Introduction
About Demo Builder
Download and Installation
Using Demo Builder
Pricing and Support
Conclusion
Introduction
There are so many tutorials online that now show you a screen recording rather than a textual series of steps. It's almost like
being right in front of the user's system -- and faster online speeds make it possible to view such recordings on demand without any
wait.
However easy it might be to view such recorded content, it's nowhere as simple to create them in the first place -- our review
product Demo Builder aims to make that process simpler -- this review will focus on what it does different than other similar programs,
and how it performs overall.
Back
About Demo Builder
Demo Builder Pro is from Tanida Inc., a company based in Toronto, Canada that also creates e-learning software
for home and office use. You can learn more about Demo Builder Pro, and download a free trial version
from their site.
In addition to Demo Builder Pro, there's also a Demo Builder Standard version that allows the user to create professional and fully
interactive demos, presentations, and tutorials. The Pro version adds more capabilities, including the option to create audio-visual
Flash movies. In this review, we are exploring the Pro version.
My contact at Demo Builder for this review was Dan Tatomir - thank you, Dan.
Back
Download and Installation
Download the installer from their site, run the setup routine and follow the instructions.
This will create a new group in the Windows Start menu. Figure 1 shows you the Demo Builder group.
Figure 1: Demo Builder Start Menu group
Back
Using Demo Builder
Follow these step to use Demo Builder:
- Go to your Windows Start menu and choose All Programs | Demo Builder | Demo Builder (see Figure 1 above).
- This opens the Demo Builder opening screen, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Demo Builder opening screen
Here you choose options to either create a new movie (recording), or open an existing movie. The Recent Movies area displays the
most recent projects you have been working on. For this walkthrough, choose the Create New Movie option.
- This brings up the Create New Movie wizard (a set of screens that asks you to select choices) as shown in
Figure 3. In the first screen, you provide a name for the movie, set the dimensions, and choose from several record
options.
Figure 3: Create New Movie Wizard
When done, click Next to continue with the wizard.
- The second screen, as shown in Figure 4, allows you to choose different methods of recording, capture rate, etc.
Figure 4: Method of recording
Click Next to continue.
- This screen allows you to choose the Audio options (see Figure 5), which essentially translates to selecting
the Record narration check box. Click Next to proceed.
Figure 5: Audio
- The subsequent screen allows to choose the Auto-Text option (as shown in Figure 6), where you can enable
automatic text balloons at capture time, set the language and reader profile.
Figure 6: Auto-Text
Click Next to continue.
Note: The Auto-Text option places text balloons based on when you click an option or choose a menu selection -- it
works differently with various applications -- for instance, I found more Auto-Text balloons when using Paint than with Adobe
Photoshop.
- The last screen of the wizard is Options (see Figure 7) -- here, you can opt to show the cursor as part of the
capture, export the capture to a Flash SWF as soon as recording completes, hide the system tray icon, set hotkeys, etc.
Figure 7: Options
Click Finish to apply the changes.
- The captured area is then previewed inside a red rectangle, as shown in Figure 8 -- adjust the dimensions
further if required within the helpful interface, and click the prominent Record button. Demo Builder will now record
the content and the activities of the screen within the area of the red rectangle.
Figure 8: Capturing onscreen activity
- Click on the icon in the system tray to end the capture session.
The recorded scene will appear within the Demo Builder (as shown in Figure 9) -- double click the thumbnail to open
the Demo Builder editing interface (see Figure 10).
Figure 9:
Captured scene
Figure 10: Demo Builder editing interface
- You can edit the captured clip in the timeline, insert objects such as text, buttons, images, etc.
- Once done with the edits, save the project and choose File | Export options, as shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11: Export Options
- This will open Export Option dialog box (see Figure 12).
Figure 12: Export Options
Export options are explained below:
Flash Movie SWF (.SWF): Macromedia Flash file and a HTML file.
Standalone EXE (.EXE): Executable Demo
Image File: This creates a sequence of image files. Optionally you can export an html file in order to display all
the images within a web page.
Word Document: Publish your project in Microsoft Word DOC.
Back
Pricing and Support
The Standard version costs US$199 and the Professional version costs US$249. The Standard version has all the functionality and
features that the Professional version has, except for full motion recording and the ability to import video files as a scene.
Support options include email support, FAQ, phone support, tutorials, and an online forum.
Back
Conclusion
Demo Builder Pro is a capable screen capture program that includes niceties like Auto-Text, hotkeys, etc. It allows you to edit
the capture recordings, and export to a range of file format types.
Back
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences:
PowerPoint 2016, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2007 and 2003 for Windows
PowerPoint 2016 and 2011 for Mac
PowerPoint Online for Windows and Mac
Have your ever used keyboard shortcuts and sequences in PowerPoint? Or are you a complete keyboard aficionado?
Do you want to learn about some new shortcuts? Or do you want to know if your favorite keyboard shortcuts are documented?
Go and get a copy of our PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and
Sequences ebook.
