus of a page.
-- The s_firstFocus variable is used in various places to prevent the
-- focus from being held by flash objects.

	system s_firstFocus

	s_firstFocus = self
	if (sysLevel = reader) AND (visible of self = TRUE)
		focus = s_firstFocus
	end if
end firstIdle

to handle lrn_changeFocus
	system s_firstFocus

	if focus <> null
		if focus contains "Shockwave"
			focus = s_firstFocus
		end if
	end if
end lrn_changeFocus

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OpenScript Tip from Jeff Rhodes

to handle lrn_showTextInDisplayField word  fieldNumber, string borderStyleType, /
string alternateDisplayName
	-- this handler displays the text of field (field fieldNumber) in
-- a field called Display Field.  borderStyleType is optional:
-- used to revert to that type if Display Field moved into a
-- scrollbox. alternateDisplayName is optional:  It is an
-- alternative field name than Display Field
	local string displayFieldName
	local field fieldID

	oldSysLockScreen = sysLockScreen
	sysLockScreen = true
	if alternateDisplayName <> null
		displayFieldName = alternateDisplayName
	else
		displayFieldName = "Display Field"
	end if
	fieldID = field displayFieldName
	borderStyle of fieldID = "inset"
	clear text of fieldID
	scroll of fieldID = 0
	richText of fieldID = richText of field ("field" && fieldNumber)
	if textOverFlow of fieldID > 0
		borderStyle of fieldID = "scrolling"
	else
		if borderStyleType <> null
			borderStyle of fieldID = borderStyleType
		else
			borderStyle of fieldID = "inset"
		end if
	end if
	show fieldID
	scroll of fieldID = 0
	sysLockScreen = oldSysLockScreen
end lrn_showTextInDisplayField

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Actions Editor Tip by Cindy Kessler

What’s the Difference Between Shared Actions and User Events?

Developers who use the Actions Editor often find themselves asking: "Do I want a User Event in this situation or a Shared Action? What’s the difference?"

Here are some things to consider:

1. Difference: Where they’re stored.

A Shared Action is stored at the book level. A User Event is stored with the object.

Consequence: When you copy an object that uses a Shared Action from one book to another, its Shared Action will NOT be copied automatically.
When you copy an object with a User Event from one book to another, its User Event goes with it.

SCORE: Shared Actions: 0, User Events: 1

However, when you copy an object with a Shared Action within the same book, regardless of how many copies you make, you still only have one copy of the code. When you copy an object with a User Event within the same book, you will duplicate that User Event for each copy of the object.

SCORE: Shared Actions: 1, User Events: 1

2. Difference: Where they can be called from.

A Shared Action can be called by any object in the book. A User Event can only be called by objects that can see the object whose User Event it is (e.g., typically the object itself or other objects on that object’s page).

SCORE: Shared Actions: 2, User Events: 1

3. Difference: The number of parameters they can have.

A Shared Action can have unlimited parameters (you define them). A User Event has one predefined parameter.

SCORE: Shared Actions: 3, User Events: 1

4. Difference: What they can return.

A Shared Action can return a value. A User Event cannot.

SCORE: Shared Actions: 4, User Events: 1

5. Difference: Safety.

This one is up for debate, but if you are planning to create an action sequence that uses properties unique to an object type, it’s a bit risky to use a Shared Action since you can call it from ANY object, whereas in a User Event you KNOW what type of object you’re working with.

SCORE: Shared Actions: 4, User Events: 1.5

Summary: Based on the raw score of this scientifically developed study, Shared Actions win. However you will want to weigh certain features more highly depending on your situation.

As a general rule, I like Shared Actions for any type of generic FUNCTION, i.e., for any action sequences that are called repeatedly, need to return a value, and are relatively independent of objects. (See "Shared Actions as Functions" in EnterPage 4-02, http://www.plattecanyon.com/ep/ep4-02.htm, for an example.)

I like User Events when I want to call an action sequence that is unique to an object, and when I want to call it from multiple events of the object or from other objects on the page. (See "Creating a Replay Option With ‘User Event’" in EnterPage 4-03, http://www.plattecanyon.com/ep/ep4-03.htm, for an example.)

I’m sure you’ll find more pros and cons as you work with them!

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The ToolBook Listserv

ToolBook users have a wonderful resource in this friendly and knowledgeable group of people. Over the years, the group has grown into a happy family, with everyone's personality really shining through. If you can't get help anywhere else, you'll almost always find help here. Even reading through the 50 or so daily posts is very informative.

The listserv will be transferring to its new home here at Platte Canyon on December 5, but we anticipate that the move will not result in any significant changes. It should continue to thrive as it has for years.

For more information, check out the ToolBook Listserv's new home at:

http://www.plattecanyon.com/list.aspx

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The ToolBook Webring

Platte Canyon has also taken over management of the ToolBook Webring. More information on this group of web sites, all associated with ToolBook, may be found at:

http://j.webring.com/hub?sid=&ring=toolbook&id=&list

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Conference Reviews and Previews

by Chris Bell

OnLine Learning 2002, September 23-25, 2002, Anaheim
Jeff Rhodes and I had a great time at OnLine Learning 2002 (and that's not just because we went to Disneyland one evening!). This year, rather than hosting a booth in the Expo hall, we decided to take in sessions, watch the LMS Shootouts, and wander the Expo hall. The huge Click2learn booth was in full swing every time we passed it as were a number of other booths. We enjoyed the technical sessions that we attended and also had the good fortune of meeting up with some old friends, Ross Hopkins and Dawn Adams. We also presented a full-day post-conference workshop for beginners called "Tools and Techniques for Online Learning" that went over quite well with attendees.

ASTD TechKnowledge 2003, January 28 -30, 2003, Orlando
I'm excited to be representing Platte Canyon with two sessions at the ASTD TechKnowledge conference. If you're at the conference, please stop by and say hi. The sessions I'll be presenting are:

GDI+: Awesome Graphics and Text in Visual Basic .NET
Thursday, January 30, 8:30 to 9:30 am

Integrating Media into ASP.NET Training Applications
Thursday, January 30, 10:00 am to 11:00 am

SALT New Learning Technologies 2003, February 19-21, 2003
Preconference workshops February 17 – 18, Orlando
I will be returning to Orlando in February for the Society for Applied Learning Technology's New Learning Technologies Conference. At the conference, I will be presenting two preconference workshops and a technical session. Please come join me if you'll be attending this conference.

Preconference Workshops:

Flash + Power: Creating Your User Interface in Flash and Your Training in Microsoft's .NET
Monday, February 17, 2003, 8:30 am to 12:00 p.m.

Integrating Media into ASP.NET Training Applications
Monday, February 17, 2003, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Technical Sessions:

GDI+: Awesome Graphics and Text in Visual Basic .NET
Wednesday, February 19 8:30 to 9:30 am

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Platte Canyon Products in the Pipeline

We’ll devote our energies in the near term toward filling out more of the VBTrain.Net product line. We’re hard at work at ASP.NET analogues to our Shape and Graphical Text objects. The Web Shape and Web Text controls will allow you to dynamically create shapes (ellipses, lines, arrows, etc.) or graphical text on your web site and either save it to an image file (e.g., to be used by the user for the whole session) or even to stream it directly into the browser without saving to a file first. The shape or text could have gradients, textures, and other effects. For example, your training could ask the student her name, make a stylized, graphical version, and show that at the upper right of every page during the session!

Along with the Web Shape and Web Text, we’ll also release a Web Button control. This will make it easier to create graphical buttons that rollover and depress.

Also on the web side, we’re hard at work on a Web Player control. It will automatically render itself as a Windows Media player, a Flash player, or a Real player. Or, if the user turns of the sound/video, it will turn into a simple label.

Next on the agenda is a complete question architecture. We plan to create question objects for both the Windows Forms and ASP.NET sides of the .NET house. You’ll be able to select the question type, set various properties, score a test, and more. Stay tuned for further details.

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e-learning Creation Tip from Chris Bell: The Joys of Data Backup

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