Audio recording through TechSmith Camtasia

In this procedure, you will able to avoid an error when selecting the audio recording option. This will also solve the frustrating issue of unexpected shutdown of Camtasia.

Deleting unused images in RoboHelp

You can view the list of unused image files in the RoboHelp project from: Tools>Reports>Unused Files. However, you cannot delete those files from the RoboHelp project. You can delete the file names from the Windows Explorer, which is a tedious work and prone to error. It becomes more challenging when the size of your project is big and files got filled up during several updates.

RoboHelp support java script to automate the task in the project. Don’t worry if you are not expert in java script. You can download the imagecleanup.jsx that is freely available at: https://www.wvanweelden.eu/product/image-cleanup

1. Open the RoboHelp project for which you want to delete unused images.
2. To open the Script Explorer pod, click View>Pods>Script Explorer.
   The Script Explorer pod opens.

Image: Add caption

Lucidchart quick start guide

Introduction

Lucidchart is an HTML5-based diagramming tool to create flowcharts, wireframes, UML diagrams, mind maps, and more. You can open this tool on a Google chrome browser and work with the team members in real time.

Installing Lucidchart

To install and configure Lucidchart with Google Drive:

1. Go to https://chrome.google.com. 
   The Chrome Web Store page appears.
2. In the Search Apps text box, type Lucidchart and press Enter. In the Apps tab, the result page displays the Lucidchart: Diagramming app. 
3. Click Install. 
   A confirmation message asks whether you want to install Lucidchart on Chrome. 
   Note: Before installing Lucidchart, sign in with your Google account.

Text animation

In the Captivate (4.0), I wanted that after the Text Animation object is over (i.e., not in loop) then the text should display for rest of the slide.

TIP: For the Text Animation object, take the Effect as Typing Text and kept its Delay for: Rest of the slide. The text remains on the screen after the animation is over. The real time typing cannot be copied to other slide, and then you can replace it this Text Animation.

Cross-reference with Soft-return

The MS Word soft return would mean line break due to word wrapping. In numbered list, if soft return is used, then the whole text is seen in the cross-reference pop-up window. So, it’s better to use separate style for the description of the numbered list.

I can't stop playing games with software.....

Tools and software makes me crazy!!! I do really have soft corner for the software and their usage...
I always tried (& keep trying) to become a techno-wizard.

Now, IT profession has be forefront with the latest technology trends and software updates. One can enhance their skill by practicing on a Tool.

Once Einstein quoted that if a person spend 10000 hour of on one subject then he/she becomes specialist on it.

However, as in the case of Technical Writers most of us have to wear many hats of tools and software, and give their best in the crunch of deadlines. Even a person working in a single tool for many years, how many has explored all the available features. The fact is that, we keep doing the same task if there is no requirement or scope is within the boundary.

Sometime, mastering the similar tools simultaneously is difficult.

·         Word/FrameMaker

·         RoboHelp/MadCap/Authorit

It is always challenging to work on multiple platform and technology. I put my hat off to those who do multi-tasking. In IT industry, we go ahead with a slogan as “Just to it”.

Curve text in Microsoft Word 2010

In the lower versions of Microsoft Office 2010, the curve text feature is not available through WordArt.

Trick: Save the Microsoft Word 2010 document in 97-2003 format. The old feature of WordArt is enabled. Now, you can use the curve line feature.

It is observed that you cannot play the same tricks in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010.

Trick: Copy-paste the curve text from the word document into the PowerPoint 2010 slide. Hurrah!!!

Microsoft Word numbered list

I am quite happy with MS Word 2010 for many reasons. Among them, I found numbered list is pretty robust than the earlier version of word. It does not break now and user need not to play tricks to bring the numbering in shape. However, I found an interesting fact of numbering format.
If the existing number list has bold text and the same list text are copied into other part of the document. After restarting the numbered list, the source text changes from bold text changes to normal text.
TRICK: Press Ctrl+z, the text returns to the previous format.

Snagit window capture

Snagit 9.1.2 window profile captures the application window. However, Java application by-passes the native operating system and shows the child window through the “swing” technology. This makes job of Snagit difficult to capture the child window or a dialog box individually.
I posted this problem to the Snagit support team. Let see, if Snagit's next version comes up with a solution.

English in IT

World is transforming into a global village, where English is becoming a de facto standard for every conceivable form of communication. India has more English speaking people than U.K, but students passed out from English medium school mostly lack proper English communication.
A recent incident in Hyderabad, where students demanded for English than telegu, significantly denotes the aspirations of many, especially from the rural areas. What is painful is that English has always been taught as a subject, but never used in actual conversation, thereby annihilating the very purpose of learning a language.
IT companies are concerned of the English usage, everyone from managers to employees has to have good presentation and presentation skills, and sometime corporate trainings are provided to them.
For example, you are giving presentation to the client and your laptop stops working. What you will do then? If you are good at your verbal skill then you can continue the presentation without a hitch, otherwise you have to give an excuse to the problem.
Thus, language is an important role to attract MNCs to outsource their business operations to Indian BPOs and IT companies. Though there are competitors like China which also have a large pool of skilled workers but they don't have enough graduates who have command over English language.

King of Merchandise

Usability and accessibility plays an important role in popularity of an application. An application might be robust with many facility and features, but that should be conveyed to the user. Many high-tech gadgets are coming in the market and companies have same product, how the customer (user) know about it?
What attracts is the look & feel of the product, and how handy it is.
For instance, see for luxury and accessory items like car, bike, mobile, television, and so on. Many people keep high-tech items with them without knowing its full usage of it. So, engineers are working to make their product user-friendly.
Take the case of Google, where 80% of the search is done. Yes, its technology is high, above that its interface (home page) is simple.
Every company has their standards or benchmarks to follow in their production house and customer know their brand style. Then what happens when a company acquires other one, they implement there, but that takes time. In cell phone arena, all brands has their own identity, interface is unique.
Many time product overlook some customers, product is customized for special class of customer like luxury car and economy car. But people get feel discriminated for difficulty in the application usage. In California, a federal district court judge ruled that a retailer may be sued if its website is inaccessible to the blind.
No matter what the product is, which ranges from accessories, hardware or software, at last it goes to the user, they are the ultimate to choose and use.