I am tasked with creating 'Work Instructions' for several things done at my place of work (manufacturing), none actually involving computers or related equipment. Things like 'How to Assemble X' and 'How to Replace Y'.The program we've been using is PowerPoint but I feel like there has to be a program that is better laid out for this kind of job. I would use Word in a heartbeat were it just plain text, but the stopper is that some of these instructions include anywhere from 2 to 25 pictures, and I'm finding out very quickly that organizing that many pictures neatly in a Word document can be frustrating, at best.So, I gotta ask. When you make Instructions, pictures to detail and everything, what do you use to create it?Note: I have a very straightforward budget for this: Free. Ross7829 wrote:exactly the program you're looking for.
It is a trial version, but it's only like $20 or $30 bucks for the full version + cloud storage. I personally use this.A free one is moodle JeremyB wrote:There's also the Windows 7 built-in.
It's what we use.I'm not entirely certain any of these will do what I'm looking for, unless maybe there's an element I do not understand.ScreenSteps boasts Screencapture, Image Editing, and Document Authoring, and Problem Steps Recorder talks about interaction with applications. Keep in mind all of the instructions I have to compile have nothing to do with computers or related equipment. We're talking more along the lines of how to build something, for clarity we'll use an example of a dining table.
I need to create step-by-step instructions to do this.Moodle struck me as more of a Knowledge Base, unless I'm mistaken. FiyaFly wrote:Ross7829 wrote:exactly the program you're looking for. It is a trial version, but it's only like $20 or $30 bucks for the full version + cloud storage.
I personally use this.A free one is moodle JeremyB wrote:There's also the Windows 7 built-in. It's what we use.I'm not entirely certain any of these will do what I'm looking for, unless maybe there's an element I do not understand.ScreenSteps boasts Screencapture, Image Editing, and Document Authoring, and Problem Steps Recorder talks about interaction with applications. Keep in mind all of the instructions I have to compile have nothing to do with computers or related equipment. We're talking more along the lines of how to build something, for clarity we'll use an example of a dining table. I need to create step-by-step instructions to do this.Moodle struck me as more of a Knowledge Base, unless I'm mistaken.You could create step by step instruction and then upload a picture for each whether it be a camera shot of the actual parts or a schematic or a computer program or what have you. What's wrong with MS Word, MS Paint, and your good friend ALT+Print Screen?It's seriously very easy. In a Microsoft Word document, Just lay out steps in the form of bullets or numbered items, write up some things about how to perform the step.
Use ALT+Print Screen to take a screenshot of just the window you have active, paste it in MS Paint, add your red boxes and lines and stuff, hit CTRL+A and then CTRL+C to select and copy your new image, then paste it into Word. If you have Windows 7 you can use the Snipping Tool as well.You don't need anything too fancy, you have all the tools you need already! Michael2907 wrote:What's wrong with MS Word, MS Paint, and your good friend ALT+Print Screen?It's seriously very easy. In a Microsoft Word document, Just lay out steps in the form of bullets or numbered items, write up some things about how to perform the step.
Use ALT+Print Screen to take a screenshot of just the window you have active, paste it in MS Paint, add your red boxes and lines and stuff, hit CTRL+A and then CTRL+C to select and copy your new image, then paste it into Word. If you have Windows 7 you can use the Snipping Tool as well.You don't need anything too fancy, you have all the tools you need already!That is what I used to do. But compiling large amounts of snips, separating those by project, then opening in paint to edit arrows and such was too much to do. That is before you even start creating the document framework and start creating the steps. A program like these help make the process quicker.
It also helps other users create documentation for their department. Michael2907 wrote:I do this all the time and I'm quite efficient at it. You don't do it all separately, you do it as you're going. So if you have MS Paint and Word open, you don't need to save any image ever, you just take your window screenshot, paste to ms paint, add your boxes, then paste to word. If you try and separate out all of the steps it will indeed take longer.
However, if you do it as your going through the actual process it's a lot simpler.That is multitasking though. You are still in separate programs. I mean obviously If it works that's great, as I used this method and made a ton of training material this way, I feel it is not as efficient as a program that does them all in one window.
Michael2907 wrote:What's wrong with MS Word, MS Paint, and your good friend ALT+Print Screen?It's seriously very easy. In a Microsoft Word document, Just lay out steps in the form of bullets or numbered items, write up some things about how to perform the step.
Use ALT+Print Screen to take a screenshot of just the window you have active, paste it in MS Paint, add your red boxes and lines and stuff, hit CTRL+A and then CTRL+C to select and copy your new image, then paste it into Word. If you have Windows 7 you can use the Snipping Tool as well.You don't need anything too fancy, you have all the tools you need already!The main trouble with this is that these aren't instructions for using anything on a computer.
If I try to ALT+Print Screen a guy cutting wood on a saw I'll either get a funny look or beat up, depending on how exactly you do it:p.It's just a curiosity if there is anything better and easier out there to use. Right now in powerpoint it just kind of looks like I typed a few steps in word, took a few pictures, and glued them landscape to a piece of paper collage style. I was not the originator of most of them lol. FiyaFly wrote:So far a large choking point on ScreenSteps is the inability to support multiple images per step without third party editing on the images.
I'm about out of time today, but i'll keep an eye on this at home. If there are any other suggestions, I'm open to keep testing and trying.EDIT: My source for the first statement: in the comments sectionYou are correct.
It did become a slight PITA, but you can work around it. If other solutions have ALL that you need, obviously no need to take my advice, use what works. Generally, creating something involves using a combination of tools and not just one.
I have created all sorts of graphics for print shops to user training documentation to photography to vector artwork throughout my career, and my arsenal of tools is vast.A good layout program (desktop publishing program) is essential in your arsenal; inDesign being my personal favorite and Word being a joke! As mentioned earlier, Scribus is a good open source choice or PagePlus Free Starter Edition by Serif might help you. If you want something more PhotoShoppy, you can download Gimp. If you want something to create vector artwork, then look at Inkscape. If you want a simple screen capture program, look at Greenshot.
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