Knowledge Base

What's new in ToolBook II Assistant 8.1?

Article: P2190

The following is a list of new and enhanced features available in ToolBook II Assistant 8.1:

Improvements to DHTML Deployment - Version 8.1 has several new features that will assist developers with creating, exporting and running DHTML-deployed Assistant applications:

- When first starting up a new ToolBook file, authors have the option of
choosing either a Native/Neuron deployment or a DHTML deployment method.
Once a method has been selected, the Assistant user interface adjusts
dynamically to only give access to functionality that works correctly
within the chosen deployment method.

- The DHTML export process has been optimized to speed up overall export
time, and now allows a ToolBook developer to export a range of pages, or
only pages that have been changed since the last export.

- The 'Loading Page' message can be changed to different text and a bitmap
graphic can be inserted to give DHTML content a more customized look.

- Tab order is now supported in DHTML for non-graphic buttons and text
fields.

- Using the Full Book Specialist, the ability to create randomized quizzes
for DHTML deployment is available. A quiz can consist of a randomized
number of questions, or a randomized subset of a pool of questions.

- After export, the DHTML application can be previewed in Netscape or
Internet Explorer.

New Catalog Interface:

- Optimized to run faster.

- All catalog objects now appear in a single catalog instead of being
broken out into separate catalogs.

- Ability to Export objects into a Category file so that you can
distribute those objects to other ToolBook developers. Along with
this comes the ability to Import a Category file into a catalog.

- Dockable user interface makes adding catalog objects to your ToolBook
file much simpler.

- Iconic representation of object now much clearer

- Interface can be customized to show the entire catalog, or just a subset
of favorite objects.

- A book can be configured to remember which catalog was last used with
that book, so that the next time you open that book the correct catalog
also opens. This allows a group of ToolBook developer to use
customized catalogs for each book they are creating.

Several new ways to play media:

- New Popup Media Player catalog object allows media to be shown in a
pop-up viewer.

- New Flash media player object.

- New Stop, Pause and Play Media buttons in the catalog.

- Question objects now have the ability to trigger a media player as
delayed or immediate feedback.

New Backup feature creates up to nine unique backups of Assistant books when they are saved.

Answers to fill-in-the-blank questions are stored in the DHTML e-mail log which allows logging of any arbitrary text that needs to be collected. Two examples of its use are short essay answers and surveys.

Expanded Support for Learning Standards - DHTML deployment now supports both the AICC HTTP protocol and the SCORM 1 (AICC API) protocol. Neuron deployment now supports the AICC HTTP protocol.

Open, Save, and Save As dialog boxes have been updated to 32-bit versions with the standard features such as directory creation, file renaming and deleting, and access to the desktop.

Basic mode no longer exists within Assistant and as such the terms Basic Mode and Advanced Mode also no longer exist. The product will respond as if it permanently in Advanced mode. This means that the Basic Mode property sheets and editors are no longer available.

The utility formerly known as Transfer Utility which was available only as a download from the Click2learn web site now ships as a component of the product. It has been renamed to Repair Kit.

Various new Templates and Book Specialist Styles have been added to Assistant 8.1.

OPENSCRIPT NOTICE The OpenScript programming examples found in many articles may need modification in order to work in ToolBook 9.0 or higher, particularly if the article was written for an older version of ToolBook. To learn more, click here.

Provide Anonymous Feedback About This Article

Are you interested in providing feedback to SumTotal about this article? Yes