MadCap Mimic 4.0 is a native XML application designed for creating software simulations and tutorials. The newest version lets you import PowerPoint files, has a new Flash engine, print and output options that support conditionalized publishing. While it will take time to dislodge Adobe FrameMaker, especially legacy users, publishing managers and those responsible for running Technical Writing depts should download a trial copy of this.

PowerPoint Import Simplifies Reuse of E-learning Content

You can now directly import files from Microsoft PowerPoint.

• Technical authors and trainers can create a new movie from existing PowerPoint files or insert slides into an existing movie.
• Mimic 4.0 lets you do this by converting master PowerPoint layout slides into master frames.
• Mimic 4.0 supports “.ppt” and “.pptx” formats, as well as PowerPoint images, background images, shape groups, text boxes, and more.

Enhanced Flash

Mimic 4.0 includes a completely rewritten Flash Compiler that improves the image quality of Flash movie output.

Madcap claims that it reduces the file size by three times smaller than with previous versions.

XPS and PDF First-Class Output Types

It also enhances the print output experience.

The Adobe Portable Document (PDF) and Microsoft XML Paper Specification (XPS) print formats are now available as output types, rather than simple exports.

This will help technical writers and others involved in content creation as features associated with first-class output types—such as condition tags—can now be used with PDF and XPS formats.

Additionally, technical authors can use “Page Setup” options for PDF and XPS formats to specify information such as paper size and orientation.

Usability and Ease-of-Use Enhancements

New usability features include:

• Dynamic Help Window Pane Lock lets the translator keep the current Help topic frozen in place while moving around in the MadCap Mimic interface, making it easier to follow steps or other information placed in the relevant Help topic.
• Minimize to System Tray provides an option to place a shortcut button in the system tray (e.g., notification area) of the task bar when MadCap Mimic is minimized.
• Reorganized Frame Editor facilitates the creation and editing of images.
• Expanded Object Support includes the ability to rotate shapes, as well as add loop and arrow shapes to frames.

Other key features:

Like its other documentation and authoring solutions, Mimic offers:

Unicode support for all left-to-right languages; access to these XML files is useful for translating movies into a range of Western and Asian languages.

Mimic is fully integrated with MadCap Flare for multi-channel single-source publishing and with MadCap Lingo, for translation of multi-media elements.

Pricing

MadCap Mimic 4.0 is $299 per single-user license.

Summary

The more I use MadCap, the more I’m impressed with the quality of their products. While it will take time to dislodge Adobe FrameMaker, especially legacy users, publishing managers and those responsible for running Technical Writing depts should download a trail copy of this.

What I like about their products is how well they are inter-connected.

Price-wise, it’s also great value.

If you want a trial copy or are having difficulty getting from their site, let me know and I’ll arrange it.

Likewise, if you have used it, please drop us a line.

What do you think of MadCap so far?

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