Chapter 11

Multimedia Authoring Tools

Authoring Tools
Provide the environment for integrating the content and functions of your project Include
ability to create,edit and import data assemble data into a playback sequence provide method or language for responding to user input

Types of Authoring Tools

Based on metaphor for sequencing or organizing multimedia elements:
Card or page based tools Icon based, event driven tools Time based and presentation tools

Types of Authoring Tools

Page- or card-based tools

Types of Authoring Tools

Page- or card-based tools

Icon-based tools

Types of Authoring Tools

Page- or card-based tools Icon-based tools Time-based tools

Types of Authoring Tools

Macromedia Director is a popular time-based tool.

Card or Page Based Tools

Authoring system lets you link pages or cards into organized sequences Elements are organized as pages of a book or a stack of cards User can jump to any page Can play sound elements or launch animation or video (Example Toolbook, Hypercard)

Icon based, Event Driven Tools

Multimedia elements and interaction cues( events) are organized as objects in a framework Authoring tools display flow diagrams of activities along paths (Example Authorware)

Time based Tools

Elements are organized along a timeline Best for sequences with beginning and end Multimedia elements are treated as object, which receive messages to do things at certain times ( Example Director)

Right Tool for the Job

Choose the tool that best fits the job:
Video productions Animations Games Interactive web sites Demo disks and guided tours Kiosk applications Interactive training Simulations, prototypes,visualizations

Evaluating Tools
Editing Features
Organizing Features Programming Features
Visual programming Scripting

Advanced programming languages

Document development tools

Evaluating Tools
Editing Features
Organizing Features Programming Features Interactivity Features

Evaluating Tools
Editing Features
Organizing Features Programming Features Interactivity Features Performance Tuning Features Playback Features

Evaluating Tools
Delivery Features
Cross-Platform Support
Fonts Colors

Internet Playability

Editing Features
Elements of multimedia (images, text, sound, video) need to be created Editing tools may be required for one or more of these Authoring tools may provide the editors or you may need a specialized editor

Organizing Features
The Organizational and Design Process involves storyboarding and flowcharting Some authoring tools, such as Authorware, provide a visual flowcharting system

Programming Features
Visual Programming with icons
Drag the sound or picture icon into the playlist Drag it away to delete it Simplest and easiest to use Best for slide shows and presentations (Authorware)

Programming Features
Programming with a Scripting Language
Provides a very high level language (VHLL) for navigation and control Able to handle user input (Director and the Lingo language)

Programming Features
Programming with traditional Languages for complex projects
Look for good debugging facilities, robust text editing, online syntax references, etc. You may need access to the OS You may also need to use the DLL (Dynamic Link Libraries) in Windows

Programming Features
Document development tools
Used to import pre-formatted text, indexing facilities,complex search mechanisms, and hypertext linking. With scripts you can perform computational tasks, sense and respond to user input, create character, icon and motion animations., and control external devices...

Interactivity Features
Allow the user to control the content and flow of information Authoring tools provide: ( 1 or more)
Simple branching ( to go to another section on key press, mouse click, timer) Conditional branching- moves on basis of IF-THEN decisions or events Structured language which supports complex programming logic, subroutines, message passing, etc.

Performance Tuning Features

Synchronization (particularly of animation and sound effects) Precise timing of events and the ability to adapt to slower or faster computer systems

Playback Features
Authoring systems should allow you to build your project in segments and test it as though you were a user using it You should be able to easily move between building and testing the project

Delivery Features
Your authoring software should allow you to create a run-time version of the project. The run-time version allows users to play it without having the full software, but does not permit them to change the content or structure of the project.

Cross Platform Features

Decide whether your target audience will be using Windows or Mac Look for authoring tools which provide either a compatible system for the other platform (PC or MAC) or a runtime version for that system

Internet Playability
Most authoring systems provide a means to convert output so that it can be delivered within HTML or DHTML
by using plug-ins or by embedding Java, or JavaScript in the HTML document.

Card and Page Based Tools

Images are organized like chapters and pages of a book Navigation routines direct user to go to a page that contains the appropriate images, text, sounds, and animations Characteristics of media objects(text fields, buttons, graphics, etc.) are defined by properties (highlighted, bold) Object may contain a programming script

Card and Page Based Tools

Objects may contain a programming script, that is activated by an event. Events cause messages to pass from one object to another in your project Authoring systems also link objects to pages or cards

Icon Based Tools

First you build a structure or flowchart of events by dragging icons from a library
menu choices, graphic images, sounds and computations

Then you add your content You can edit to rearrange the icons or their properties

Icon Based Tools

Non-technical multimedia authors can build sophisticated applications without scripting, by placing icons on a flowline Authorware has a complete set of tools for editing multimedia elements

Time Based Tools

Uses visual Timeline for sequencing events ( Director) Cast - multimedia database containing still images, sounds, text, Quick Draw shapes,programming scripts, QuickTime and Flash movies Score is a sequencer for displaying, animating and playing the Cast members.

Time Based Tools

Animations are made by placing a graphic or sprite on the stage and changing its location over several frames Lingo is a full featured object oriented language to enable interactivity and program control