printing text variables on a certificate

[Chrisfleet]

I need to print a certificate to show that the end user has passed the course, thefinal page displays their name {username} and a randomly chosen certificate number {finalcertnum}. However, printscreen() does not print as required, it takes up approx. a quarter of the page. How can I get the end user to print the certificate with just those particular variables on it?

Many thanks
Chris Fleet Many thanks
Chris
Hereford Hornet

 

[multimed]

The print screen function in authorware is very limited. There are some third party companies that have created nicer printing tools:

The Media Shoppe (

http://www.mediashoppe.com)

sells a tool called mPrint for $299. You can download it and try it before you buy it. With mPrint, you create mpf documents using the mPrint Designer to layout the document and place the variables, and then call the functions from Authorware to Print or Preview the document. We've used it and it's pretty good. It's a little awkward, so there's a learning curve. There are demos located in the Goodies folder on the Authorware 6 CD.

We've also used a program called Layout for Authorware and the upgrade, Knowledge Display. It's by Stefan Van As, and I really like it. It feels pretty much like working in word. I don't remember what it cost, (I'm guessing in the neighborhood of $50-100). I can't find much info up--his site has changed so I'm not sure if he's still selling it or not (he's been hired on at Macromedia since he created the programs).

Brummell Associates (

http://www.brummell-associates.co.uk/)

has a program called Print.u32 for 100 british pounds. I've never tried it so I don't know much about it. There's a demo of it on the Authorware 6 CD in the Goodies folder.

There's also the Print UCD found on the Authorware 5 CD. It's relatively basic, but it's free.

I'm sure there are others (Print-oMatic is another one I just thougth of).

If you're doing something simple, or can't afford to pay for a commercial Xtra or UCD, there are a couple of other options as well. You can have Authorware write out an RTF or HTML file, and just JumpPrintReturn to use the user's default application for those filetypes (probably Wordpad & IE or Netscape). This will give you some control and formatting without having to worry about the user not having a program to handle say Micrsoft Word or even Adobe Acrobat documents.

If you want to see some samples, feel free to email me.

steve
mrmultimedia@yahoo.com