As you record topics, the Recorder captures action areas and print areas (if detected). Action areas define the hotspots of the screen for the simulation (See It!, Try It!, Do It!) modes. Some action areas (for example, edit fields, radio buttons, and checkboxes) do not include important context information, like the field label. In simulation modes, the field labels are not important as the user sees the context for the action area as they interact with the screen. However, in print, only the action area appears in the step table; the additional context, such as the field label or group label, is not included. Print output is more easily understood if the step table includes print areas that include field labels along with action areas.

When the Recorder senses a print area from the screen context, it captures the action area and a separate print area sized to include the captured label as well as the action area. The Recorder captures a print area for most mouse events, even if it does not detect a label. For example, you do not see a separate print area for clicking a button, such as the Search or OK button, because the print and action areas overlap. If the Recorder does not capture a separate print area for a frame, the print output uses the action area; however, you can override the action area for print by manually adding a print area to a frame in the Topic Editor.

Note: If you recapture an action, the print area is also recaptured if a change in the print area is detected.

The print area, similar to the action area, is a semi-transparent rectangle. The area appears as a magenta rectangle to differentiate it from the red action area. You can move the print area, resize it using the selectors, or delete it. While a frame may contain multiple action areas, it can contain only one print area. Changes to the print area can be undone using Undo.

When you view a frame in the Topic Editor, the action area appears on top of the print area, covering all or part of the print area. Both the action and print areas are visible for all player modes and print outputs on the Display list. You can choose to hide or show the action or print areas for ALL frames. Deselecting Show Action Area or Show Print Area hides the corresponding area; deselecting both options hides all print and action areas.

Note: The state of the icons affects the display in the Topic Editor only; it does not affect the published output.

The placeholder in the print template for the document type determines the maximum width and height of the print area. The default setting for the print area uses the full width of the Action column in the step-action table. The print area is scaled if it is too large to fit the step-action table. Conversely, action areas that are too large to fit the step-action table are excluded rather than scaled. 

To create a new print area for the current frame:

1. Display the Frame Properties toolpane, if necessary.
    
2. Click  Modify action and print areas and choose Create Print Area.
    
   or
    
   Right-click the action area and choose Create Print Area.
    
3. Resize and reshape the new print area.

To delete a print area from the current frame:

1. Display the Frame Properties toolpane, if necessary.
      
2. Click  Modify action and print areas and choose the Delete Print Area command.
    
   or
   
   Right-click the print area and choose Delete Print Area.
    
3. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

To show/hide action or print areas in all frames:

1. From the View menu, point to Show Area, and click  Action Area to show or hide the action areas for all frames.
    
2. From the View menu, point to Show Area, and click  Print Area to show or hide the print area for all frames.
    
   Note: You can use the Show Action Area and Show Print Area icons on the toolbar to show and hide the areas and determine the visual state of the areas for the topic.

Table of Contents  Back