TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re[2]: Demo-it or similar software From:Kathleen Padova <kpadova -at- ASICENTRAL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 4 Jun 1997 09:22:00 -0500
I was also unfortunate to waste 2 weeks on Demo-it.
You can produce fabulous demos in Director. Director was a bit
overkill for our needs and budget. If you're budget won't allow it, I
suggest DemoSheild. I think it only cost us about 100 $US more than
Demo-it. Check it out at www.demoshield.com. They have an evaluation
copy you can download.
Kathleen
kpadova -at- millstar -dot- com
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Demo-it or similar software
Author: TECHWRTR -at- SMTP (The Tech Writer) {techwrtr -at- CRL -dot- COM} at MHS
Date: 6/3/97 5:58 PM
> I have a few questions. Has anyone used demo-it? If so, what is your
> opinion of it? Is there similar software available? Finally, what advice
> could you give to someone who is creating demos for the first time?
Yes, I've used it. Unfortunately. I wish I had never stumbled upon the
thing. It is really, really bad. It doesn't lend itself to updating (when
your interface changes, for example, you have to go change the screen
caputure in EVERY frame that uses it). It has this 10-second splash
screen at the beginning of every module you make, which cannot be
disabled, even when going from one module to another (which makes linking
individual tutorials/demos really un-professional looking). It doesn't
create .exe files, if I remember correctly...you have to command line a
player program with the demo file as a command line parameter. Their
technical support people are surly, on the off chance you get through.
I think that's about all of my recollection of the program. Granted, it
sounds like it's distributed by a new company, and they've probably got a
newer version than the one I used (it was about 2 years ago when I used
it), but if past performance is any indication of present, I'd steer well
clear of it.
As far as recommending alternatives, you can spend about 2.5 times as
much ($850 over Demo-It! 's $300) and get yourself Macromedia Director,
which is much more intuitive, powerful, easy to learn, and well accepted
by the Internet community. They've even got one of the most widely
accepted plug-ins for putting Director stuff on the web (called Shockwave).
If you (or anyone on the ListServ) want to see something created in
Director, email me privately and I can put something up on my web site
and give you the URL.
-David Castro
techwrtr -at- crl -dot- com
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
