11.0 custom dec documentation

Lance Bateman · October 17, 2011, 06:33:15 PM

This is all too bad - and as much as we use custom decs, seems to confirm my thought of never jumping on one of Applied's N.0 releases. Remember 9.0? That was one almost a joke before the conference was over where they released it.

brinkerdana · October 18, 2011, 02:57:36 AM

Thanks, Lance!

Jim Jensen · October 18, 2011, 04:24:54 PM

I got another call from support this afternoon following up on this. The information in the help screens (search for 'custom dec') does have some information about how to add content to the screens by clicking and dragging the item onto the screen area. Go to the "Create a Custom Dec Page" topic, then follow the link to "Screen Generator" (don't search for this term). He said he would see about getting some information added in the download area, like a notation of the help screen or a link to the webinar about it, plus also see about getting the product documentation area updated and other content that they can add to documentation.

He also discovered that if you need to move a block of items (like inserting a line in the middle of a screen), you can 'lasso' several items using your mouse, or you can click-select multiple items by holding down the shift or ctrl key while you select them, then they will move together.

Jan Regnier · October 18, 2011, 04:31:16 PM

That sounds positive...just would have been a good thing to do when it was released rather than when clients are trying to USE it! How much time was wasted trying to figure it out! Not that some time wouldn't be used up anyway even WITH documentation but it sure would be better trying to figure it out with it.

Jim Jensen · October 18, 2011, 04:40:59 PM

Correction to my notation - at current, the webinar is only available through Applied University. If you don't subscribe to this, you can't access it.

brinkerdana · October 19, 2011, 06:58:05 AM

So, do I smite the post for not liking the information or applaud the post for pointing it out?

Jim Jensen · October 19, 2011, 08:16:48 AM

Quote from: brinkerdana on October 19, 2011, 06:58:05 AM
So, do I smite the post for not liking the information or applaud the post for pointing it out?

I'm just the messenger!! Hopefully they will get documentation updated shortly. A request was being made to make the webinar more accessible, but no promises were made. Personally, I prefer written documentation with screen shots to a webinar anyway.

Jan Regnier · October 19, 2011, 10:24:27 AM

So....if I want to learn know how to use a feature of TAM due to a software upgrade/update that I have been using for years I need to pay MORE to participate in a webinar since there is no written documentation made available with the changes to follow? I want to use TAM with all it's features but unless I pay more (than I already pay) I have to stumble around trying to figure out how to make it work....great.

Jim Jensen · October 19, 2011, 10:52:04 AM

Quote from: Jan Regnier on October 19, 2011, 10:24:27 AM
So....if I want to learn know how to use a feature of TAM due to a software upgrade/update that I have been using for years I need to pay MORE to participate in a webinar since there is no written documentation made available with the changes to follow? I want to use TAM with all it's features but unless I pay more (than I already pay) I have to stumble around trying to figure out how to make it work....great.

Only temporarily - they are working to fix it. I'm disappointed that it took calls to documentation going, but it seems that they are at least listening and responding. I put my stones down a day or two ago.

Jan Regnier · October 19, 2011, 11:34:40 AM

I'm just saying - that to make a change such as this one and provide little direction is not a good sign. Would think Beta testers would have pointed this out to Applied. And if they did - that's not good either.

Lance Bateman · October 19, 2011, 01:24:51 PM

And for us, the webinars are really a pain - time involved, plus they are often done at times we can't participate, and would have to watch a replay. Give written documentation!

Jim Jensen · October 19, 2011, 01:26:38 PM

Quote from: Lance Bateman on October 19, 2011, 01:24:51 PM
And for us, the webinars are really a pain - time involved, plus they are often done at times we can't participate, and would have to watch a replay. Give written documentation!

I expressed the same feeling, Lance. Some prefer seeing it in action in a webinar demonstration, but personally, I'd rather have it written to cut to the chase and quickly get the facts I need, possibly a screen shot or two to help.

brinkerdana · October 19, 2011, 02:37:25 PM

I like to have both. See the webinar, even if just the recording then have written docs to back it up.

Billy Welsh · October 20, 2011, 05:06:00 PM

Quote from: brinkerdana on October 19, 2011, 06:58:05 AM
So, do I smite the post for not liking the information or applaud the post for pointing it out?

You'll have to smite Andy.

Heather Reetz · February 01, 2012, 02:17:16 PM

You may all know this by now. I've been absent for quite some time and ran across this post looking for something on custom decs. Anyway, tomorrow there is a webinar on custom decs. I have the PDF guide that has great instructions & illustrations, but it's too large to post.