Every step in a recorded manual gets a short title, like "Click Save" or "Enter 25.00 in Amount". This page explains where those names come from, what they look like, and what to do when one is wrong.
Where the names come from
When you click something, Sopycat asks Windows what you clicked. Most programs answer with the name of the button, tab, box or menu item. When a program doesn't say, Sopycat reads the words on the screen around your click instead.
Words read from the screen are checked against a dictionary. If they don't look like real words, Sopycat doesn't guess. The step is called "Click the highlighted button" and the picture shows you which one.
Names are made on your computer while the manual is written. How the rest of the sentence is written depends on the option you picked. See Choose how the words get written.
What the names look like
Step names are short commands that use the words on the screen, so the reader can match them to what they see.
| What you did | What the step is called |
|---|---|
| Clicked a button | Click Save |
| Clicked a tab | Open the Invoices tab |
| Ticked a box | Tick Remember me |
| Picked an option | Select Monthly |
| Opened a drop-down list | Open the Country list |
| Clicked into a box | Click the Amount field |
| Picked from a list | Choose Canada in Country |
| Picked from a menu | Choose File › Export |
| Typed into a box | Enter 25.00 in Amount |
| Typed a password | Enter the Password |
| Double-clicked or right-clicked | Double-click Report, Right-click Report |
| Used a keyboard shortcut | Press Ctrl+S |
Opening a list and picking from it becomes one step, not two. The same goes for a menu.
Rules Sopycat follows
- Window and page titles never name a click. If you click somewhere in the "Invoices" window, the step isn't called "Click Invoices".
- Boxes are named by their label, not by what you typed. You get "Enter 25.00 in Amount", not "Click 25.00".
- Buttons with no words, such as a small icon, are named from their tooltip when they have one.
- Long names are shortened with "…" so the step stays readable.
- Passwords are never written down. A password box gives "Enter the Password", never the password itself.
Check the names while you record
The recording bar has a live caption. It shows the name the manual will give the last thing you did. If it looks wrong, you can do that action again, or carry on and fix the name after you stop. See The recording bar.
If a step has the wrong name
Library › open a manual › click the step's title
- Open the manual.
- Click the title of the step. It turns into a text box.
- Type the name you want. It saves by itself.
The instructions under the picture are separate. Click in that box to change them too. See Write the instructions.
If the picture shows the wrong moment or the box is in the wrong place, see Fix the pictures.
Get better names next time
- Pause for a moment after each click. This gives Sopycat time to see what you clicked and what changed.
- Watch the live caption on the recording bar. If a name looks wrong, do that action again while you are still recording.
- If something important happens without a click, press Ctrl+F8 to mark it. See Mark a spot without clicking.
Common questions
Some punctuation I typed came out different
Sopycat reads typed text as if you use a US keyboard layout. If your keyboard is set to another layout, some punctuation may come out as a different character. Letters and numbers are fine. Fix the text in the step by hand.
Why does a step say "Click the highlighted button"?
The program didn't tell Windows what the button was called, and the words near it couldn't be read clearly. The picture's box shows which button it was. Rename the step to say what the button does.
Can I stop typed words appearing in step names?
Yes. Turn off Settings › Buttons while recording › Write down what I type before you record. Steps still say which box to fill in, and ask the reader to enter the value. See What if I type a password?
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