Support videos for backend

[SanderBroek]

The next few months we start producing video tutorials for CMSMS. These videos will focus on use of the backend. It's quite easy to make 'm generally available. If you're interested please let me know.

We created some videos in the past. There is a tutorial serie available at DemoWolf (really old). But there's a real need for good ones.

Compared to the old ones, we'll focus on:

- very short, easy steps for end users (1 minute each)
- create a complete basic series
- a few generally used modules
- in english
- without a brand

If you have any ideas on those tutorials, please let me know.

[SanderBroek]

Ok, some more concrete questions:

- can you help us with your feedback?
- do you want them to be generally available?
- what subjects *must* be covered?

[compufairy]

Hi Sander,

It's thrilling to read that you are willing to make these videos! Creating videos has been sitting on my to-do list way too long!

Feedback:

general availability, branding and due credits
Oh yes, please! For example on a dedicated YouTube page. You state you will want to make these videos without brands, which is fantastic as by doing so you provide a lot of professionals who create sites in CMSMS with a great tool for their customers. However, I personally think that credits should go where credits belong. If I were you, I would create a separate channel on YouTube and present yourself (and/or your company) as the creator of the tutorials.

Clarity on applicable versions
I think it is important to make it very clear which version of CMSMS you used at the time you made the tutorial.

Compliance with the CMS Made Simple™ Trademark Policy
Please make sure you follow the policy as listed on this page: http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/about-link ... rk-policy/

proposed subjects
I am quite sure there are more items that could be listed than just the ones I list here, but these are the first ones that come to my mind.

Core basics:
- general introduction to CMS Made Simple™
- create a page, part 1 - general
- create a page, part 2 - the options panel explained
- Using MicroTiny*
- reordering pages
- News Module
- lost password functionality
- creating bookmarks and shortcuts in the admin landing page

* From version 1.10.x MicroTiny is the default editor in CMSMS. However, as many choose to install TinyMCE, a video on how to use TinyMCE would also be a great asset.

Core advanced:
- Admin user - general introduction what you can do if you have admin rights;
- Admin user - add/remove users and setting user permissions
- Admin user - Site down settings

Questions:

1. Would you keep the tutorials up to date?
I am familiar with the tutorials on DemoWolf and yes, their demos are slick but really outdated. Are you willing and able to keep yours up to date?

2. Are you willing to collaborate for other languages?
You plan to make these in English, which is great. My question is if would you be willing to create them in such a way that it would be not too hard to create versions in other languages too?

In my original plan for tutorials I intended to create them in PowerPoint and Keynote with screenshots and then export them as video (using Adobe Captivate). The general idea behind this particular creation process is that I consider it an advantage is that when we would find (or get assistance offered from) volunteers to create the same tutorial in another language, like German or French, the basic set up would already be there and screenshots and commenting texts could be easily replaced. Then the file could be sent to whoever ports the presentations to video and publishes them.

Would this be something you'd want to consider? Or are the tools you use not suitable for such a collaboration? Or is there a middle road?

......

I look forward to read your response. If you want to have a chat, you know where and how to find me...

Anne-Mieke

[tdlwebs]

Excellent idea! I was planning on producing some very simple end user tutorials myself but just don't seem to get the time :-/

Some generic 'edit page' 'add news item' etc tutorials would be a fabulous resource to direct my clients to.

T

[jissey]

Hi,
Sometime, I use video to explain to my clients how use some functions in their web site.
To do that, I use Wink for screen capture.
The advantage of Wink is that you can export and import the texte.
You can also export the video in PDF format.
You can add new frames. So it's easy to maintain the capture up to date.
With only one free software, it is possible to have a good result.

For theme of tutorials, it will be nice to have videos of most of used modules.

This was my feedback

[SanderBroek]

here's a list of items we will produce:

Login
Log out
Image management
Add Image/Image map
Edit or delete image
Page management
Page order
New Page
Edit or delete Page
Article managment
Article order
New Article
Edit or delete Article
File Managment
File Uploaden
Album Managment
Album order
New Album
Edit or delete Album
HTML Blokken
User Managment
New User
Edit or delete User

Suggestions?

[paulbaker]

Suggestions?

Seems like a very comprehensive list - my clients generally use less features. Thanks for doing this!

[SanderBroek]

Here's the first impression for video #1:

http://vimeo.com/32560311

[paulbaker]

Smart video. My only comment is that some people (me!) do not put the admin area at /admin but at some other sub directory. Better security - hackers don't know where to start attacking.

So maybe say "Go to http://www.example.com/admin or wherever your administration area is."

[blackhawk]

Videos on the latest versions of cmsms that come out and what they do differently from what past versions of cmsms did would be a big help for me. I may catch a few new things, but I'm sure the designers of the system know all the secrets that developers can use.

I would also favor in vidoes for tips and tricks on cmsms most popular modules! that would be hot and I would watch that every day like I did back in the day with voltron and thundercats.

[SanderBroek]

Thanks!! Every feedback is very welcome. We appreciate it

some people (me!) do not put the admin area at /admin but at some other sub directory.

We try to make the videos as simple and stupid as we can. So, no explanation for every specific situation.

Videos on the latest versions of cmsms that come out and what they do differently from what past versions of cmsms

Great idee, i'll put it on the wishlist

I would also favor in vidoes for tips and tricks on cmsms most popular modules!

Any ideas for modules? Which ones are popular?

[SanderBroek]

We got the message that it was made in 1.6... oooops

We are going to use version 1.9.4.3 as we're building almost every website with it.

[SanderBroek]

Ok, we started with the dutch series, english will come up next. Here are the first five:

Inloggen http://vimeo.com/33144036
Uitloggen http://vimeo.com/33223521
Afbeelding beheer http://vimeo.com/33223737
Toevoegen afbeelding http://vimeo.com/33224047
Toevoegen afbeelding map http://vimeo.com/33774312
Afbeelding verwijderen http://vimeo.com/33774171

Please let me know what you think

[blackhawk]

very nice! so far

[compufairy]

Nice.... but didn't I read in the first post: - without a brand?