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Impression Learning Content Framework

Support Article
Last modified: 1 February 2012

CCT Quick Tour

This document walks the reader through the basics of creating a content database, developing a lesson, and packaging it for delivery using the Impression Content Creation Tool.

This document is divided into two sections, "Administrative Tasks" and "User Tasks." As a content creator, the majority of your time will be spent completing user tasks. These are the steps required to create, edit, and publish (or as we call it, package) content-complete lessons. However, in order to show you the CCT capabilities without a) harming any existing data or b) requiring any additional setup steps, you must first perform the administrative tasks.

Don't worry; unless you are responsible for managing your project's content database, the administrative tasks section can be safely forgotten. If you are responsible for managing a content database, refer to the Impression Content Creation Tool Administrator's Guide for more information.

Administrative Tasks

This section details the steps necessary to create and prepare a content database for use.

In this section, you will:

Let's get started!

Begin by running the Impression Content Creation Tool. The program will start and, after the splash screen disappears, the Groups Window will be displayed. If you have previously opened a content database, it reopens and the groups and lessons for that database will be shown. If you have not previously opened a content database, a message will be displayed.

  1. Ensure the CCT is set to work with Microsoft Access MDB files by choosing the Change Database Mode command from the File menu of the Groups Window. Use the drop-down list in the Choose Database Mode dialog to select access mdb files, and then choose OK to close the dialog.
  2. Create a new content database by choosing New Database... from the File menu. A standard Windows "Save As" dialog will appear. Select a location and a filename (the actual values do not matter), and then click Save. The database will be created at the specified location.  The CCT automatically opens the newly created database. Because there are no project-specific options set for the new database, a message will appear reminding you to select the options using the Project Properties dialog.

There are approximately 200 project-specific properties that can be set for a content database. To save time, we are going to load an existing set of options.

  1. To set configuration information, choose the Project Properties command from the Tools menu of the Groups Window. The Project Properties dialog appears.
  2. Choose the Import Properties... command from the File menu. A standard Windows "Open" dialog will appear. Using the dialog, open the quicktour project properties (standalone package).xml file located in the \SampleData folder found in the CCT folder (by default, the CCT is installed in C:\Program Files\Impression\CCT).  A confirmation message will appear, indicating successful import. Choose OK to dismiss the message, and then choose Save Changes to update the content database with the imported properties. Finally, choose Close to exit the Project Properties dialog and return to the Groups Window.
  3. Choose Lesson/Group Editor from the Tools menu of the Groups Window. The Edit Groups Window will appear. From the Lesson menu, choose Add New Lesson/Group.... The Add/Edit Groups Window will appear.
  4. Change the title of the lesson to Sample Lesson by typing it in the title textbox provided, and ensure that the group is a lesson (supports storyboards) checkbox is checked. Choose OK to close the Add/Edit Groups Window and return to the Edit Groups Window.
  5. Choose Save to commit your changes to the database, then choose Close to exit the Edit Groups Window and return to the Groups Window.

Congratulations! You have created a new sample database, set its project properties, and added a simple course hierarchy. Either continue this Quick Tour directly from the Groups Window, or get a fresh start by closing the application.

User Tasks

This section introduces the CCT features that you, as a content developer, will use most often.

In this section, you will:

Let's get started!

  1. Begin by running the Impression Content Creation Tool. The program will start and, after the splash screen disappears, the Groups Window will be displayed. The most recently accessed content database, if available, will automatically open and the course hierarchy stored in the database will be shown. If you are continuing the Quick Tour from the Administrative Tasks section above, you have already completed this step.
  2. Select the lesson titled "Sample Lesson" by clicking on its node in the Groups content selector. There are three options for opening the lesson:
    1.  Double-click on the node.
    2. Choose the open lesson button in the bottom-right corner of the Groups window (verify that the open read-only checkbox is cleared.
    3. Select Edit Lesson from the File menu. The Groups window will close and the Lesson Editor window will appear.
  3. From the Storyboard menu of the Lesson Editor, choose New, and then Storyboard. A new storyboard will be created, and then selected for editing. Ensure the General tab is active by selecting General Properties from the View menu. Change the storyboard type to Canvas by selecting Canvas from the type drop-down list.
  4. Change the title and student text by typing it in the boxes provided, and then switch to the type-specific tab by clicking on it.
  5. Select a background graphic by clicking on the ellipsis button ("...") inside the right edge of the Background element, located at the top of the screen under the General and Specific tabs. A selection dialog called the Asset Picker will appear. Choose a graphic from the list on the left, choose Select to select the graphic and close the dialog. The editor updates to reflect your selection.
  6. Add a shape element to the Canvas by selecting the shape icon (a collage of circles and rectangles) to the right of the add: label on the right-hand side of the Lesson Editor window. The main display will dim indicating that the editor is ready for you to draw. Draw on the main display by dragging, then releasing the mouse.
  7. Change the type of the shape to a circle by clicking on the circle icon next to the shape: label in the appearance frame. Next, fine-tune the position of the element. Click on the element name in the visual display to change its position. Click on one of the grab-handles (the small squares around the edges of the element's bounding rectangle) to change the element’s size.
  8. Preview this storyboard by choosing Preview Storyboard from the Tools menu. When you are finished, close the preview window and return to the lesson.

Note that you are viewing your content in the specifically assigned Runtime Engine for this project. Runtime Engine appearance varies on a per-project basis. Your specific runtime will look different than the one included with this Quick Tour.

  1. Ensure the element is selected by clicking on its name in the elements list box. Change the behavior associated with the element by choosing pop-up text from the action drop-down in the behavior frame. Enter some text into the pop-up and then choose Preview again to see the updated storyboard.

To view the popup text, click the mouse button anywhere inside the circle.  To dismiss the popup, click the X in the top-right corner of the popup window.

  1. Now that the lesson is complete, package it using the Import/Export Wizard.  From the File menu of the Lesson Editor, choose Import/Export Wizard.  The Import/Export Wizard will be shown.  Choose Package Lesson from the list, then choose Next.
  2. Based on your preference, either choose a custom location for the package by clearning the use project default setting checkbox and specify a location for the package, or use the default value provided.  When you are finished, choose Next.  You may be prompted to confirm folder creation or content overwriting.
  3. Choose Package.  The wizard will create and copy files as needed.  When complete, choose Close to exit the Import/Export Wizard and return to the Lesson Editor.

Congratulations! You have successfully created and modified a lesson, previewed the changes, and packaged the lesson for standalone distribution. 

Next Steps

You can...