Note: A SHO content author may elect to disable help aids for one or more steps, in which case they will not appear during playback.
Sound Files
A SHO content author may decide to incorporate
sound files as an addition to or replacement for one of the
visual aids described above. For example, instead of
displaying a balloon that points at the File menu, the content
author may elect to point at the menu with an arrow accompanied
by a voice track that says, “Click the File menu.”
Filtering Interface Objects
While a SHO script is playing, you may notice that certain features of an application’s interface are blocked or are unavailable for you to use. You may also notice that certain keystrokes are temporarily blocked. SHO Player limits user interactions to the interface objects that are required to perform a particular step to help ensure that the workflow is properly completed. For instance, if the step calls for you to click on the Tools menu, but you click on the Edit menu instead, the click will be blocked to prevent the Edit menu from opening. Only a click on the Tools menu is allowed.
Automated Input
SHO scripts have the ability to automate different types of user input, including mouse clicks and keyboard input. For example, a content author may elect to automate activating a particular check box, open a dialog box, or entering a specific value in a field. Depending on the content author’s preference, the automation may be animated, meaning you will see the mouse moving or the keystrokes being entered on your screen as the script momentarily takes over your mouse and keyboard, or the automation may happen instantaneously without animation. If you encounter automation while playing a script, wait for the automation to end, and then look for the next balloon or other visual aid for instructions on what to do next.
How SHO Scripts Interact with Other Software Applications
A SHO script has the ability to interact with other software applications in a variety of ways to help you perform software tasks correctly. The methods used in a given script may vary depending on the content author and the intended purpose of the script. Following is a brief overview of the primary types of interactions you can expect to encounter as you use SHO content.
Visual and Audio Overlays
Most steps in a SHO script will include some form of visual or audio aid to assist you in performing the step. Visual aids are presented as overlays that are positioned adjacent to or on top of interface objects of the software application you are working in. Following is a description of the types of visual and audio aids you are likely to encounter while playing a SHO script.
Balloons
Balloons are the most common type of visual aid
used in SHO scripts. A typical SHO script will present a
series of balloons, each containing instructions for a specific
step within the overall workflow. The script monitors user
interactions and verifies that each step has been completed in
accordance with the instructions in the balloon before moving on
to the next step.
As an example, suppose you are running a script that includes a series of steps for printing a document. The script may begin with a balloon that points to the File menu with the prompt, “Click the File menu.” The script then waits for you to click the File menu.
After verifying that you have you clicked the File menu, the script presents a balloon that points to the Print menu item with the prompt, “Click the Print menu item.” Once again, the script waits for you to successfully perform the step.
Finally, after verifying that you have clicked the Print menu item, the script presents a balloon that points to the OK button in the Print dialog box with the prompt, “Click the OK button.”
SHO scripts may include movies to enhance the instruction or provide additional contextual or background information. SHO Player includes a built in “canvas” for playing movies during a script playback. The player controls along the bottom of movie canvas allow you to rewind to the beginning, step back five seconds, pause the movie, step forward five seconds, fast forward to the end or skip the movie altogether. The figure below shows a typical movie canvas.
Flash Content
In addition to movies, you can also view Adobe
Flash content during script playback. Like movies, Flash
content plays in its own canvas. The player controls on
the Flash movie canvas are identical to the controls on the
movie canvas.
Images
Some scripts may incorporate images to help
illustrate the required procedure for a given step. Images
are displayed on their own canvases and may be positioned
independently of balloons and other visual aids.
Arrows
As an addition or alternative to balloons, some
scripts may display arrows that point at the interface object
you are to interact with in a given step.
Help Aids
If you perform a step incorrectly, SHO Player
displays “help aids” to assist you in properly completing the
step. For example, if you click on the wrong interface
object, SHO Player displays a red outline box around the
interface object you are supposed to click along with an image
that shows the correct mouse button to click, as shown in the
figure below. In the case of typed input, SHO Player
displays images of the keys you need to press on your keyboard.
