Inserting Standard Simulation Objects – uPerform On-Premise Manuals

You can insert several standard simulation objects including:

Step: You can insert one or more steps from a new recording session or from an existing uPerform document. In addition, you can insert default steps or substeps during editing.
Note: Two types of notes are available: default notes, which can be inserted from the template and are intended to provide standardization across content, and action notes, which are automatically created and include the action text for an action. You can enable or disable the display of action notes.
Action: An action hotspot is indicated as a border around the relevant item. For example, an action hotspot may be displayed around a button to indicate that clicking the button is the desired user action.
Tooltip: Tooltips are displayed as notes that pop up when a user hovers over a specific area of the screen.
Branch: Branches allow you to create a primary simulation path and include secondary path(s) that produce the same end result but offer alternative methods of reaching the result.

Inserting Steps

You can use the recorder to capture your actions and create one or more new steps, or you can insert steps from an existing uPerform document.

NOTE:

For information on editing steps properties, refer to Editing Steps.

Inserting a Newly-Recorded Step

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the position to insert the new step(s) in the Steps task pane.
Select Insert > Steps > From Recording... to display the recorder preview pane.
Click to begin recording.
Perform the desired steps in the target application.
Click to stop the recording process.

Inserting Steps from an Existing Simulation

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the position to insert the steps in the Steps task pane.
Select Insert > Steps from Document.
Browse to the location of the existing document, select the .udc file, and click Open.
In the Steps area, expand the tree view to locate the steps you want to import.

NOTE:

A preview of the step is displayed to the right of the tree view. You can import more than one step at a time. Each step will be inserted as a new step within the simulation.
Select the checkbox next to the steps(s) to import.
Click OK.

Inserting Steps and Substeps

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the position to insert the new step(s) or substep(s) in the Steps task pane.

Perform one of the following options:

If You Want To

Then

Insert a step

Select Insert > Quick Block > Step.

Insert a substep

Select Insert > Quick Block > Substep.

Create an information-only step from a step containing an action.

Delete the action(s) from the step.

Information-only steps are steps that contain notes and references but no action.

Edit the step as desired.

Inserting Notes

Notes can be added to simulation steps to help explain an action, provide details regarding the step, or to provide tips to the user in playback mode. The notes display as callout boxes on top of the target application.

Two types of notes are available:

Default Notes: A standard, information- and icon-only note that provides additional details for a step and provides the option to optionally highlight and draw attention to a specific area within a step.
Highlighted Notes: An information note that automatically highlights and draws attention to a specific area within a step.

NOTE:

For information on note formatting options, refer to Editing Notes. For information on customizing notes, refer to Specifying New Template Settings: Styles.

Inserting a Default Note

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the desired step in the Steps task pane.
Select Insert > Note > Note.
Double-click on the new note, and enter text.

NOTE:

In addition to text, you can create a hyperlink within the note by highlighting the desired link text, right-clicking, and selecting Insert > Web Link from the right-click menu.

Inserting a Highlighted Note

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the desired step in the Steps task pane.
Select Insert > Note > Highlighted Note.
Double-click on the new note, and enter text.

Displaying and Hiding Action Notes in the Simulation Editor

In the Editor workspace, select the Simulation tab.
Right-click on the action note rubber band.
Select Edit Action... to display the Action Properties window.
Click [Action Type] Action in the left pane.
Select the Show Action Note checkbox.
Click OK.

NOTE:

For information on enabling display of action notes in published output, refer to Default Publication Settings: Simulation: General Settings. For information on editing action notes, refer to Editing Actions.

Inserting Actions, Tooltips, and Branches

Action hotspots indicate an action that must be taken to proceed to the next lesson step or branch. Hotspots display as colored rectangles that highlight the area of action:

Mouse - the area to perform a mouse action (for example, click, right-click, double-click).
Edit/Text - the area in which text must be entered to complete the action.
Key - the key required to execute the action (for example, F1, F2, Tab, 1, 2, a, b, c).
Drag & Drop - the areas to perform a drag-and-drop mouse action (for example, left down, drag, left up).

Tooltips can be added to simulation steps to provide amplifying information about a button or area of the screen when the user hovers over the tooltip area.

A branch allows you to create a primary simulation and include secondary simulations, which allow the same end result but offer alternative paths.

Although the steps to insert a branch are essentially the same as inserting steps, some pre-planning is usually required to ensure the simulation logic flows properly. As with the insertion of steps, new branches can originate as steps from an existing simulation or be captured during a new recording session. Secondary branches can be directed to any step in the simulation.

Inserting an Action

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the desired step in the Steps task pane.
Select Insert and click Mouse, Edit, Key Press, or Drag & Drop to display the Action Properties window.

NOTE:

For information on editing action properties, refer to Editing Actions.

Inserting a Tooltip

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the desired step in the Steps task pane.
Select Insert > Tooltip... to display the Tooltip Properties window.

NOTE:

For information on editing tooltip properties, refer to Editing a Tooltip.

Inserting a Branch for Display During Auto Playback

In the Editor workspace, click the Simulation tab.
Select the position to insert the branch steps in the Steps task pane.
As necessary, record or insert the new branch steps.
Insert the branching action that will lead to the new step via Insert > [Action Type] (Mouse, Key Press, Drag & Drop).
In the Action Properties window, click [Action Type] in the left pane.
Set the Go to step option for this action to be the first step in the new branch.
Click OK.
Right-click on the branch step from which the branch will initiate.
Select Edit Step to display the Step Properties window.
Click Auto Playback in the left pane.
In the Go to step listbox, select the action that should be simulated in the output for Auto Playback mode.
Click OK.

The branch will display under the appropriate step in the Task Pane.