ToolBook


ToolBook was a Microsoft Windows based e-learning content authoring application, initially released in 1990 by Asymetrix Corporation, now SumTotal Systems. ToolBook uses a book metaphor — a project file is thought of as a book containing pages of content. This is very similar to Microsoft PowerPoint’s use of the metaphor where presentations contain various slides. ToolBook was often compared to HyperCard and Visual Basic.
The first version of ToolBook was demonstrated in 1990 episode of The Computer Chronicles, in an episode about Windows 3.0.
The final version of ToolBook was 11.5. It was released in December 2012.
SumTotal Systems ended all sales and support of ToolBook on December 31, 2021. This also ended the ability to Activate ToolBook installations on new computers. All information about ToolBook has been scrubbed from the company website.
Information about ToolBook can still be found on various public websites such as Platte Canyon, a former reseller of ToolBook products.

WWW Official Site

Runtime environments

ToolBook allows for the creation of applications and training materials for Windows and/or the web. To support these two distribution models, ToolBook contains two different programming environments:
  • OpenScript: ToolBook includes a very capable built-in programming language called OpenScript, which is similar to HyperTalk. OpenScript is object oriented and event-driven, where chunks of programming code are associated to the different elements within the lesson. The OpenScript language only functions within the Native engine of ToolBook. It does not function in DHTML-delivered content.
  • Actions Editor: The Actions Editor is another programming environment where the syntax is virtually identical to OpenScript. The biggest difference is that the Actions Editor is not as powerful a language as OpenScript. Whereas OpenScript has over a thousand commands and functions, the Actions Editor contains perhaps 80. However, Actions Editor programming code works equally well within ToolBook as well as in a web browser.

Features

ToolBook’s key features are:
  • Catalog - The Catalog is a repository of objects that can be added to your project. For example: Text fields, Buttons, Question Objects, Rectangles, Navigation Controls. You can even add your own objects to the catalog so that they can be used later in different projects.
  • Book Explorer - The Book Explorer will display a tree-view breakdown of all objects on a given page.
  • PowerPoint Converter - The PowerPoint Add-on will allow you to convert a PowerPoint presentation into a ToolBook file. Once installed, you'll find this Add-on within the main Ribbon within PowerPoint.
  • Simulation Recorder - The Simulation Recorder will watch and record you interacting with another application, and allow you to import that simulation into ToolBook as an interactive simulation.
  • Simulation Editor - You can create your own simulations manually or edit/modify a simulation you recorded using the Simulation Recorder. Simulations can be played back in 3 modes: Demonstration, Practice, Assessment.
  • Path Animation - Any object in ToolBook can be configured to move across the page using a simple or even complex path.
  • Media Players - ToolBook supports the ability to play Audio and Videos in a wide variety of formats, supported by these 4 media technologies: Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, QuickTime, Flash.
  • SCORM/AICC - ToolBook provides SCORM and AICC support within web-published lessons for use in SCORM/AICC compliant Learning Management Systems.
  • AutoPackager - In order to distribute a Native lesson or application to a Windows computer, the AutoPackager is used. It has the ability to wrap your lesson into a Windows Installer so an end user can install it onto their computer.
  • Quiz - Many question objects exist in ToolBook to allow you to create a training lesson. Various scoring behaviors also exist, such as Score This Page. Using the Actions Editor, you can design complex navigation within a lesson based on individual question scores.

Version history

Below is an historical list of English versions of ToolBook:
  • 1990 ToolBook 1.0
  • 1991 ToolBook 1.52, 1.53
  • ---- There was never a 2.0 release
  • 1994 ToolBook 3.0 and 3.0a
  • 1995 ToolBook 3.01
  • 1996 ToolBook 4.0
  • 1996 ToolBook 5.0, 5.01
  • 1998 ToolBook 6.0, 6.1, 6.1a
  • 1998 ToolBook 6.5
  • 1999 ToolBook 7.0
  • 1999 ToolBook 7.1
  • 2000 ToolBook 7.2
  • 2000 ToolBook 8.0
  • 2001 ToolBook 8.1
  • 2002 ToolBook 8.5
  • 2003 ToolBook 8.6
  • 2004 ToolBook 2004
  • 2004 ToolBook 2004 SP1
  • 2005 ToolBook 2004 SP2
  • 2005 ToolBook 2004 SP3
  • 2007 ToolBook 9.0
  • 2007 ToolBook 9.01
  • 2008 ToolBook 9.5
  • 2009 ToolBook 9.5 Service Pack 1
  • 2009 ToolBook 10.0
  • 2010 ToolBook 10.0 Patch 1
  • 2010 ToolBook 10.5
  • 2011 ToolBook 10.5 Update 1
  • 2011 ToolBook 11
  • 2012 ToolBook 11.5