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How-to Helpers
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These are some of the apps, tools, and tricks that I use to help make it easier to help explain to others how to do stuff on their Macs or with their iOS devices
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Text Expander
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Anytime that I've found that I've shared the same tip or bit of information more than once I will tend to save it into a TextExpander snippet
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So when I realize that I'm repeating myself, i.e. writing the tip for a second time, I finish writing it out and then
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Select All (Command+A)
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Go under the Text Expander menu in the menubar
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Choose, 'Create Snippet from Selection…' (You'll need to make sure this Service is enabled in the System Preferences > Keyboard >Keyboard Shortcuts in the Services section). Enable 'Create TextExpander 3 Snippet.
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Then give it an abbreviation you think you'll remember.
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Consider using a common "prefix" scheme for your snippet abbreviations, something you would not type in normal typing ',ht-' for example.
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Your snippets can include images.
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$34.95 USD and $4.99 for TextExpander Touch
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Skitch
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Free and available for Mac and the iPad
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Great tools to help you add annotations to your screen shots and images
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Vector object so they can be moved and re-sized even after you place them.
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Save a history to use later.
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Supports opacity so you can use it for highlighting
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Circle + white fill + number to create call outs.
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Hold down Shift to take a "countdown" screenshot
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Hold down shift key when adjusting size slider to get finer increments
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Rectangle + fill outside with transparent black to create a focus area. (no fill in iPad version)
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OmniGraffle
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Used for creating diagrams
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Great for visualizing workflows and communicating complex ideas
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Built-in stencil sets
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Network topologies and symbols
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Flowcharts
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Download additional sets
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Integrated with Graffletopia
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Drawing tools
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Can create callouts
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Use text tools
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Line tools that anchor to objects with various arrows and endpoints
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Vector based, so you can import your own objects and create your own stencil sets.
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I've created entire project documentation in OmniGraffle
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Very powerful tool, so it's not cheap. USD $99.00 for Standard and $199.00 for Pro. $49.99 for iPad
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Camtasia for Mac
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Screencasts
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Easily lets me capture and record the screen
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Can do a portion, a single window, or the entire screen
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Can capture screen and iSight to do a picture in picture style video.
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Use external mics and audio sources
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Built in timeline editor to add additional polish
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Zooming and focus. Can zoom in to show detail and pan to make sure people are focused in the right area
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Call outs, arrows, and cursor highlighting
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There are also titles and transitions and other standard options
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Video and tilt effects allow you to combine videos and images and text. Add drop shadows, mirror and other effects and get a professional look.
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Share options
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Can export to MPEG-4 format. Can even have it generate the HTML code if you plan to upload and share it on your own server
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Can share on YouTube or Screencast.com (Camtasia's service) 2GB storage and 2GB bandwidth for free
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Can send to iTunes if you plan on sharing on an iOS device or Apple TV
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Dropbox
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Sharing documents, especially video files and be tricky
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You can't typically send them in an email because they end up being too large
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Dropbox is an invaluable tool
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If it's just a one time link I simply add the file to my public folder and then create a share link
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Right+Click or Control+Click and choose 'Copy public link'
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For times when I know there will be back and forth. Collaborative documents for example then I create a folder and share that folder
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Right+Click or Control+Click and choose 'Share this Folder'
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In the web interface enter the email of those you want to share the folder with.
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They will have to sign up for a free Drop box account.
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Dropbox is also my preferred way to get stuff on and off my iPad
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integrated with so many apps
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Can use the Dropbox app along with the 'Open In…' option from the 'Action' button
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