A Screen Capture Utility

The Screen Capture program lets you capture the entire screen, windows, and parts of windows, and then save them in either JPG or BMP format.

The Screen Capture program runs in the system tray. You can access its options either by clicking on the icon in the system tray to display the main window or by using the right-click menu.

A.1 Main Window

The Main Window consists of a menu bar and an area for displaying the screen capture once it is taken. Using the Capture menu, you select the type of screen capture that you want to take. Once the screen capture is take, you can then save the screen capture or copy it for pasting into another application.

A.2 Menu Options

The Screen Capture utility has the following menu options:

A.2.1 File Menu

Save As - displays the Save As dialog box for saving the screen capture in either JPG or BMP format.

Preferences - displays the Preferences dialog box for setting the Screen Capture utility preferences. You can set whether to integrate with Oracle Test Manager, to display instructions before capturing an active window, and set the number of seconds to wait before taking the screen capture.

Close - closes the application but does not remove it from the system tray. To exit the application, right click the icon in the system tray and select Exit.

A.2.2 Edit Menu

Copy - copies the screen capture to the clipboard so that you can paste it into another application.

Clear - removes the current screen capture from the Screen Capture utility.

A.2.3 Capture Menu

Entire Screen - captures the entire screen display.

Active Window - captures the active window after a specified number of seconds. The delay lets you make sure the correct window is active.

Specific Window - captures the selected portion of a window such as the right or left pane, toolbar, etc.

Selected Region - changes the cursor to a cross hair and captures the selected area.

A.2.4 Help Menu

Contents - displays the help table of contents.

About - displays version and copyright information.

A.3 Setting Preferences

To change the Screen Capture utility settings:

  1. Select Preferences from the File menu to display the preferences dialog box.

    Integrate with Oracle Test Manager - when selected, the screen capture utility is available in Oracle Test Manager. You may want to deselect this setting for debugging purposes if there is a browser problem.

    Display instructions before capturing active window - when selected, a dialog box is displayed explaining that the active window screen capture will take place after the configured number of seconds.

    Seconds to wait before capturing active window - specifies how long to wait before capturing the active window. This delay lets you ensure that the correct window is active and also give you time to click on a menu if you want to include the menu in the screen capture.

  2. Make any changes.

  3. Click OK.

A.4 Capturing Screens

The following sections explain the screen capture methods.

A.4.1 Capturing the Entire Screen

To capture the entire screen:

  1. Select Entire Screen from the Capture menu.

  2. The Screen Capture utility minimizes itself, captures the entire window, and redisplays.

  3. Select Save As from the File menu to display the Save As dialog box. Select where to save the file, enter a name, and click Save.

    Or

    Select Copy from the Edit menu to copy the screen capture to the clipboard. You can then paste it into another application.

  4. Select Clear from the Edit menu to remove the screen capture from the utility.

A.4.2 Capturing a Window

You can capture the active window. There is a user-configurable delay or several seconds between the time you select this option and when the screen capture is taken. This delay lets you select the active window to capture.

Note:

Some part of the window you want to capture must be visible on the screen before you select this option since the utility captures the first window you click on.

To capture an active window:

  1. Select Active Window from the Capture menu.

  2. The Screen Capture utility minimizes itself.

  3. If the Display instructions before capturing active window is selected in preferences, a dialog box is displayed explaining what the utility will do. Click OK.

  4. If the active window is not the one you want to capture, click on the window you want to capture. If you want to capture a menu, expand the menu.

  5. After the delay, the utility captures the window and redisplays.

  6. Select Save As from the File menu to display the Save As dialog box. Select where to save the file, enter a name, and click Save.

    Or

    Select Copy from the Edit menu to copy the screen capture to the clipboard. You can then paste it into another application.

  7. Click Clear from the Edit menu to remove the screen capture from the utility.

A.4.3 Capturing Part of a Window

You can capture just part of a window such as a right or left pane or toolbar. To capture part of a window:

  1. Select the window that you want to take a partial screen shot of.

  2. Select Specific Window from the Capture menu.

  3. The Screen Capture utility minimizes itself.

  4. You can move the mouse around the window to see the part that can be captured. Select the part of the window you want to capture.

  5. The utility captures the window and redisplays.

  6. Select Save As from the File menu to display the Save As dialog box. Select where to save the file, enter a name, and click Save.

    Or

    Select Copy from the Edit menu to copy the screen capture to the clipboard. You can then paste it into another application.

  7. Click Clear from the Edit menu to remove the screen capture from the utility.

A.4.4 Capturing a Region

You can capture a user-selected region of the screen. To capture a region:

  1. Select the window that you want to take a partial screen shot of.

  2. Select Region from the Capture menu.

  3. The Screen Capture utility minimizes itself and the cursor becomes a cross hair.

  4. Click and drag to select the part of the screen you want to capture.

  5. When you release the mouse, the utility captures the window and redisplays.

  6. Select Save As from the File menu to display the Save As dialog box. Select where to save the file, enter a name, and click Save.

    Or

    Select Copy from the Edit menu to copy the screen capture to the clipboard. You can then paste it into another application.

  7. Click Clear from the Edit menu to remove the screen capture from the utility.