How- To Documents
Welcome to the ToolBook Developers' Corner! In this section of our Website, you will find technical resources about ToolBook aimed to empower you to explore and leverage the full functionality and power of ToolBook.
Mobile Learning is Prepared for Takeoff
As portable communication devices proliferate and on-the-go workers hit the road in record numbers, mobile learning capabilities are ripe for growth. Not surprisingly, the learning management industry is taking heed. That’s because mobile learning—also known as “m-Learning”—is about more than the ability to move around. It’s about truly leveraging technology advances to build a more competent workforce and a greater talent development strategy.
The Top 5 Trends in Learning Technology
Users have wielded their unique power to significantly impact today's top five learning technology trends. This new white paper explores those trends, looking at factors such as Web 2.0, changes in the mix of blended learning and content development tools support the mobile learning. In addition, we discuss next steps to help your organization strategically select new technology in order to unlock its full potential.
Authorware users. Learn why ToolBook is a tool you should consider
Adobe announced it will not continue development of future Macromedia® Authorware® from Adobe releases, so the current Authorware users have been exploring alternative authoring options. This white paper considers some of the reasons current Authorware users as well as eLearning developers in general should consider combining SumTotal Systems’ ToolBook with Adobe® Captivate® software and Adobe Flash® Professional software for a complete content authoring solution.
Read the white paper to know how ToolBook handles various Authorware functionalities using features like book wizard, catalog, actions editor and more.
Best practices for mobile learning content development
Developing content for small mobile devices makes a lot of sense — the adoption of these devices around the world is just tremendous. Mobile learning is growing at a rapid clip as well. Business professionals are embracing mobile learning on all sorts of devices.
As mobile connectivity continues its broad global reach, corporations are actively investigating how to deploy learning to mobile professionals. At SumTotal, we have released an update to our content authoring product ToolBook that enables the production of mobile learning for the Apple iPhone; with support for additional mobile devices to follow. While SumTotal obviously hopes the majority of corporations use ToolBook to create mobile learning, our intention is to provide helpful information to our industry, as a whole, on how to create effective learning for mobile devices.
Creating ToolBook SmartStyles
ToolBook 9 introduced a significant new concept for template-based book creation—SmartStyles. SmartStyles replaces the various styles, templates, page types and backdrops found in previous versions of ToolBook with new and more versatile functionality that is consistent across all relevant areas of the product.
This document describes how to create your own smart styles (and smart pages that use those styles), including reference material on all objects that can be defined on a smart page, all style information that can be defined for those objects and how to extend and customize the SmartStyles system.
Article on “ToolBook for iPhone Sneak Peek” by Tom Hall
E-Learning Guild's e-Magazine
This article tells you how the upcoming version of ToolBook 9.5 supports, through new SmartStyles, developing and deploying learning applications that are matched to the 320 x 480 screens on the iPhone and iPod touch.
An Article "Creating a ToolBook Exam and Deploying to an LMS" by ASTD
This featured article will introduce you to ToolBook Instructor 9, provide you with some ToolBook basics, and then show you how to quickly build the shell for an exam and then set up the exam for deployment via a learning management system (LMS).
Article on "How ToolBook is keeping up with your needs" by
E-Learning Guild's e-Magazine
“Long-standing” does not mean “standing still” and ToolBook Instructor has just launched a new version with a number of important changes that you should know about. Read this article to have an in-depth look at how the ToolBook is keeping up with your needs.
Preparing ToolBook Courses for Delivery in TotalLMS
Learn how to create and publish ToolBook courses for use with TotalLMS. Issues to consider when authoring your content are described. How to import ToolBook published content into TotalLMS is provided.
Read how Aruba Networks uses SumTotal's TotalLMS and ToolBook to extend training to customers and partners
Click here to download pdf document
Click here to view the webinar
Preparing ToolBook Courses for Delivery in Pathlore LMS
Learn how to create and publish ToolBook courses for use with Pathlore LMS. Issues to consider when authoring your content are described. How to import ToolBook published content into Pathlore LMS is provided.
Click here to download pdf document
Click here to view the webinar
Using ToolBook Content in TotalLCMS
Learn how to incorporate ToolBook courses for use in a TotalLCMS course. How to import ToolBook published content into TotalLCMS and which template type to use is provided.
Click here to download pdf document
What's New with ToolBook
Read the ToolBook blog, find out about upcoming content development tradeshows, free web seminars, latest ToolBook releases, and other activities relevant to ToolBook users.
Designing Accessible Courses with ToolBook
This document provides an overview of accessibility concerns and standards such as the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires Federal agencies to make their electronic information accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. It also describes how to develop accessible ToolBook courses to help you reach the widest possible audience.
Introduction to SCORM
This document provides an overview of SCORM and discusses some of the benefits of SCORM. The document includes topics such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), learning objects, Authoring Tools, Packaging SCORM-compliant content and more.
Click here to view the webinar
ToolBook SCORM conformance statement
ToolBook supports the learning standards AICC, SCORM 1.2, and SCORM 2004. Content produced with ToolBook is SCORM conforming.
View the ADL SCORM conformance statement for ToolBook
Click here to view the webinar
Inside the Actions System
The Actions System was introduced in Instructor 7.1 to provide a mechanism of adding custom interactivity to ToolBook applications that are exported to the Web. This document details how the Actions System works internally. It does not describe the workings of the Actions Editor user interface, but rather describes how the Actions Editor creates and works with actions behind the scenes.
Click here to download pdf document
Customization Guide for ToolBook Developers
Read how to create a basic custom template and learn how to edit the catalog and share it with your team. Further, you can learn how to create a page style file to use with the quick specialist and create your own outlines for the quick specialist.
Click here to download pdf document
ToolBook User Groups
ToolBook User Groups are independently-run volunteer groups for sharing information on a variety of ToolBook topics. Participation in a user group is an excellent way to collaborate with your peers to get more out of the ToolBook products and resources that you are interested in.
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ToolBook LiveXtensions increase ToolBook's capabilities
ToolBook LiveXtensions is a way for you to quickly access add-on tools and extensions for ToolBook. LiveXtensions are available for free for users with an active ToolBook Support agreement. The tools are hidden gems that will increase your productivity. To use them, all you need to do is go to the “Tools” menu in ToolBook and then select the submenu option “LiveXtension” - you must have a live Internet connection and active ToolBook Support subscription.
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Sending Data to a Web Server Using ToolBook Instructor
This guide describes how to use the HTTP Post feature in the Actions Editor to pass information between a ToolBook book deployed on the Web as DHTML content and a server-side application. An in-depth example explains each step to create a book that passes scoring information (a grade) from the ToolBook content to an Active Server Pages (ASP) script that records the information in a Microsoft Access database on the server.
Interview with Brad Crain, VP, GM ToolBook Products
Brad Crain, VP, GM ToolBook Products was interviewed by Judy Brown, Education Technology Consultant, Founder Academic ADL Co-Lab and Member Ambient Insight Advisory Board.
The discussion was about ToolBook, its support for SCORM and overall features and benefits.
Click here for the audio file
An article “Fresh E-Learning-Software of Sumtotal” in Computerworld Switzerland
This article was published in Computerworld Switzerland. It highlights the new features of ToolBook Instructor 9, including compatibility with Windows Vista.
Read the article
Read the article in German
Article on “Those that can, Teach” by Carlos A. Soto, a former associate reviewer for GCN
This article helps you to understand how the right educational apps can put your employees in the know and how ToolBook remains one of the best simulation and authoring programs and as such, it is well worth the money and time invested by instructors.
ToolBook Blog
Access the ToolBook Product Development Blog for the latest ToolBook information.
PRESS RELEASE
Aruba Networks uses SumTotal's TotalLMS and ToolBook to Extend Training to Customers and Partners
Read the press release >>QUESTIONS?
Looking for tools to increase authoring productivity? Check out these third party extensions and books.
New to ToolBook? Visit the Guides and Tutorials section.