ToolBook

ToolBook user interface

ToolBook was a Microsoft Windows based e-learning content authoring application, initially released in 1990 by Asymetrix Corporation, now SumTotal Systems. ToolBook uses a book metaphor — a project file is thought of as a book containing pages of content. This is very similar to Microsoft PowerPoint’s use of the metaphor where presentations contain various slides. ToolBook was often compared to HyperCard^[1][2][3] and Visual Basic.^[4][5][6]

The first version of ToolBook was demonstrated in 1990 episode of The Computer Chronicles, in an episode about Windows 3.0.^[7]

The final version of ToolBook, 11.5, was released in December 2012. SumTotal Systems ended all sales and support of Toolbook on December 31, 2021.^[8]

Runtime environments

ToolBook allows for the creation of applications and training materials for Windows and/or the web. To support these two distribution models, ToolBook contains two different programming environments:

• OpenScript: ToolBook includes a very capable built-in programming language called OpenScript, which is similar to HyperTalk. OpenScript is object oriented and event-driven, where chunks of programming code are associated to the different elements within the lesson. The OpenScript language only functions within the Native engine of ToolBook. It does not function in DHTML-delivered content.
• Actions Editor: The Actions Editor is another programming environment where the syntax is virtually identical to OpenScript. The biggest difference is that the Actions Editor is not as powerful a language as OpenScript. Whereas OpenScript has over a thousand commands and functions, the Actions Editor contains perhaps 80. However, Actions Editor programming code works equally well within ToolBook (Native) as well as in a web browser (DHTML).

Features

ToolBook’s key features are:

• Catalog - The Catalog is a repository of objects that can be added to your project. For example: Text fields, Buttons, Question Objects, Rectangles, Navigation Controls. You can even add your own objects to the catalog so that they can be used later in different projects.
• Book Explorer - The Book Explorer will display a tree-view breakdown of all objects on a given page.
• PowerPoint Converter - The PowerPoint Add-on (called SumTotal Publish To ToolBook) will allow you to convert a PowerPoint presentation into a ToolBook file. Once installed, you'll find this Add-on within the main Ribbon within PowerPoint.
• Simulation Recorder - The Simulation Recorder will watch and record you interacting with another application, and allow you to import that simulation into ToolBook as an interactive simulation (this is not a video recording).
• Simulation Editor - You can create your own simulations manually or edit/modify a simulation you recorded using the Simulation Recorder. Simulations can be played back in 3 modes: Demonstration (sit back and watch), Practice (provides detailed next-step instruction to user, allowing them to complete the simulation), Assessment (let the user attempt the simulation by themselves).
• Path Animation - Any object in ToolBook can be configured to move (animate) across the page using a simple or even complex path.
• Media Players - ToolBook supports the ability to play Audio and Videos in a wide variety of formats, supported by these 4 media technologies: Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, QuickTime, Flash.
• SCORM/AICC - ToolBook provides SCORM and AICC support within web-published lessons for use in SCORM/AICC compliant Learning Management Systems.
• AutoPackager - In order to distribute a Native lesson or application to a Windows computer (in non-DHTML format), the AutoPackager is used. It has the ability to wrap your lesson into a Windows Installer so an end user can install it onto their computer.
• Quiz - Many question objects (True/False, Multiple-Choice, Match Item, etc.) exist in ToolBook to allow you to create a training lesson. Various scoring behaviors also exist, such as Score This Page (or Range of Pages). Using the Actions Editor, you can design complex navigation within a lesson based on individual question scores.

Version history

Below is an historical list of English versions of ToolBook:[9] 1990 ToolBook 1.0 1991 ToolBook 1.52, 1.53 ---- There was never a 2.0 release 1994 ToolBook 3.0 and 3.0a Computer Based Training (CBT) edition released Allowed for the creation of training lessons Multimedia edition released Introduced full media support 1995 ToolBook 3.01 1996 ToolBook 4.0 1996 ToolBook 5.0, 5.01 1998 ToolBook 6.0, 6.1, 6.1a Librarian integration HTML Frame Support added Neuron Impulse added AutoPackager replaces the Setup Manager InstallShield Express templates Object Browser added Page Browser added Log Reader added 1998 ToolBook 6.5 Coach added Templates feature added HTML export now offers true object positioning Neuron's Impulse improved by adding compression abilities 1999 ToolBook 7.0 1999 ToolBook 7.1 DHTML Export added Actions Editor added Universal Media Player added Lesson Design Specialist added Agent added to read Coach text 2000 ToolBook 7.2 2000 ToolBook 8.0 eLN Support added HTTP Post added to Actions Editor Array support added to Actions Editor SCORM and AICC Support added Catalog completely redesigned 2001 ToolBook 8.1 Questions now offer Media feedback Print command added to Actions Editor Backup feature added 2002 ToolBook 8.5 Simulation support added DHTML: Export now support encryption & obfuscation DHTML: Creation of ZIP package file added 2003 ToolBook 8.6 Sun JVM now supported Cross Domain HTTP Post now supported 2004 ToolBook 2004 (aka 8.9) Simulation Recorder added Action Methods support added Execute SCORM action added to Actions Editor 2004 ToolBook 2004 SP1 Various Simulation enhancements added Ability to set or clear focus added to Actions Editor 2005 ToolBook 2004 SP2 DHTML export no longer relies on JVM Firefox and Mozilla support added SCORM 2004 support added QuickTime support added to the Universal Media Player 2005 ToolBook 2004 SP3 Added support to store Actions Editor variables in LMS TotalLMS catalog objects added 2007 ToolBook 9.0 Now a 32 bit product Introduction of the Book Explorer Introduction of Smart Styles Universal Media Player updated to use WMP9 instead of WMP6.4 Textline, Item & Word added to Actions Editor RGBStroke and Transparent added to Actions Editor Retired dBase and Pardox database support 2007 ToolBook 9.01 Fixed printing issues Fixed various AutoPackager issues Fixed UMP (On Media Complete) issue Fixed centering of text for long word-wrapped question answers This was the last version of ToolBook Assistant, now retired

2008 ToolBook 9.5 License Key product activation technology added PowerPoint conversion added TBKX (ToolBook XML) file format introduced Voice Recording added PNG image support Certificate catalog category added iPhone/iPod touch support, and Safari browser too Universal Media Player now offers feature to Hide at Reader Mozilla no longer officially supported Windows 2000 is no longer supported Term "Instructor" dropped from product name 2009 ToolBook 9.5 Service Pack 1 Fixed sluggish performance caused by Book Explorer Admin rights no longer needed to publish to DHTML MSI Installer for IT Groups created PNG Transparency now works in IE 6 2009 ToolBook 10.0 Catalog now matches look of the Book Explorer Quiz Summary feature added Match Item Question enhanced to draw smooth lines in DHTML Image object type added All Bitmap Resources now stored in native compressed format Google Android Browser support added Commonly Used Objects category added to catalog Ability to designate Question Text for any given question object Ability to Play/Stop/Pause a voice recording Universal Media Player now offers a Show Speaker Icon feature Borderless Scrolling Field added PowerPoint Converter now converts speaker notes PowerPoint Converter now converts audio 2010 ToolBook 10.0 Patch 1 Fixed: Opening previous version TBK not displaying warning dialog Fixed: Unable to force a Fill In The Blank question object into focus Fixed: Unable to create a new catalog Fixed: Unable to export a catalog category Fixed: Image Object appears out of position by 1 pixel in DHTML Fixed: Images within Recordfields missing in DHTML 2010 ToolBook 10.5 Geolocation support Resizable SmartStyles iPad and Windows Mobile DHTML support Drag/Drop support added to iPhone Resized images now utilize a smooth resizing technology Ctrl-Shift-V pastes unformatted text Improved support for pasting in Word formatted text 2011 ToolBook 10.5 Update 1 Added BlackBerry Mobile Device support 2011 ToolBook 11 Startup Dialog replaced with entirely different interface Question Wizard added 39 New SmartStyles added Arrows Category added to Catalog BlackBerry 6 and Chrome 5 support added Neuron officially retired and pulled from the product Two Tools Added: Move Pages and Reassign Pages Two Tools Added: Delete Unused Extensions, Delete Unused Resources Two Tools Added: Randomization - Configure and Validate Customize Catalog option added to Edit menu Draw Objects enhanced to use Antialiasing and true transparency 2012 ToolBook 11.5 Overhaul of Publish to Web interface, to simplify DHTML Export Enhanced logging of errors/problems when Publishing to Web Improved Resource Manager Voice Recording enhancements Various Bullets and Seals added to the Clipart Catalog category Delete Page utility added Character Map added Display Book Information utility introduced Various right-click menu enhancements Resource Lookup tool added Copy/Paste of text now include field images Discontinued DHTML support for Firefox 2 and IE 6 Use of JS file: Path is now stored as a relative path

References

1. Keep, Christopher; McLaughlin, Tim; Parmar, Robin (1993). "HyperCard". The Electronic Labyrinth. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
2. Crabb, Don (July 9, 1990). "ToolBook Enables Easy Windows 3.0 Programming". InfoWorld. pp. 63–64. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
3. Crabb, Don (August 26, 1991). "ToolBook upgrade easier to learn, faster". InfoWorld. pp. 60–61. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
4. Gibson, Steve (September 16, 1991). "Windows developers finally have the right tools for the job". Tech Talk. InfoWorld. p. 38. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
5. Schulz, Peter (August 19, 1991). "Microsoft Windows gets back to 'Basics'". InfoWorld. pp. 59–60. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
6. Petzold, Charles (June 16, 1992). "The Visual Development Environment: More than Just a Pretty Face?". PC Magazine. pp. 195–237. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
7. Windows 3.0, 1990, retrieved 2018-12-30
8. "PRODUCT END OF LIFE (EOL) NOTICE". SumTotal. June 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
9. "List of ToolBook versions which have previously shipped". SumTotal Systems. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2023.