Forums/ScreenSteps Desktop/Workgroup/ScreenSteps Desktop Feature Requests
PlannedDoneNot planned
Multiple INSTANCES of screensteps windows
david
suggested this on March 21, 2008 12:11
I'd like to see an enhancement to allow multiple instances of windows to allow easily copying/pasting images from one lesson into another, similar to OS X's Finder allowing 2 Finder windows to be opened to different dir paths so that files can be copied/pasted.
The current single instance view makes it tedious to perform:
open one lesson, copy the image, go back to the library, scroll to find the other lesson, open the other lesson, scroll to the desired location, paste the copied image, go back to the library, repeat the process X times, argh, this is exhausting....
Comments
Noted. I think we could also ease the pain with multiple step selection.
If would be helpful to know how why you are reusing steps. Knowing what your current workflow is might help us come up with other solutions as well.
I can't speak for the original poster, but I do something similar, except that I copy entire steps and then replace images in the new lesson. The reason I do this is because the steps are often very similar or identical in different lessons, but I have to customize screenshots on a per client basis. Multiple instances might be the ticket.
If you are basically using the same lesson and just need to upldate the graphics you could use the new "Duplicate Lesson" feature in version 2.0.3.
http://bmls.screenstepslive.com/topics/show_lesson/112?lesson_id=688
Sweet, thanks!
>>Noted. I think we could also ease the pain with multiple step selection.
OK. When are we getting this? I am running the latest beta.
Here's how this would be useful. Right now I have a ton of lessons. One of the lessons I'm writing contains almost 75% of the steps from one I've already written. They literally would require no modification.
Right now I have to scroll to copy a step. Go back to the library. Click on the new lesson. Scroll all the way to the bottom. Paste the step.
I need to be able to select multiple steps. Or maybe "export to an existing lesson"?
Thanks!
B
Multiple step selection will not be in 2.5. Just multiple lesson selection. We will be looking at this for the next release though.
For your situation could you duplicate the original lesson, delete the steps you don't need and then add any new steps?
We're currently up to 2.9 & no multiple step selection yet. Any idea when this is coming. In my case, deleting one step at a time is painful. Painful painful painful.
Hi Scott,
Multiple step selection will not be making an appearance until 3.0.
This suggestion has the potential to enable a work-around for many issues. Therefor it should have many votes and be a priority update.
For example, exporting to web/blog takes a lot of time because even if I have updated just the lesson description, the step title or the step text, I must wait for the whole lesson to re-upload, and each image takes several seconds to re-upload due to my slow internet connection.
Because the exporting doesn't happen as a background process, I can't use ScreenSteps until the exporting is done. But if I could run several instances of ScreenSteps, then I could set some instances to export updates, while using another instance to continue my work. Thus programming this suggestion could actually enable a work-around for the following, and probably many other issues as well: http://support.bluemangolearning.com/entries/219867-export-just-the...
I am surprised to be the first voter of this feature. I think those of you who want this feature, but have not voted for it, underestimate the motivational boost that high vote counts can give to programmers looking for what to develop next. Vote this suggestion!
For what it's worth, allowing multiple window instances won't be sped up based on votes. We would very much like to see this feature as well but it isn't something we can implement until 3.0.
I have another use for this. I use screensteps to log things I do to my customer's systems - SAP upgrades, database upgrades, EDI development, and other ugly stuff. I also use it to create how-tos when I fix recurring problems for them.
It often happens that I am doing thing A for customer X when customer Y rings with a problem. At the moment, I have to leave the lesson I am in, create a new lesson, then switch between the two. I partly solve the problem by using an iMac and a laptop with a copy of screensteps on each. However, problems arise if I am continuing two existing issues which were started on the same machine.
Opening a second window would be much nicer. I vote for this as a good thing to do.