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	Comparison

	Training Authoring Tools

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The current scoring system algorithm is exponential.

Open Systems Compliance

Industry standards to which the product adheres as opposed to proprietary solutions.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
44 out of 120
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
36 out of 120
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
56 out of 120
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
36 out of 120
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
24 out of 120
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
24 out of 120
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Learning Standards Compliant

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

AICC compliant. AICC complaint. AICC compliant. AICC compliant. None. None.

ODBC Support

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Supports any ODBC database via a JDBC connection

Open Standards Support

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Support OLE. None. Support OLE, DDE and Active-X. None. None. None.

API Supported

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

None. None. Applications can be remote applications through DDE. None. None. None.

General

Basic information about the product.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
177 out of 290
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
169 out of 290
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
173 out of 290
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
169 out of 290
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
164 out of 290
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
160 out of 290
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

System Requirements

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Pentium 166 or higher processor recommended, 32+ MB RAM, 300 MB free hard disk space recommended, double speed or faster CD-ROM drive recommended, Graphics adapter card able to display 32,768 colors at 800x600 pixel resolution recommended, and Windows-compatible sound card (optional). For Authoring: Pentium with floating-point coprocessor, 24 MB memory recommended, 25 MB of free disk space and CD-ROM drive. For Playback: 486DX/66 or 5X with floating-point coprocessor, 12 MB memory recommended, Windows 3.1 or later, Windows NT 3.5.1 or later. 32 MB of RAM, at least 24 MB of hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, Graphics card, Sound card, Digital Video card - MJPEG or MPEG standards (optional), and CD Recording system for creating personal CD-ROMs (optional). For Authoring: Windows 9x or NT. Recommended Pentium 200 or higher, with minimum 128 MEG and SVGA graphic card. 32-bit playback systems. For Delivery: Windows 9x or NT. Pentium 133 or higher recommended. Minimum 64 or higher MEG RAM. SVGA graphics card. The minimum recommended configuration is a 133 MHz Pentium processor, 64 MB of RAM and 100 MB of available hard disk space. The operating system must be Windows 95/98 or NT with all recommended patches. Supporting software required is a browser (IE or Netscape 4.0+). Recommended additional software is an HTML editor as well as graphics and image editors plus any multimedia editors needed to support the content being authored. Minimum: Pentium 200, 32MB RAM. Recommended: Pentium II 233, 64MB RAM.

General Product Architecture

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Object-Oriented development architecture. Object-Oriented architecture. Full featured Object-Oriented architecture. Quest is designed in an Object-Oriented, event-driven architecture. Thin client (browser, no plugins). Objected-Oriented Architecture.

Product Positioning

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

click2learn.com ToolBook II Instructor is the premier courseware authoring product for professional developers, programmers, instructional designers, and trainers. Combining easy-to-use templates, wizards, and preprogrammed Catalog objects with the full-featured OpenScript programming language, Instructor offers a powerful development environment for creating highly customized sophisticated courseware. Authorware is the leading industry tool for creating interactive rich media learning applications for delivery over the web, LANs and CD-ROM. DazzlerMax is a full-featured training and multimedia development authoring system which requires no scripting and where content can be deployed across platforms on PCs and through the web via client-side Java, HTML, or server side ISAPI. Quest provides a dynamic, visual authoring environment for both novice and expert training developers for delivery on the Internet, CD-ROM, corporate intranets, or hybrid combinations of these. Since its initial release in 1984, Quest has become the premier software product in its class and the de facto standard in many training arenas. WebMentor Author is the authoring component of WebMentor, a scalable and flexible integrated software environment used to develop, deliver, manage and administer training over the Internet or intranet. SocratEase is the affordable and easy-to-use web-based training system.

Documentation

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
24

Instructor documentation set includes two printed books: The ToolBook II Instructor User Guide, which discusses how to use Instructor's features and provides the context and procedures you'll need to use Instructor effectively; and The Asymetrix Guide to Interactive Online Learning . In addition, there are two online books available. The first, Programming in OpenScript, provides information about how to extend the features of a application using the OpenScript programming language. The second, The Customization Guide, teaches authors how to use ToolBook II Instructor to modify ToolBook II Assistant applications. The Instructor User Guide is very useful. There is limited documentation - only one printed manual titled Using Authorware Attain (with Tutorial); but there are plenty of Show Me samples, TechNotes, Developers Center and Help files available. DazzlerMax comes with the Dazzler User Guide with Tutorial Manual. There is also an Online Reference Guide and very detailed product FAQs on the website. Quest provides a Getting Started/Tutorial Manual. Online documentation include: Help topics and Online Book, which is the complete Quest User Guide, Web Docs and Tool Guide. Full documentation is available for downloading from the Avilar website and includes an authoring guide, installation manual, and getting started manual. Also available for download are DemoShield presentations of the product overview and tutorial. Quick Start Guide in PDF format. Online support and FAQs at website. Includes Help in HTML format. Indexed and searchable by keyword.

Ease of Installation

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Installation is very smooth. Installation is easy with no problems. Uses standard Install Shield and user can select different installation options. Easy auto installation with no problems at all. Comes with Adobe Reader. Product was downloaded from the Vendor's website. Auto install ran smoothly. Installs in minutes with no problem.

Languages Supported

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

N/A. Java. DazzlerMax is written in C++. Quest is written in C. C, Java, JavaScript, HTML. Java.

Online Help

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
16

Probably one of the best online Help among the evaluated products. Instructor comes with ToolBook II Coach that can provide content-sensitive page guides or object guides for authoring. The Help text is keyword searchable and sorted by index entry. Almost every function, such as spelling, has a Help page with it. Menu commands such as File, Draw, Insert, online Help are also available. Authors can also get ToolTip and Help Text on an object button. The ToolBook II Resource Center provides one-stop access to a number of valuable tools. Resource Center has applications using Windows ActiveX Data Objects and OLE Automation, sample applications, utilities, online book and online Help system. There are Help Pages and TechNotes for Technical Support. Online support is also available on vendor's website. There is no content-sensitive Help file provided. Help file is indexed to support quick-reference access to key functionality. Objects within authoring environment are linked directly to related section in the Help file. Context-sensitive help has been added to almost all the objects. All the online Help files are indexed into Menus, Objects, and Other Features. Authors can do a search in the Help file. There are also plenty of product FAQs, tips, etc. available on the web site. A user forum is also available. Help is available on-screen, within the authoring interface. Quest does not support context-sensitive help. The Help file is organized into groups of content such as Working With Flow Chart Items. The online book is keyword searchable. General online help is available from the omnipresent UI menu. Additionally, a content-sensitive detailed help button is provided on virtually every screen that appears during the authoring process. There are web-based Help files for all areas of SocratEase. The online help is indexed to different function and is keyword searchable.

Technical Support

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

30-days free technical support after product purchase. Under annual technical support, click2learn.com provides unlimited email support (with one day turnaround in most cases) and unlimited telephone support. Question respond is very good. Knowledge Base has a keyword searchable query, and Developer Corner provides online resources such as: utilities, technical documentation, white papers, and inside tips on the vendor's website. Technical support by responding to Email is good. 1-800 support first year. Support is very good, respond to email in a timely and professional manner. Very good, response in one day with thorough explanation and help. Email technical support is very good. There is also a discussion forums on the website where Avilar will report solutions to problems and workarounds. There are FAQs on the vendor's website. Quick access to patches, update and documentation. Response to email questions is prompt and technical.

User Interface

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
16

Windows-like, drag-and-drop, and very user friendly. When authors start to create a new file, the Application and Quiz Knowledge Objects serve as a good starting point. There is a Design screen - for authoring, and a Presentation screen - for review. The interface could be a little bit complex. The Design Window is where the user most frequently interfaces when authoring in DazzlerMax. All presentations are built by blocks of Task which is very consistent. User interface is totally drag and drop and visual. The interface is very friendly. A Visual approach helps authors do their work. Dockable tool bars such as Chart Tools and Path Color help instructors create the course. The user interface is graphical and includes two levels: 1) a simple interface for new users and normal activities; and 2) an advanced interface for more experienced users and advanced activities. The course and unit editors provide visual views of the course and unit structures, which may be condensed or expanded as desired. HTML-based interface for all users (students, instructors, authors, managers and admins). All activities are initiated through the navigation area (Author course, Course access, Report, Help, etc.).

Product Learning Curve

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

It is not as easy to learn as the other products. This is a more complex and in-depth product, so the learning curve can be a little bit steep. Learning DazzlerMax is easy. Learning Curve is short. It is easy to learn. Very easy.

Language Availability

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
8

English only. English only. Japanese version will be available in Q1 2000. The development environment is in English. A Unicode character version is under consideration as an enhancement in the near feature to support Arabic and Asian character sets. English and French. All single-byte languages with left-to-right text. English only. French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.

Software Availability by Country

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

USA, Canada, Asia-Pacific, Australia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, India, and the Middle East. US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, Scandinavia, Japan, Europe and Latin America. Direct sales offices in US, Australia, Scandinavia, and the UK. International distribution throughout the world through electronic software distribution (ESD). US, Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and Australia. Product download available worldwide. Available worldwide.

Administration

The features and functionality that facilitate the management of the product.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
42 out of 80
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
10 out of 80
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
12 out of 80
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
12 out of 80
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
12 out of 80
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
48 out of 80
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Ease of Administration

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Instructor has no administrative functionality. None. None, but DazzlerMax is an open-authoring tool and can integrate to most course management systems including PLM, Flex-Track and any management system that supports ODBC, OLE, or DDE connectivity. None. Most of the administrative interface is done in the other product called Manager's Edge. None. The Administrative interface is handled by another course management component (WebMentor Enterprise) of WebMentor. HTML based. Administrator can assign user role, run reports, assign course to instructor, take user out of the system, set system logging preference, etc.

Access Control

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
32

Authors can assign separate (or same) passwords to allow access for opening, modifying and saving the book. None. None. Only access to the authoring EXE is licensed by workstation and controlled by a software key. Several strategies are available for controlling access to the developed content including passwords and user-developed logic. None. Access to the authoring application is not controlled, but access to courses can be through log-in or other author-defined control. None. There is no access control capability for course authors. However, a course designer can enable student access to the same materials and restrict access to other materials through the use of attributes. Each user must supply username and password to access the system. Each course has access control for students, instructors, authors, and managers. Authors/Instructors can only access the courses that they are assigned to by the administrator.

Online Training

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

The website has no online training and vendor has not provided a tutorial manual. However, the Instructor User Guide is a good source for learning Instructor. There is an online tutorial on Macromedia's website. It includes six very basic modules: Introduction to Interactive Media, Introduction to Authorware, Building Your Program, Editing Your Work, Packaging Your Program, and Quiz. The Using Authorware Attain manual also includes a tutorial guide. There are more than 18 lessons in the Tutorial. Each is very clear and thorough on the objective of the lesson. A complete Jump Start training is also available online. Tutorial covers 7 lessons, from adding a question with feedback to adding video and control-play buttons. Each lesson is elaborated in detail, from setting objectives and implementing steps to testing project's performance. A WebMentor course covering the use of the authoring component is provided online at no cost on the Avilar website. There is also a tutorial guide available. Quick Start Guide includes a tutorial.

Formal Training

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Click2Learn.com provides an introduction to the ToolBook II Instructor course. It is a two-day course offered only at customer locations. In this class authors will create dynamic animations that make their applications come alive, put the multimedia into Multimedia applications, use ToolBook II Catalog objects to create applications quickly, and distribute their applications over the Internet. Authorware 5 Attain Fundamentals is a 5-day course that teaches students how to build trackable and deliverable learning applications. Authorware 5 Attain Advanced is a 3-day course that emphasizes the use of functions and variables. Currently, MaxIT offers only two days of on-site training at the customer location. Quest Fundamental is a 3-day course that is held in Gilat Communication Headquarters and authorized training centers. Instructor led training is available as a service at Avilar or customer facilities. Specific material covered is adapted to fit the customers needs. None.

Authoring

Features that aid in writing hypermedia or code.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
230 out of 390
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
248 out of 390
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
216 out of 390
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
214 out of 390
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
190 out of 390
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
151 out of 390
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Authoring Method

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Instructor considers authoring a training course the same as authoring a book that is built with pages. Instructor provides all the tools possible - templates, Catalog objects, etc. - to help the author prepare the architecture and foundation for the course. Authorware is an icon-based authoring environment where you work with icons on the course flowlines. Authors start with Application or Quiz, then use Knowledge Object to build your application module by module. The author develops content consisting of tasks the presentation performs. By breaking the content into mini presentations, your work becomes modularized, easier to maintain, and more efficient. Each task consists of any number of objects that define what is displayed or what logic occurs. There are over 55 different objects allowing for almost any kind of interactivity. Authors can use Object-Oriented authoring, reusable object lists, templates, and multiple threads to design courses. Courses in WebMentor consist of a series of Learning Units. Each Learning Unit contains several types of information: lesson content, review information, self-check question, exercises, additional resource information, and assessment tests. Unlike standard windows authoring programs, SocratEase is server based and can support many authors. The authoring tool automatically connects to a central server to manage content and course access.

Development Approach

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Authors can create online presentations, kiosk applications, catalogs and games using Instructor. Applications created in Instructor are composed of one or more files called books. These books should reside in one central book directory, with one or more subdirectories for the media files that accompany those books. Authorware is ideal for creating prototypes. Authors can draw basic shapes to represent elements on the screen and later import finished content into the piece. To Authorware, authoring is the assembling of multimedia into a functioning piece. DazzlerMax thinks course or presentation consists of a series of tasks - things that will happen during the presentation. This approach follows a natural thinking or hierarchical approach to instructional design. Each project is developed by arrangements of frames and modules. With WebMentor Author, authoring is a local, standalone task. A course has groups of learning Units. A Learning Unit is a hierarchical collection of sections. You can create/Edit/Modify/Test/Publish your course. It is very simple and straight forward. Every course starts from course name, then topic, then page, then question pool. It is single course based; you cannot group multiple courses to a project.

Course Map

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

Page Browser provides author the course map. Authors can examine and modify the overall organization of the pages of your book. It displays a thumbnail (miniature image) of each page, but not in flowchart or linear format. The flowline provides a clear image of how Authorware moves forward from icon to icon, depending on how you channel it down one path or another. There are Map icons that can hold any number of other icons, including other map icons, so it is easy to see the entire course structure at a glance. The Project View serves as a course map. Authors can glance through the component and logic flow of a presentation. It presents an elegant flow-chart representation of the content logic. Designing a title in Quest is like creating an empty flow chart of a training course. Each course map is presented by a complete flow chart that is easy to navigate. Alternatively, Courses can also be imported from Designer's Edge (Gilat's another storyboarding product) through Quest Synergy. A course map is created on demand at any time within a course. The course map is defined as part of the course creation process. Essentially, only the course and learning unit layout may be viewed within the visual editor. SocratEase uses a very basic (not graphical) visual course outline to display course map.

Ease of Use - Authoring

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
2

Weighted Score:
3

Intuitive browsing environment and drag-and-drop capability make it easy to build pages in a book. Authors can just drag and drop preprogrammed objects, making it very easy to use. Authoring content is a simple drag and drop of objects into tasks which compose the presentation file. Object properties are set (related file, position, transition, and variables tracked). There is no scripting, so this is an easy tool to master. Authoring using Quest is very easy with all the built-in toolbars, templates, etc. The authoring environment in WebMentor Author is very visual and easy to use. Very simple and easy.

Course Creation

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

When you create a new book, you can start by using a default template, a blank book, or book specialists. The book specialists are wizards that gather input from you about how you want your book to appear and behave. Courses are created through adding and removing new pages and background, or importing pages and backgrounds from a different book. Action Editor visual programming tool is also helpful. Every time authors start to create a new file, the Application and Quiz Knowledge Objects are available for creating training, presentations, testing, courseware and other custom applications. With all the pre-built tools, creating complex courses is easy. It is easy to create course content. There is no scripting and it fully supports templates and styles for content reuse. The learning curve is measured in just a few hours to be really productive in using the tool. Authors can choose from the General, Training or Presentation templates. Authors can also use QuickStart as a course shell, making course creation very easy. Each course consists of series of Learning Units linked together in a linear fashion. There can be up to 10 levels of Learning Units allowing authors to create subtopics as illustrated in the Table of Contents. Authors can cut, copy, paste nodes between Learning Units as well as between different courses. Creating courses is very easy. The standard basic flow is: Course Name, Pretest, Topic, Content Page, Question Pool Page, and Exam.

Course Maintenace

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

Authors can use page browser to view, organize and reorder the pages in their books. Maintenance is pretty easy. Course maintenance is fairly easy. Since presentation is based on Task, each course is very modularized. Therefore, course maintenance in DazzlerMax is not difficult. Course maintenance is easy. The Comment and Debug functions make course maintenance an easy task. Maintenance is performed by the WebMentor Author component in the same manner that the original authoring is performed. Course maintenance is fairly basic and easy.

Team Development

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Yes, anyone on the team can simply go to a page and make a change. Yes, Authorware provides a shared authoring environment. Two authors cannot be working on the same content file at the same time, but if the course is properly modularized, they can be working on different modules (content files) at the same time. Yes, Quest's graphical object list helps teams of developers to work together and interpret each other's work. It is easy to learn and title files can be opened in authoring mode directly from a web server allowing for collaborative development and approval. No. Course source content may be readily shared among authors only through using the export/import features of the product to other computer. Yes, SocratEase supports multiple authors.

Anti-Aliased Text

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Yes. Yes, it not only produces better looking text, it also decreases file size and improves the performance of web-packaged pieces over the web. Yes. Yes. In addition to text, any visible object can be anti-aliased. Yes. WebMentor supports Anti-aliased text. Yes, SocratEase supports Anti-aliased text and anything that can be created and displayed with HTML.

Branching

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

Authors can specify a destination based on a specific condition or a set of conditions. Authors can also add a loop (step loop or conditional loop) to their action sequences to run an action or series of actions repetitively. These all can be done easily through using Instructor's action editor. Authorware supports four different types of branching to choose from: Sequential, Random to any path, Random to only an unused path and to a path determined by a calculation. Authors can Jump (one way) or you can Call (round trip). Yes. A course can branch based on a user response (button, mouse, keystroke click), the value of a variable, after a timer has expired, hot spots, grid response, active-response, response from a control or application. A course can also link branching directly to a hot spot, button, hyperlink, mouse click, keystroke, active-x response, grid response and timer. A branch command tells Quest to go to the user specify. Conditional test is supported through menu options, such as If-Then-Else, Looping, and While. None. Authors can only create links between pages in the course through hyperlink function.

Navigation

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

There are many tools in Instructor that can help navigate through the course. Authors can use Action Editor to send a user to another page, book, URL or to exit from a lesson. Authors can use object property to skip pages, navigation objects feature graphics and hyperlinks that will jump to the next, previous, first or last page in the application. Authors can also use the Go command and arrow keys. The Application Knowledge Object provides navigation for sections, pages, and quizzes. Navigation in DazzlerMax is easy, as long as the course logic is well designed. Creation/maintain are all very easy. A Project View window (the flowchart level) gives a visual, hierarchical view of the course so that author can navigate easily. Navigation methods are provided that allow either linear or random movement through a course, to leave the course for browsing on the network and returning where the authors left off, and to take various paths through a course. Table of Contents is the navigation tool in WebMentor Author. Navigation menu is on the left of each screen, authors can go to student area, utility area, administrator area, etc. The program automatically creates easy-to-use navigation.

Flow Control

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
0

Course flow is controlled through Action Editor. An action sequence (one or more behaviors that were created in the Action Editor) adds behavior to the ToolBook applications. Authors can create actions sequences that prompt students for input, change an object's properties, play media, add conditions and loops and use variables. The flowline, which is through the arrangement of icons, forms the logic of a piece. It organizes the icons and determines the sequence in which Authorware runs them. It displays the contents of one icon after another. Authors can use framework, navigate icons and decision icons to control the logic flow. The icons' order on the flowline determines the order in which events take place when the piece runs. Presentation in DazzlerMax flows from task to task, very much like a book flows from page to page. In the presentation, Tasks can flow down a linear line or branch (and return) anywhere on the flowline as well as to other presentations and applications. Flow control is through branching and threading. Both functions are easy to use and navigate. WebMentor supports storyboard and flowchart. Course flow is controlled through the navigation methods and the menu driven testing of parameters that allows for If-Then-Else, Looping, and case constructs. None. There isn't a flow design concept in here. SocratEase does not support branch/flow in authoring. A Student logs into the home page then selects individual course he wants to take. Every course is independent to the system.

Multimedia data types

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Path animation and stream media. The Universal Media Player has built-in support for most modern media formats: standard media formats (AVI, WAV, MIDI) and the media formats supported by the new Windows Media Player (Windows streaming media, MPEG video, QuickTime Video, MP3 audio, etc). Instructor also supports the RealNetWorks RealPlayer G2 (all RealMedia formats, SMIL) and the Macromedia Flash player. Authorware supports text, graphics (photos, drawings, background, etc, ), sound, digital movies, video, or a set of instructions as multimedia objects. Authorware supports the following sound formats: AIFF, PCM, SWA, VOX, WAVE. Authors can compress sounds using shockwave Audio (SWA), Voxware( VOX), or ADPCM compression. For movies, Authorware embeds: PICS, GLC/FLI/CEL, and DIB sequence movies. Director, QuickTime, MPEG, and AVI movies are always externally-linked files. DazzlerMax supports any media type that can flow through the windows media player, the Java Media Framework, or Active-X-based media controls such as real video. Sound support: WAVE, MIDI, and CD audio. Video support: AVI, MPEG, FLC. Quest supports animations, video, and audio. Users can control the playing of audio or video in a frame, and can choose from Play, Stop, Pause, Rewind, Jump to End, Progress Bar and Digital Readout pieces. Support audio and video clips and animations. Multimedia files can be inserted using prebuilt macro functions. SocratEase supports sound, image and animation.

Function Call

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Action Editor has included a lot of functions for authors to use. This visual programming tool allows developers to create action sequences to add functionality that can be exported to DHTML. The Action Editor supports mouse events, conditional loops, variable setting, animation, and more. Authorware provides very comprehensive system functions and variables, such as: system function - Array for create a linear list filled with value and system variable - CharCount will return a count of the number of characters, including spaces, found in a string. DazzlerMax has a built-in Function Library. It is a way of calling complex operations built into the DazzlerMax program. Available function call includes: ElementCount, Random, GetCurrentDate, ShowCursor, etc. Supports C functions (such as SendThreadMessage) or customized functions for reuse. WebMentor has the ability to define and call macros, or functions, that encapsulate the complexity of operations that are repeatedly called throughout a course. Several macros are provided that permit users to easily incorporate a variety of technologies within a course, such as Authorware, Shockwave, ToolBook, or other authoring tool content. Additionally, the authors can create their own macros to deal with custom requirements. Once a macro is created, a simple call to the macro is all that is required to insert all the code necessary to perform the macro function. None. Authors can only add links to URLs.

Spell-checker

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
0

Instructor has one of the most full-featured spell checkers. Authors can spell check: record fields, text fields, buttons, and Combo Boxes. Authors can also add a user dictionary. On the spell check option, authors can exclude words if all in uppercase or with a numeral. A Spell Check function is provided. Authors can select from current map windows or current applications. Authors can add a user dictionary and have options such as Ignore Uppercase Words. Spell-checker can search for any text in the DZL file including Text Actions, file names etc. French, German, and Italian dictionaries are included. Authors can search in Current Presentation or All Open Presentation. Authors can search from the Beginning or Current Task. Authors can also select spell options, such as: Recheck Typed Replaces. Very good spell check utility. Authors can set scope to All or Text Boxes Only. On spell check options, author can set: Ignore Words With Mixed Case (e.g. OpenDoc) or Report Words With Mixed Case. Supports global spell check on text. The product includes spell check capabilities. Spell check can check the complete course or just one Learning Unit. WebMentor does not support user dictionary. None.

Commenting

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Authors can add descriptive text as comment that will appear in the ToolBook II Coach (a help file) when the page is selected. Yes, authors can add comments to the flowline and to calculation windows and also add comments to icon titles and calculation icons. Tasks can be labeled using a button, Comment Action, to explain what the task does. In addition, objects are automatically auto-documented as they are developed or the user can add descriptive labels. This makes following the logic within a single presentation extremely easy. Users can add comments inside a frame or on the flowchart. This helps other authors identify how the project is designed. Authors can use Remark to contain comments which are only visible to the author. None. The product does not provide commenting function.

Creating Classes and Objects

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Authors can create their own customized objects in addition to the 1000 preprogrammed catalog objects. Authors can create customized knowledge objects. DazzlerMax proviedes many authoring objects, including Active-X, DDE and OLE integration. Authors can group objects together, copy, paste, align and dissolve objects. Authors can also have exclusive groups of objects. None. None. Authors cannot create customized objects for courses.

Templates/Wizards

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Instructor provides 40 book templates (such as Basic Content, Basic Training, Basic Quiz, etc) and six viewer templates, each with certain visual characteristic and preprogrammed behavior. Instructor also provides Book Specialists, wizards and preprogrammed catalog objects. Authorware provides menus, templates, and wizards. There are 50 Show Me examples that only answer questions you may have but also provide flowline logic you can paste into your work. There are over 220 variables that are ready to use. There is a template window where the user can store useful tasks, actions, and responses in logical groups. Templates can be categorized in separate tabbed views. A complete library of constantly updated examples and new templates is available for download from the website. The QuickStart template system lets you pick the type of title you want to create, then Quest sets up the project for you. Other templates are stored in libraries called FastTracks and divided into folders (by project). Includes about 15 Motifs (for background color, theme and tone), and 8 templates provide style. You can either modify the templates or add your own. Course templates control the layout and look-and-feel of a course, which is totally segregated from the course content. A template is associated with a course as the final step of the authoring process. Templates for a course may be changed without any change to the content itself. Several templates are provided with the product, and the author can create additional custom templates. Wizards are provided to develop quizzes and tests, and to invoke macros. Yes, the product provides 20 templates that are included with the system. Users can modify these or build their own. Eutectics also provides several page templates that include stock templates, blank template, and a template for importing existing HTML files.

Text Creation

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Text has to be contained in a field (text field or record field). When type text, authors can apply character formatting (such as font, style, color, and size) and paragraph formatting (such as alignment, line spacing, indents, and tab setting). Authors can copy, paste, and insert special characters. When import (or copy and paste from other programs) Rich Text Format or ASCII (such as word documents) text, most of its formatting will be retained. Authors can import text, or create a new text object, and use them for headings, questions, prompts, button labels, simple directions, tutorials, help systems, etc. They can use the Text tool to edit/create text. They can change the text's font size and style. Authorware also supports Hypertext and Hot text. DazzlerMax supports plain text and any type of Rich Text Format. This allows authors to use different fonts, sizes, and colors within the same text section. Authors can embed word processing files, spreadsheets, presentations, and other training applications. Authors can also implement 3-D controls, HTML objects, Java objects, combo boxes, calendar objects and virtual reality objects. The product includes a very basic text editor that allows easy text creation. Users do not have any flexibility of style, font, size and color. It all depends on the interfacing HTML editor (such as FrontPage or DreamWeaver), through which can also create straight text. SocratEase provides a basic text editor for entering and formatting content. Authors can have numbered or bulleted lists, color text, bold, (no sizing) or import text from Word and PowerPoint. Text creation is very easy, authors can also upload an image to a course.

Collaboration

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

None. Supports Email. Authors can send a standard Email message in the course piece. None. None. Gilat Communication supports a User List that serves as a user discussion group. WebMentor supports email. A student may ask a question to the instructor. An instructor can send work assignments to the entire class or answer an individual student's question. Supports non-realtime methods such as bulletin boards, email and conferences and also realtime methods such as chat. Links to other methods may be configured using the course template. Built-in email for each user. Students can email to classmates or instructor.

Internet Explorer ActiveX Support

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
3

Instructor supports ActiveX control. Yes, Authorware supports ActiveX control. Supports Active-X control. Serves as an Active X server and container. None. Yes, SocratEase supports using Active-X objects through HTML plug-in calls.

Thread

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

None. None. A DazzlerMax presentation can be modularized and individual modules can be run as needed. Yes, unlimited threading is supported in Quest. Therefore, development is rapid and maintains consistency. None. WebMentor does not support a networked type of authoring environment. None.

Questioning Methods and Variety

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Authors uses question objects to create a quiz, and a question can be created using 14 prebuilt question types (all with auto grader): a drag-objects object, a drop-target object, fill-in-the-blank , match-items, multiple-choice, and an order text object. A log file includes information such as the student's score, response to each question, and time spent working on the page. Feedback can be played via a multimedia clip or sound effect, display text, and navigation to another page in the same book, in another book, or to a URL. There are more than 200 objects designed for creating questions, tracking student responses, and evaluating student retention of lesson material. The Quiz Knowledge Object is a basic testing shell that sets global parameters for the 7 types of exercises that Authorware provides: Multiple Choice, Single Choice, True/False, Short Text, Drag and Drop, Hot Object and Hot Spot. A built-in Quiz wizard makes creating quizzes and answers into courses very easy. Authors can select question types from: #1. Single answer correct, #2. Multiple answers correct, and #3. Word matching. Authors can select answer types from: Push buttons, List box, Drop Down box, and Radio buttons. Advanced users can manage quizzes through the template reuse features. There are Question templates that authors can use, such as multiple choice questions. Authors can also validate students' input interactively, select Match Any One Word, etc. After student has entered the correct answer, author can add feedback to the student. A question editor/wizard is provided that allows users to create multiple pools of questions comprising eight question styles in any combination. Either default or custom feedback can be provided for each possible response that a student can give. Options exist to construct tests by randomly drawing questions from pools and to randomize the order of questions presented. Different point values may be assigned to each question. Tests may be timed or untimed and are automatically graded. Supported question types are true/false, multiple choice, matching, ordering, fill-in-the-blank, select-all-that-apply, select list, and essay. Three classes of questions are supported by the Delivery System: non-graded practice questions, graded assessment tests and surveys. Very easy. SocratEase supports multiple choice, T/F, fill-in-the-black, question pools, and media in questions. Authors can have an open-book or closed-book format tests. The system records the time to complete each exam.

Password Protection

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
8

Authors can use object properties to set password controls. Authors can specify the password required for switching to Author level, the password required for opening the book, the password required for saving the book, or the password required for all the above situations. None. Content (presentation) file can be password protected when doing a Save As. Authors can select password protected (or ready only) option for their files. Password-protected FastTracks templates to prevent modification to templates that authors create. None. Password protection is provided only at the student access level. The User-ID and password must be entered in the approved logon screen each time the user enters WebMentor. All resources are password and user restricted.

Cross platform development

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
16

Windows only. Authorware includes Windows player and Macintosh player. Courses can run on any platform which supports the Java virtual machine or HTML. The authoring tool can only be used under Windows-based PCs. Windows only. Courses may be taken on any platform that hosts a compatible browser. Yes, the courses can be viewed by students on any platform that has a 4.0 browser.

Authoring Interface

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
8

Instructor has two working levels: Author level and Reader level. At Author level, authors build applications using development tools, such as the ToolBook II Catalogs, palettes, menu bar, toolbar and the OpenScript programming language. Authors use these tools to build books, create and modify objects on pages, and add interactive behavior to the application. Reader level is where authors test their applications and where students run applications. When authors start to create a new file, the Application and Quiz Knowledge Objects serve as a good starting point. There are a Design screen - for authoring, and a Presentation screen - for author's review. The interface could be a little complex. The authoring interface is completely object-oriented and visually rich with simple drag-and-drop creation of content. Any CMI with a web or Active-X interface can be called directly from within DazzlerMax. The Authoring Chart Workspace is a flowchart-like authoring environment. Authors use frames, modules, path, and connectors to build your course. The visual interface makes it easy to design a course. An intuitive, graphical interface is provided that supports both novice and experienced authors. WebMentor provides a direct link to HTML and graphics editors of choice and includes a robust question editor for creating examinations. The authoring program is a Java applet that is distributed to each client workstation. The interface includes toolbars, menus and point-and-click interface that is very plain and basic.

Authoring-Extended Options

Additional functions beyond standard feature set.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
39 out of 95
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
50 out of 95
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
34 out of 95
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
25 out of 95
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
31 out of 95
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
40 out of 95
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Progress Tracking

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

There are 200 objects designed for creating questions, tracking student responses, and evaluating student retention of lesson material. Knowledge Track provides the ability to turn on course tracking both at the file level as well as within individual interactions, so it allows you to easily capture student tracking information and store student results to external databases and data formats for measuring training results and effectiveness. DazzlerMax has built-in variable tracking, so you can track test scores, questions and answers, number of tries on a question, etc. It can calculate scores and record the number of questions which were repeated, etc. Any task which contains a response can be logged right or wrong, too. The author can easily implement bookmarks and report progress to a text file, any ODBC database, or most AICC compliant CMIs. Authors can use variables to keep track of students' scores as well as counting how many times students incorrectly answered the multiple choice questions. Extensive progress tracking is provided. The author may define the range of events to log in the database, such as completing a test, grades of all assessment tests, etc. A student's progress may be reported to the student, the student's instructor, and the course session administrator. Student's progress is logged into system database. Information such as points earned, grade, date, etc. are recorded. Student can print report card, or instructor can print test result to review.

Resource Control

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Instructor keeps all available resources in a common library called Resource Manager. Resources can be cursor, button, shared-script, graphical image, etc. Other than pre-defined resources, you can also import resources into Resource Manager. When authoring, Instructor can copy, modify, create, and remove resources in the books. You can export your resources for use in other books. Libraries are separate files that store content - such as text, graphics, sounds and digital movies - in library icons, which you can share and reuse as often as needed. Authors can link up to 17 libraries to a piece. One advantage is Libraries can be packaged. DazzlerMax does not absorb media into a proprietary format. This makes it easier to manage content and offers faster performance. Packaging media can be brought into a common directory or into a single file for maximum protection. A master resource list shows and controls the source directories and folders where the media files are located - whether on a network, intranet, or the Internet. Authors can also identify a storage that reads a folder containing all the media items are going to use for this project. The author defines the directory structure used to store/retrieve all of the learning objects like blocks or files of HTML, text, graphics, video clips, audio clips, etc., used in the course. This may be as simple or complex as necessary to deal with the overall course content that comprises a course. Data such as student information, tracking information, grades, etc., is stored in the database. All data is placed and stored in the systems database. Media resources are placed in a folder in the web root. Course catalog contains information on all online courses in the training system. Access to courses is controlled by the authors.

Property & Copyright Protection

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

None. None. None. Copyright notices can be placed in the course. Copyrighted fonts used in the course also give warnings to the developer at release time that they are copyrighted. Provisions exist to incorporate copyright protection on the cover page of a course. None.

Additional Features

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Viewers - are windows that authors created in ToolBook II Instructor to display pages. Authors can use viewers to display toolbars, pop-up graphics or text boxes, logos and application startup screen, etc . None. DazzlerMax has a built-in screen capture and macro recorder capability making the tool ideally suited for software simulations. DazzlerMax has a built-in icon and cursor editor. In addition, DazzlerMax supports dual-screen authoring and includes an animation creation tool. None. None. None.

Bundled Services

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Instructor bundled with Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.02, Intel Indeo 5 code Installer, Sun Java Runtime Environment 1.2, and Neuron which is a plug-in or an ActiveX control that works with the web browser to allow access and run ToolBook books via the Internet or any TCP/IP network. Other utilities included: Wave Editor, Log Reader, FTP utilities, Script Walker utilities, Palette Editor, Digital Video Producer (a video capture and editing program) and Catalog Builder. Catalog objects have built-in behavior to handle such tasks as scoring a question, playing media files, and navigating from page to page. RealSystem 5.0 Intranet Server provides the RealSystem encoder for preparing high impact streaming audio, video, animation and PowerPoint for intranet delivery. DazzlerMax can integrate to any Active-X such as net-meeting. None. A web server is bundled with the product as are Access ODBC drivers and the Java Runtime Environment. Course Management Functionality.

Add-on modules

Weight: 1 Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
3

Weighted Score:
0

ToolBook II Ingenium is designed especially for managing the delivery of training and educational courseware over the Internet and corporate intranet. ToolBook II Assistant is a more basic tool for creating interactive learning applications quickly, without programming. Asymetrix Neuron browser plug-in can optimize downloading time and increases navigation speed. Others: 1. Plug-In Pro: with over sixty utilities, custom editors, and powerful short-cuts. 2. TBK Tracker: is a computer managed instruction environment that allows developers to very quickly link lessons into courses, provide bookmarking capability. 3. Progress Tracker: records student data on module completion, test scores, time spent in training. 4. Answer Key: displays answer for any ToolBook question object. 5. FTS Pro: gives you the ability to provide full text search to your ToolBook Applications. 6. Resources Plus: makes it much easier to work with resources. You can sort them by name, ID, or number of times used. 7.TB start: A compiled auto-run executable that you completely customize to launch your ToolBook applications. Other Macromedia family of products: Dreamweaver is the solution for professional website design and production. Attain Objects is an extension application to Dreamweaver for creating interactive web-based learning content. Flash is for creating graphics and animations. None. Designer's Edge - analysis/storyboarding tool. Manager's Edge - manages delivery. Quest Net is a 16-bit authoring tool. WebMentor Player is a server product option that permits the user to deliver WebMentor courses on CD-ROM for local delivery. None.

Course Management Function

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
16

None. This area of functionality is all in the other tools: Ingenium. Lessons can be assigned to individuals or groups, and the scores they receive can automatically be recorded. Authorware provides course tracking ability such as the numeric score for the lesson, and indicates if a student has failed/passed a lesson. DazzlerMax has built-in variables to track scoring and can write variable results to any file or ftp site, via email or ODBC database. Reporting to any open CMI capability or through custom reports is fully supported in the tool. None. All the course management functions are in the other product: Manager's Edge. None, all the course management functionality is provided through another WebMentor component: WebMentor Enterprise. SocratEase builds with course management functionality, such as check course availability, enrollment/drop a course, reporting and tracking.

Testing

Quality of the tests provided in the training course.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
28 out of 60
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
38 out of 60
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
34 out of 60
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
46 out of 60
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
30 out of 60
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
16 out of 60
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Testing the Course

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
16

Authors test their applications by switching to Reader level from Author level. At Reader level, authors can test their applications to see how it will appear to the students. Authors can navigate to pages, respond to question objects and trigger events. Authors can test their applications by running the files to make sure the project works as designed and make adjustments to the content and the interactions. They can use the start and stop flags to test a specific segment of the piece. To test the presentation, authors can use the Run button. They can select to run the presentation from current task, from beginning, and run just current task. There is a debug window, showing info on the currently running presentation. Authors can set trace on or off, get detailed information about the actions and responses executed during the presentation, as well as which tasks are executed. Authors can have any number of lines of output information and also save it to a file. Use the Run command then Quest runs the project just like how the students will see it. Quest can compile/build the project anytime and report problem messages in the bug window. A view mode is provided in the authoring system to view an authored course. It is presented through a browser and appears exactly as it will appear when delivered from the server. The mode is used to check the course before releasing it to the server. If the authoring workstation is on a local area network, one can also view the course from any other computer on the network. This allows one to see how the course delivers on different platforms with different operating systems and browsers from different vendors or with different versions. Extensive error messages are presented to the screen and logged in a log file. Yes, author can do a Preview Page to preview the page he just created in the browser.

Troubleshooting Resources

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

None. Help text gives authors step-by-step, how-to troubleshooting when review their own applications. DazzlerMax has a preview capability that can start from the beginning or any point in the flowline. Also, you can set break points and easily watch execution flow to validate data and debug. There is also error capturing while packaging content for distribution. Errors are given for syntax errors in code. The product is delivered with a web server that is installed with the product. It is used to permit viewing courses through a web browser in exactly the same manner the course would be as delivered from a server. Furthermore, if the workstation hosting WebMentor Author is a part of a local area network, it can be accessed from any other computer on that network. This permits testing the course from platforms that may run various operating systems as well as browsers of different versions from various vendors. Extensive error messages are presented to the screen and logged in a log file. No, there is no trouble-shooting function provided.

Debugger

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

There is only a OpenScript debugger for the scripting language. No, Authorware does not provide a debugging function. DazzlerMax has a built-in debugger to trap events, test the value of variables, and control execution flow. Under the Validate Output Window, if DazzlerMax encounters problems with the presentation, authors will see warning and error messages in the Validation tab. The debugger also helps authors to know where they are in the logic. Includes very powerful debug feature: authors can set breakpoint, local variable watch window and code stepping. None. None.

Integration Capabilities

Integration capability criteria may include, but are not limited to, compliance with various open standards, availability of third-party add-on modules, and interfaces or opportunities to develop interfaces with ERP, CRM, storefront, database, and legacy systems.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
36 out of 60
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
36 out of 60
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
28 out of 60
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
36 out of 60
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
20 out of 60
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
24 out of 60
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Integration with Multimedia Tools

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Windows Media Player, the RealNetworks RealPlayer G2, and the Macromedia Flash player, etc. Authorware is integrated with Flash 4, QuickTime 4 and Animated GIF. DazzlerMax can integrate with Active Movie, Microsoft Active-X, Shockware, etc. Seamless integration of ActiveX objects, such as 3-D controls, streaming video and audio, combo boxes, virtual reality objects, HTML, objects and Java objects. The macro feature allows WebMentor Author to quickly and easily incorporate content created with virtually any multimedia tool, including Real, Authorware, Director, Shockwave, ToolBook and Emblaze. SocratEase supports the integration of any multimedia element that can be displayed in a browser, including flash, video, audio and streaming technologies.

Integration with Existing Applications

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
12

Instructor integrates with Power Point, authors can customize existing Power Point presentations by adding questions and evaluation objects in Instructor. Authors can create applications using templates, Catalog, dialog boxes, and various palettes. Instructor also integrate with Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and graphs. Authors can embed elements such as web browsers, calendars, Word, etc. None. Word processing files, spreadsheets, presentations, other training applications, 3-D control, HTML objects, Java objects, combo boxes, calendar objects and virtual reality objects. None. Word, PowerPoint, Excel documents can be imported into course material.

Integration with course management tools

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Ingenium learning management system (Also from click2learn.com). Lotus's Pathware. Ingenium, Gen21, On Track, Pathware, PLM and Training Server Technology. Gilat's Manager's Edge. Avilar's WebMentor Enterprise. None.

Packaging and Distributing courses

How the courses are made available.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
30 out of 50
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
30 out of 50
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
30 out of 50
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
30 out of 50
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
30 out of 50
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
22 out of 50
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Delivery Method

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
16

Authors can distribute your course to the Internet, an intranet, a local area network or CD-ROM. Authors can distribute their work in several ways: on disk, on CD-ROM, or over a local area network, a corporate intranet, or the Internet. Authors can create CD-ROM-web hybrids that contain an Authorware piece but receive updated information over a network. Authors can package their titles in a CD or a floppy disk. Authors can automatically package their title to run with the DazzlerMax Java player, or turn their presentation into HTML for a Web site and Deliver the title for Window 3.x. Courses can deliver to the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, and a CD-ROM. Authors can have a Net or hybrid delivery environment that combines CD-ROM delivery with Net delivery. Courses may be delivered over the Internet, over corporate intranets, and from CD-ROM. The product also supports hybrid delivery. Web or intranet only.

Packaging and Distributing capability

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

The AutoPackager will gather all the files used in your application to create a setup program and copy these files to one location. Authors can also automatically convert your application and graphics into Internet standard formats and create all the necessary directories for your HTML, media, and Java files using the Export for Web feature. With the included FTP utility, you then can upload your application to a web server for immediate access. The AutoPackager also incorporates installation technology from InstallShield. During the export process, Instructor will actually create different versions of the application along with a special index page. This index page automatically deletes which version of the browser the student has and sends the right export application version. The course will be compressed for protection and sizing reasons. To deploy applications over the web, Authorware provides the Authorware Web Player, a portable runtime player that delivers consistent results regardless of the browser type or version. Compression, streaming, and support for low-bandwidth formats like Flash, Shockwave audio, and Voxware audio facilitate delivering rich media and interactivity over the web. Authors can package external media internally, which improves the performance of web-packaged pieces when use Knowledge Stream. The DazzlerMax Packager can gather together all the media files the author have used in hisr presentation, compress the files for distribution and create a Windows installation program. Authors can add autorun or run from a CD used by customers. Authors can package to a single DZL file embedding all media for maximum protection. It will be essentially impossible to uncouple the media or decompile the file. Upon release, a project and its related files will combine into one file. Authors can also create an executable to launch the released project, include an icon file for the released project, and create an install program to install the released project and the fonts the project uses, etc. Courses may be imported/exported in source code form for transfer between authors. Additionally, the product includes a feature called Publishing that allows a course to be easily exported for installation on the server. Logon protection in the form of User ID and password is provided Content distribution is HTML based. The release course is password and 128 bit protected.

Server

The application's integral components for providing clients with services.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
12 out of 20
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
16 out of 20
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
12 out of 20
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
12 out of 20
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
12 out of 20
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
0 out of 20
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Indexing and Searching Capabilities

Weight: 3 Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
16

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
12

Weighted Score:
0

Authors can use the Find command on the Edit menu to search for Text and use the Replace command if you want to specify a replacement text. Full-text search function is provided. Authors can select from current map windows or current application etc. They can search keywords, icon title, whole word, calculations, etc. They can also change the phrase to a replaced word. The uniqueness of Authorware is that even students can search for words or keywords. Search/Replace features allow authors to search for any text within Actions/Response, including text action, icon text, and filenames. They can search in Current Presentation or All Open Presentations. Then they can replace the phrase with Replace The Occurrence or Replace All Matching Phrases automatically. Under Help, authors can search through content, index, and find. For Content, authors can search in a book (such as Working with Quest Files). Under Index, authors can select an index entry such as Adding a Video File . The Help text display also includes related links such as Setting Video File Properties. Under Find, authors are able to search for specific words and phrases in Help topics, instead of searching for info by category. Authors can search for text anywhere at any level in a title: flowchart, object lists, or content of objects. The search feature allows authors to search for words or phrases, and replace with a new word or string function is available. The product does not support a user dictionary. There is no search function in SocratEase.

Reporting

Environment for retrieving and manipulating stored reports.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
16 out of 30
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
6 out of 30
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
14 out of 30
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
2 out of 30
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
16 out of 30
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
14 out of 30
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Standard Reports

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
2

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Instructor has possibly the best printing function among the evaluated products. Authors can print the pages of their Instructor application, reports or scripts. Authors can print a draft, all of the pages in a book, pages sharing the current background, the current page, and a range of pages in a book. When authors print a report, they can select available Record Fields, and the style can be columns and groups. Page range: this page only, current background, and pages elsewhere. Authors can scale the pages and also add headers and footers to the print report, such as date/time or Confidential. None. DazzlerMax does not have any pre-defined standard report, but authors can print a project and task report displaying their authoring content. None. There is no standard report; however, authors can print the project page by page from the screen. The server component provides for more than 50 standard reports for the different types of users. You can view course outline. The course can only be printed page by page. SocratEase also provides a few course management standard reports such as : Student report card: Results of all exams taken. Test result reports: Administrators and instructors can generate reports showing exam results. Student reports: See enrollment. User reports: Shows the users for any course. Course reports: Detail includes course description, subject area, skill level, maximum enrollment, seating status, and date of last modification.

Custom Reports

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
8

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
4

Custom reports can be done through OpenScript. Authors can use OpenScript expressions to define printing conditions that control which pages in a book are printed. For example, they can set printing conditions to print pages that use a background named Presentation or PurchaseDate containing today's date. None. Through Active-X autors can directly incorporate the Crystal Report Writer engine. None. An SQL query feature is provided for creating custom ad hoc reports of information from the database. The database is ODBC compliant, so that any of a number of products like Crystal Reports may be used without customization of the product. Reports may be displayed on the screen or sent to a file in list or tab-delimited format for input to any of a variety of programs for further analysis. If data is migrated to native database (such as SQL or ORACLE), any kind of reporting can be done.

Error and Event Logging

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
6

None. Yes. Knowledge Track function will track all the file level activities. Authors can turn event logging on while in development mode, outputting execution to a trace file. Through the use of variables they can capture data on any kind of event. None. Several error and event logging files are maintained for monitoring and troubleshooting purposes. Yes, there is a event logging function provided. All events will log into a HTML file.

Customization

The features and functionality that facilitate tailoring or modifying of the product.

Factor: Standard

Product Name ToolBook II Instructor
7.1 Authorware Attain
5.1 DazzlerMax
5.0 Quest
6.0 WebMentor Author
2.12 SocratEase
1.6

Manufacturer click2learn.com Macromedia MaxIT Corporation Mentergy, Inc. Avilar Technologies, Inc. Eutectics Corporation

Group Score:
38 out of 50
Total Score:
692 out of 1245 Group Score:
32 out of 50
Total Score:
671 out of 1245 Group Score:
24 out of 50
Total Score:
633 out of 1245 Group Score:
28 out of 50
Total Score:
610 out of 1245 Group Score:
24 out of 50
Total Score:
553 out of 1245 Group Score:
16 out of 50
Total Score:
515 out of 1245

Scripting Language Support

Weight: 2 Weighted Score:
6

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
4

Weighted Score:
0

Weighted Score:
0

Instructor provides full-featured OpenScript programming language. It has fully integrated script editor, a script debugger and object browsers. With OpenScript, authors can customize lessons to meet their unique needs. Create new learning objects, customize existing objects and program their lessons to exhibit unique behavior or to simulate special processes. None. There is no scripting language provided in this product. However, Authorware combining of variables, functions, and expressions, along with if..then statements and repeat loops, to guide Authorware exactly what the author want it to do. None. A fully functional C-like scripting language is built into Quest, supporting nearly all standard C functionality. None. There is no scripting language provided. None. There is no scripting language provided.

Customization

Weight: 4 Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
32

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
24

Weighted Score:
16

Any of the ready-made templates can be customized and distributed to other authors. Authors can also create their own templates, create and manage new objects to linking to functions in DLLs, and customize objects by setting their properties to define their appearance and behavior. Authors can also customize the Catalogs so that their objects use your default settings, custom artwork, and other unique features. Overall, the Customization function is very good. Templates, Wizards, Knowledge Objects are all customizable. The DazzlerMax interface is configurable, allowing authors to add/remove icons and re-arrange windows. It supports a dual-monitor development mode. Templates and style sheets can be customized allowing authors to quickly build libraries of content for reuse. Quest is quite an open structure product. Almost everything is customizable such as font options, shadow, FastTrack templates, and courses. Dockable and customizable, for example: adding Active-X objects to the toolbar. The Toolbar is organized in the following categories: Graphics, Animation, Audio/Video, Controls, Internet, CMI, and Interact. Author has the ability to customize course templates and develop new macros for use in courses. Avilar offers customization services as necessary to meet specified requirements. In addition, the authoring user interface can be modified to support additional features through the addition of buttons tied to local or remote programs. The course building process can be extended as well to include additional steps like building text search tables, and post-processing material. Customization including modifying the look and feel, system icons, presentation format and even product name. Most of the customization can be done by admin using a standard browser.