The e-Learning Authoring Conference

Min-e-Con is Here!

As the statement below says, we have ended our annual conference in its original format. However, we have just created the 2011 Min-e-Con to be held May 24 - 26, 2011 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Click here to learn all the details.

Statement from Jeff Rhodes
President, Platte Canyon Multimedia Software Corporation

We have reluctantly decided to end The ToolBook User’s Conference/e-Learning Authoring Conference. While we know that this conference has been a professional highlight for many of you, we feel the need to concentrate on our core strengths, namely creating software for Improving the Lives of Training Developers.

It has been a joy to get to know all of you who have attended the conference over the past twelve years. Thank you for all your support. Rest assured, we’ll spend the time that we would have used on the conference making our product line even stronger. We also may try to organize some webinars or other online events as well.

Learning & Mastering ToolBook 11.5 Available

Completely updated for ToolBook 11.5, this popular CBT adds new content on publishing to the web, new tools, updated screens and interface, and more. "Learning & Mastering ToolBook" contains over 30 hours of training with 81 Show Me demonstrations, 61 Let Me Try simulations, 434 Expert Information topics, 186 Web Hints, and 186 OpenScript Tips. Also includes extensive content on the Quiz Summary, Importing from PowerPoint, Voice Recordings, SmartPages/SmartStyles, Certificates, Actions Editor, OpenScript, Flash™, XML, HTTP Post, ADO, Automation, REST calls, and much more.

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ToolBook 11.5 Available for Purchase from Platte Canyon

ToolBook developers may now upgrade to the exciting new ToolBook 11.5 release. This version adds an improved publishing to the web wizard, an expanded Resource Manager, enhanced clip art, additional tools, and much more. Receive a $50 credit off any Platte Canyon product with each upgrade. Or receive $100 for each full version purchased!

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TBK Tracker 4 Allows Native Tracking of ToolBook and HTML Content

Version 4 of the leading Learning Management System (LMS) for native content, the Platte Canyon® TBK Tracker, features the a new Player application for hosting HTML content written in Exam Engine™, Training Studio™, and other tools. The Administrator application has been completely rewritten in .NET 4.0 and features expanded batch import and other capabilities. The Reporter program has also been rewritten with .NET and the Microsoft Report Viewer. It includes 61 reports and 75 graphs. Its architecture supports the modification and adding of new reports.

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Training Studio 3 Moves to HTML/JavaScript and Adds Great New Features

Training Studio allows you to create database-driven e-Learning with no programming. Version 3 is now completely HTML and JavaScript, allowing the easy targeting of multiple browsers and mobile devices. All media is played with HTML 5 if available and otherwise with Flash, Windows Media Player, or QuickTime as appropriate. Add or edit page templates using your favorite HTML editor. In addition to buttonClick, mouseEnter, timed bullet templates, Training Studio has great question functionality with matching, "matching lines," sequencing, numeric, hotSpot, and other question types. Training Studio uses easy-to-edit Cascading Style Sheets for virtually all formatting and features the ability to "Show Answers," have the score button optional for questions with a single answer, include "Tech support" emails, allow completion based on visiting all pages or a mastery score, and let users review questions at the end of an exam. Publishing to SCORM 1.2, 2004, and AICC are all supported.

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Exam Engine 4 Offers Database-Driven Exams Completely in HTML/JavaScript

Exam Engine now uses only HTML and JavaScript to create database-driven, SCORM/AICC-conformant exams without any programming. All media is played with HTML 5 if available and otherwise with Flash, Windows Media Player, or QuickTime as appropriate. All question types including matching, "matching lines," sequencing, numeric, hotSpot, multiple choice, and more are supported. Add or edit question templates using your favorite HTML editor. New features include the ability to validate logins/passwords/exams via the included web service, use optional jQuery UI buttons, review questions at the end of the exam, and show scores by objectives. Pull questions randomly by objective, email results to a manager, store question results in Access, SQL Server, or XML, use the optional Reporter program to view reports on question and exam data, include media with questions, easily update questions and objectives, and much more.

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Storyboarder Version 2 Exports ToolBook Screen Captures and Content to PowerPoint or Word

This innovative tool creates a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint storyboard document/presentation from an existing ToolBook book. This includes an optional screen capture of each page, field, button, and other text, question answers/feedback, simulation information, and other content. The PowerPoint export can show the content in speaker notes and/or a textbox on each slide. It can also include a configurable "Comments" box for use by reviewers. Storyboarder is available for ToolBook 11, 10.5, and/or 10.

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Order Programming for e-Learning Developers

Order this new book by Jeff Rhodes that covers both basic programming concepts as well as more advanced tasks like dynamically adding hyperlinks, loading media, making SCORM calls, and more. Best of all, learn how to do these tasks in ToolBook, Flash, JavaScript, and Silverlight. Now only $29.95 plus free shipping within the U.S. and inexpensive shipping the rest of the world!

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2010 e-Learning Authoring Conference "Archives For Attendees" Available

Download the sample applications and presentations from the 40+ e-Learning Conference sessions. At only $50, this is a real steal!

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2010 e-Learning Authoring Conference Resources

While the 2010 edition of The e-Learning Authoring Conference is over, you can still get a taste of it by viewing the group photo, Hack Ack winners, and more.

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• This was my first TBCON after years of wanting to go. Even though my colleagues have raved about it, it far surpassed my expectations. The collegiate tone one gets from this list serve was magnified in spades by Jeff's and his family's gracious hosting, fun, everyone's open and helpful contributions of knowledge, fun, sharing of files and know-how, and...did I mention fun and sharing knowledge?  (2009)
• This TB community is very collegial. I'm glad I finally got to attend TBCON.  (2009)
• My first post here after TBCON: and indeed it was really great experience. Thank you Jeff!!! and all the participants!  (2008)
• After learning a lot, spending time with friends, enjoying the official reception, banquet, music, and the non-official Phantom-Canyon gathering, I feel refreshed and energized.  (2008)
• My favorite part was all the helpful ideas that materialized when it became known I had a "code" problem.  (2008)
• My favorite parts were 1) the people and getting to know how other people utilize ToolBook and 2) how the instructors and staff were willing to share.  (2007)
• It is just a great learning experience.  (2006)
• The best part was the chance to ask the experts and see SumTotal there.  (2006)
• Excellent value--I always learn more than my brain can hold. I look forward to the archive info.  (2005)
• I wanting to take this opportunity to THANK YOU both for TBCON 2001. I learned so much! At one point about a month ago, I was working in TB and ran in to a situation using some canned widget and just could not get it to work correctly. Within about 10 minutes, I had a script that did the same thing only better! My apps are much more efficient to the end user as well. My boss looked at my latest work and immediately asked ... "Did you learn this at the conference?"  (2001)
• It kind of reminds me of something Johnny Carson used to do with the "Amazing Karnack" where he would hold the envelope up to his head and name the content inside based on some clue written on the outside. In this case I could envision the outside saying "Sex and Platte Canyon' s ToolBook Conference". The inside would say "name two great experiences you have to personally be a player in order to appreciate". Words do not describe the value and rewards from attending this conference. I continue to tell my management that if there is only one thing we get to attend due to budgetary issues I want it to be this conference.  (2001)