Just the FAQ's

When it comes to surfing around for new freeware... well what else is the Internet for?... I'm either on the lookout for something specific or just waiting for article material to pop up on my screen. Irrespective, I want to find out as much as I can about the program before hitting the download button, let alone installing it.

If you're a regular visitor you will know that I speak often about how screenshots appeal to me by giving an indication of what I will be seeing. I also know that questions I have are rarely original and have probably been asked before. Program authors tire very quickly from repetitive answers to common questions so a FAQ page / section also gets good marks from me.

I've always prided myself on being very strong on reading instructions for a program... particularly concerning installation, and playing close attention to Help Files. After all a fair amount of time and effort has been put into creating them... hopefully.

However, simple text and Readme files seem to be rapidly becoming boring and outdated. Over time I've started seeing more and more use of both static and animated "demonstrations" to explain how a program works and how to use it.

Now I've found one example that enables anyone to create such demos for themselves.

Qarbon (Leelou)

"Leelou ['lilu] n : powerful tool for creating demos, animated help and FAQs. Produces a very compact movie file ("Viewlet"), which plays in any browser, on any platform, without a plug-in."

Now, there's quite a lot to this site so if it interests you take the time to have a good look round. If nothing else check out the example viewlets to get a better idea of what it's all about. If you're first impression is to think this isn't for you, then consider this. Are you the resident "expert" for family and friends and how many times have you been asked to explain how to unzip a file?

Me, I'm definitely going to find the time to try this one out. I'm also impressed by the versions available... just about every platform out there is catered for.

A very unusual feature is that trying out the program and learning to create your own viewlets provides a money making opportunity that might just appeal to you.

All the details are provided on the Authors page.

This strikes me as another example of how quickly things are evolving. This kind of fancy tutorial used to be restricted to software CD's because of the amount of space they required. Times they are a changing! What was once somewhat of a gimmick is fast becoming more mainstream and before too long will establish itself as the standard.

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