Flash player release or debug ?

Flash player release or debug ? « Santosh function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} adobe.com      Santosh / Flash player release or debug ?by sankumarAdobe (9)Correspondence Management (10)Correspondence Management Solution (2)Debug (1)Flash (1)Flash Player (1)LiveCycle (8)Release (1)Version (1)  

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Five Common Pitfalls When Upgrading Access to SQL Server

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

 Guest blogger Juan Soto, an Access MVP and founder of IT Impact, Inc., shares five tips on upgrading Access to SQL. You can read more about Juan and his experiences and knowledge of Access knowledge in our Q&A with him. 

Access works great with SQL Server but upgrading your data is not a slam dunk. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong if you're not careful, avoid these pitfalls when you do your first or next Access migration.

 Pitfall #1: Relying on the SQL Server Migration Assistant for everything

I'll be the first one to endorse the SQL Server Migration Assistant.  It does away with a lot of manual work, but it's not perfect. For example, if you have queries that use custom functions, the Assistant will not even try to create a SQL View, leaving it up to you to make it happen. You can download the Assistant here.

Pitfall #2: Not adding necessary foreign keys and indexing them

Access automatically adds a secondary index when you add a new field that ends in "ID", as in "CustomerID". When you create a relationship in Access, it also automatically creates an index with the relationship. Not so with SQL Server. You must manually add foreign keys to your SQL Server database and index them.

Pitfall #3: Not adding a rowversion field to all of your tables

In order to avoid problems with Access committing record changes to SQL Server, always add a rowversion field. Normally, the Assistant will add it only when it determines it's necessary; for example, a column on the table that uses floating numbers might be a good candidate for needing a rowversion, but I recommend that all of your tables have a rowversion column.

Note: In older SQL Server versions, rowversion data type is confusingly labeled as timestamp data type. It  has nothing to do with timestamping but indicates relative order of when a row was updated in a table's life. If your copy of SQL Server shows only timestamp, please use it instead.

Pitfall #4: Leaving your bit fields nullable

Think of bit fields as Yes/No fields in Access. In order for them to work in Access, you need to make sure every bit field cannot be nullable, and so you need to set the default value to zero, e.g. false, in your SQL Server table design.

Pitfall #5:  Not taking advantage of what SQL Server has to offer

Getting your Access tables into SQL Server is a great first step, but if you just stop there you're leaving a lot on the table: using Views, stored procedures and functions are a great way to turbo charge your Access app. Start with Views and work your way up to stored procedures. For more great tips on using these tools, I suggest browsing through all of my blog posts on SQL Server with Access at AccessExperts.net/blog/SQL-Server.

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How to manage Lightroom assets across disks

This is one I keep failing to watch, but it sounds extremely useful (as I’m always running short of laptop HD space & am moving to an SSD):

This video (How To: Move & Archive Images and Export A Catalog) shows how to create a folder on an external drive and move your files to that drive from within Lightroom. Note that the first segment answers the question “What are the question marks on my images/folders and how do I relink files?”. If you prefer to skip this section, start the video at 4 minutes 38 seconds.

Posted by John Nack at 9:16 AM on February 19, 2012

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Adobe HTML5 animation survey

The Edge team would like to hear your perspective on the relative importance of supporting older browsers, etc. If the subject is important to you, please fill out this quick survey. Thanks.

Posted by John Nack at 8:36 AM on February 19, 2012

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Circular References: Excel's most popular (!#?%) error message explained

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Millions of people using Excel don't get why they see the "circular reference" error message right after they've entered a formula. The message means that your formula is trying to calculate its own cell--kind of like when a dog chases its own tail. Because so many of you (millions) searched on "circular reference" on Office.com, we thought we should very clearly explain how to remove or fix your formula.

Sometimes the first step in resolving the issue is figuring out which cell contains the wayward formula--not an easy task when a worksheet can contain dozens of them. Because there can be so many, Excel has a built-in sleuth which can help you find it. Just look for the Error Checking option on the Formula tab.

The Office.com article "Remove or allow a circular reference" shows you how to use the Circular References option, and other tips and trick for figuring out how to make that error message go away.

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Free training: Learn to create PowerPoint animations

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Guest post by Dave Ludwig, a senior writer on the Office PowerPoint team.

Back in the day, clear and concise text was the key to a good presentation. But the game has changed. People expect your slides to dance. Well, not really dance, but they certainly expect some animation here and there.

That's why we've added two new lessons on PowerPoint animations to our PowerPoint skills builder--a free video training series. Here's what you'll learn:

Lesson 1:  Animations and transitions

Video 1: Learn how to quickly add an animation and set its options. Video 2: Learn how to animate text, charts, and shapes. Also included in this video is a tip on how to copy animations using the Animation Painter.Video 3: Learn how to apply an animation to all slides using the Slide Master.Video 4: Learn how to apply an animation effect between slides. PowerPoint calls this a "transition."

Lesson 2:  Going further with animations

Video 1: Find out about the Animation Pane (previously known as the Custom Animation Pane). This pane is the key to getting fine control over your animations.Video 2: Learn how to get control over the timing of your animations. Speed things up, change the duration, and set a delay.Video 3: Learn how to change the order of animations. Plus, learn about additional animation options available to you.Video 4: Learn how to glide, or, animate objects along a distinct path using motion paths.

Take a look. And if you have a minute, let us know what you think in the comments section.

-- Dave Ludwig

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The HTML5 contest has closed- 5 more days to put in your votes!

February 18, 2012

The Captivate HTML5 contest has closed for entries. The viewing gallery is still open to give you an opportunity to cast your vote. Thank you for participating in this contest. The general interest can be gauged from the fact that many of the top entries have close to 10,000 views and 1,500 FB ‘Likes’ each. If you’re yet to view some of the entries, please do take some time to appreciate the efforts of the community in pioneering HTML5 eLearning ?
While many of the entries might not be appreciated for the ID skills, I’m sure the contest helped the community realize the possibilities (and current limitations) of HTML5 eLearning authoring. We had 35 entries in this contest, three of which will receive the iPad. Two of these will be determined based on popular vote, while the third will be awarded by an expert panel – for the best content as judged by them.
In the next few days the team here will also point out the entries they’ve liked. Two entries stood out for me-

Mobile Phone User Guide- HTML 5 eLearning

the ‘Mobile phone user guide’ by Michael Hinze,

EURO 2012 Orientation - HTML 5 eLearning

and the ‘euro 2012 orientation’ by Michael Lund. Which ones did you like? Do share your thoughts on both- the specific entries, and on the contest as a whole. What went well, what could be improved? Do you have ideas for other eLearning contests we could run?

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Connect, Inspire, and ENGAGE your Learners

February 19, 2012

This week at Training2012 conference, one of the best sessions I attended was ‘Creating Learning Experiences that Connect, Inspire, and ENGAGE’. The session was conducted by Dr. Vicki Halsey who is absolutely inspiring and full of positive energy. The way she engaged the attendees in the session proved that her formula of engaging the students definitely works

Here are some gems from her session:

Make your students feel brilliant:  Bring out the best in your students through learning and make them feel brilliant. It’s our job as a teacher/trainer to figure out how to make them brilliant and set them up for success. So the next time your students log out from your class, they should leave feeling brilliant!

70/30 shift: We spend 70% of our preparation time in thinking what we are going to teach and only about 30% of the time in how are we going to teach it. We need to flip that equation around and spend 30% time thinking about what we are going to tell students and what we want them to know and do, etc. and 70% of our time to picture the learners and try to answer some of these questions: Who are these learners? What are they doing in this session? What are they hoping to have happen? What’s going on in their life? Then make the learning experience relevant for their success.

The ENGAGE Model:

Energize and focus your learners early and throughout the session.Navigate content to have them personally experience some aspect of what you are trying to teach.Generate meaning by asking them what they’ve learned and how does it make a difference in their lives.Apply what they have learned in the real world by allowing them to practice it.Gauge and celebrate all they’ve learned to move it from short-term to long-term memory.Extend learning to action by helping your students act on their intentions.

Don’t confuse telling with teaching: Don’t tell your students how to do a task, teach them how to do it and give them enough time to practice it and you’ll surely set them up for success.

Practice self-care: Make self-care a priority. To make your students feel good, you should first feel good about yourself. So take out some time from your busy schedule and take care of yourself. Make yourself feel special!

After attending the session, I was hungry to learn more so picked up this amazing book authored by her. It’s known as Brilliance by Design.

Thanks Vicki. I’m glad I got an opportunity to learn from you!

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Redesigning the Windows Logo

Long time Microsoft fan but the new logo is just abominable, amiss, atrocious, awful, bad news, beastly, blah, bottom out, abhorrent, atrocious, awful, bad, base, beastly, contemptible, cursed, despicable, disgusting, foul, grim, grody, gross, hairy, hateful, heinous, hellish, horrible, horrid, loathsome, lousy, nauseating, obnoxious, odious, offensive, repellent, reprehensible, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, rotten, sleazy*, stinking, terrible, vile, wretched, bummer, careless, cheap, cheesy, crappy, cruddy, crummy, defective, deficient, diddly, dissatisfactory, downer, dreadful, erroneous, fallacious, faulty, garbage, godawful, grody, gross, grungy, icky, imperfect, inadequate, incorrect, inferior, junky, lousy, not good, off, poor, raunchy, rough, sad, slipshod, stinking, substandard, synthetic, the pits, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, base, corrupt, criminal, delinquent, evil, iniquitous, mean, reprobate, sinful, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked, wrong, adverse, disagreeable, discouraged, discouraging, displeasing, distressed, gloomy, grim, melancholy, troubled, troubling, unfavorable, unfortunate, unhappy, unpleasant, awry, bad , confused, crooked, erring, erroneous, fallacious, false, faulty, flawed, foul, glitched up, haywire, imperfect, improper, inaccurate, inappropriate, incorrect, mistaken, out of order, sick, unfair, unlawful, unsuitable, untoward, alarming, astounding, awful, bad , daunting, dire, disheartening, dismaying, dreadful, fearful, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, grim, grody, gross, harrowing, heavy, hideous, horrible, horrid, horrific, intimidating, mean, petrifying, scaring, shocking, terrible, terrifying, the end, unnerving, awful, bad , barbaric, beastly, desperate, diabolical, fiendish, flagrant, godawful, grody, gross, hairy, heinous, lousy, monstrous, nefarious, rotten, scandalous, shocking and villainous.

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What’s the point of having an Adobe ID?

I know, I know: you need another username/password combo like you need a hole in the head. There are real benefits to having an Adobe ID, though (e.g. keeping track of your serial numbers). Jeff Tranberry quickly lists details. [Via John Dowdell]

Posted by John Nack at 8:38 AM on February 19, 2012

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Q&A with Access developer Juan Soto

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Juan Soto founded IT Impact, Inc. (an Access development company) after working at an ice cream factory in Chicago. The factory's large Enterprise Resource Planning system required that he spend hours manually calculating whether a final batch of ice cream really made the company money. He had to factor the waste for every step of the manufacturing process and soon realized that he could automate the analysis with Access. He built a complex Access system which was soon used throughout the entire operation.

In this Q&A, we asked Juan to share his experiences and knowledge of Access that he's gained designing and building Access solutions that help businesses build customer relationships.

What's the most interesting Access project that you've worked on?

I developed a solution for a firm that lays sea pipe on the ocean floor. Laying pipe is a risky proposition at sea because it requires precise measurements and accurate readings. The system consisted of two components: A Pocket PC app, which measured the integrity of the pipe before it was welded and Geo-tagged the pipe's location at sea. The second component was an Access program that compiled all of the information into reports at the end of the project. The program saved the company months of manual data calculations, allowing them to accurately report the pipe information to the federal government. Designing a solution that performed in that type of harsh environment was a real source of pride for me.

What resources do you recommend for someone just getting started with Access?

I recommend dissecting the templates from Microsoft to see how the pro's do it. I still get great ideas from there. You also need to learn basic database theory from a beginner's book and learn how to work with basic database elements: tables, forms, reports and queries. Once you master them, you'll be ready for programming.  But the best way to learn in my view is actually building a database from scratch. Start with small databases and work your way up. Offering your services for free to nonprofits is a great way to learn and get started. Take your time and you will soon learn to love Access as much as I do!

What does Access provide that makes it such a good companion to SQL Server?

There are many reasons why Access is great with SQL:  data security, ability to handle hundreds of users, wonderful backup tools, reliability and speed of analysis. I've developed database solutions with almost a million records using Access and SQL with no problems! Start by using the free version of SQL Server 2008 Express R2. It might be all you need to store your data.

What do you think the Access community can do to spread the word about Access?

I'd love to see a more concerted effort promoting Access development as a career choice both for college graduates and for database professionals looking to develop their skills. Many parts of the country don't have local data professionals and so anyone starting an Access consulting firm in those areas would do well.

In 2012 I'm committed to helping others choose Access development as a career, which I do, in part, by posting career articles on LinkedIn's Professional Microsoft Access Developer's Network.   

Has being an Access MVP benefited your business, and if so, how?

2011 was a turning point for the firm when we decided to just focus on Access with SQL Server, and share our knowledge with the Access community. Writing for Office.com, writing for my blog, and doing SQLSaturday.com events was recognized by Microsoft when they gave me the MVP title. My only regret was not striving for the title sooner. In 2011, I also hired Access MVPs Ben Clothier and Mark Davis, both outstanding Access developers, making us one of the premier Access development firms in the World.

You can read more about IT Impact at its website AccessExperts.net. They take pride in designing Access solutions that help business "Discover the power of your dataTM".

BTW Juan's all-time favorite ice cream flavor at that time was Moose Tracks, which used a caramel ingredient. It's still sold today in Moose Track Ice Cream flavors. It required heroic efforts to produce because the recipe was finicky and had the highest loss ratios (pounds of ingredients lost divided by pounds of product produced.)

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Schools: The Changing Landscape

Schools: The Changing Landscape « UK and Ireland Channel News function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} .recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}adobe.com      UK and Ireland Channel News / Schools: The Changing Landscapeby mabearAcademies (6)Free Schools (3)Studio Schools (1)UTCs (1)  

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ruby – files

ruby – files « dustWorld function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} adobe.com      dustWorld / ruby – filesby Yao Zhang  

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Photoshop – Non-Destructive Transformations

Photoshop – Non-Destructive Transformations « Julieanne Kost's Blog function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} Julieanne Kost's Blog / Photoshop – Non-Destructive TransformationsADDITIONAL INFORMATIONBio, Contact and Artists StatementLightroom Video TutorialsPhotoshop Video TutorialsSchedule of EventsAdditional ResourcesPortfoliowww.jkost.comby Julieanne KostFree Transform (17)Puppet Warp (7)Smart Objects and Smart Filters (20)  

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Muse: Public Beta 6 Now Available

Muse: Public Beta 6 Now Available « UK and Ireland Channel News function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} .recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}adobe.com      UK and Ireland Channel News / Muse: Public Beta 6 Now Availableby mabearBeta (2)Muse (2)  

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Simplifying data entry a list box with VBA code

Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request

To plan which topics to write during the next three months, our Office documentation team needed an easy way to enter values in an Excel worksheet limited only to values in a list. However, we couldn't use Excel's data validation feature because it only lets you select one item per cell.

The solution? Adding a multi-selection list box to the worksheet. But to allow multiple values, we would also need to use the ActiveX control list box. And, more importantly, we'd have to hook it up to some VBA code to make it work.

Afterwards, I reflected on what I'd built and thought: A lot of users ask about list boxes, data validation, and macros (or VBA), so why not combine all three topics into one post?

First things first...to do any VBA programming in Excel, you need the Developer tab visible on the ribbon so you can get to the VBA and the ActiveX control commands. To get the Developer tab, bring up the Excel Options dialog box, click Customize Ribbon, and select the Developer check box.

Now that the Developer is available, let's zoom in on it for a closer look. Here in the Controls group, you'll see an Insert button. Click it, and you get this Form Controls menu.

Now here's what I did next. Under ActiveX Controls, I click the List Box button, click anywhere in the worksheet, and drag and release to create my list box. I can select it and move it wherever I want . Now, on to changing a few settings for the list box. With the list box selected, I right-click and then click Properties on the menu, which brings up the Properties box for the list box.

I want users to be able to make multiple selections. By default, that option is turned off. It's controlled by the MultiSelect property, so I choose setting 1, which is fmMultiSelectMulti. I want little check boxes next to the values in the list, so I set the ListStyle property to 1, which is fmListStyleOption.

Now, to make the list box worth using, I need to attach the value choices to the list box. That's a list of values in a range of cells, and it needs to go in the ListFillRange property. In the box for this property, I type Validate!$F$2:$F13, which is a reference to a range of cells on another worksheet named "Validate."

That's pretty much what I need to get started. Now, on to writing and testing my VBA code.

I hook up VBA code to the list box by right-clicking the list box, and then I choose View Code. This starts the Visual Basic Editor (the VBE), where I can start programming.

I click the dropdown list that contains Click, and then select KeyPress. That creates a subprocedure for me called ListBox1_KeyPress. I can write my lines of code right there.

Now before I write any actual code, I make a list of things that I think I'll need to do to make this all work. In the Visual Basic Editor, between the lines "Private Sub ListBox1_Keypress(ByVal KeyAscii As MSForms.ReturnInteger)" and "End Sub," I write down my ideas with an apostrophe at the start of each line, which turns them into comments, like this:

And here's the VBA code for the main subroutine  (there are two subroutines, ListBox1_KeyPress and ClearBoxSelections). Below the code, I'll explain what some of the lines do.

Sub ListBox1_KeyPress(ByVal KeyAscii As MSForms.ReturnInteger)

If KeyAscii <> 13 Then
ClearBoxSelections
Exit Sub
End If

Dim intActiveCol As Integer
Dim strWrongCol As String
Dim intAppCodeOffset As Integer
Dim strAppCodeVal As String
Dim strActiveColTitle
Dim selRange As Range

strWrongCol = "Please select a cell in the Applications column, and try again."

'Get active cell column; is cell address in correct column ("Applications")?

intActiveCol = ActiveCell.Column
strActiveColTitle = Sheets("Planning").Range("A1").Offset(0, intActiveCol - 1).Value

If Not strActiveColTitle = "Applications" Then
MsgBox strWrongCol
ClearBoxSelections
ActiveCell.Select
Exit Sub
End If

'If not correct column, show msgbox "...select a cell in the Application column."

If Not strActiveColTitle = "Applications" Then
MsgBox strWrongCol
ClearBoxSelections
ActiveCell.Select
Exit Sub
End If

Set selRange = Selection

For i = 0 To ListBox1.ListCount - 1
If ListBox1.Selected(i) = True Then
If strApps = "" Then
strApps = ListBox1.List(i)
intAppCodeOffset = i
strAppCodeVal = Worksheets("Validate").Range("G2").Offset(i, 0).Value
Else
strApps = strApps & ";#" & ListBox1.List(i)
intAppCodeOffset = i
strAppCodeVal = strAppCodeVal & ";#" & Worksheets("Validate").Range("G2").Offset(i, 0).Value
End If
End If
Next

If strApps = "" Then
MsgBox "Select at least one application."
ActiveCell.Select
Exit Sub
End If

Set selRange = selRange.Offset(0, -1)

With selRange
selRange.Value = strAppCodeVal
End With

Set selRange = selRange.Offset(0, 1)

'Clear all of the box selections from the list box

ClearBoxSelections

ActiveCell.Select

End Sub

"KeyAscii <> 13" is a test to see if the user has pressed the Enter key (the Enter key sends a "13" value to the computer). If not, the code clears the selected check box and exits. 

This following section tests to see if the user selected a cell in the appropriate column (the column with "Applications" in row 1). I use the Range property with the Offset method to get the value of the cell in the first row of the current column, like this:

Sheets("Planning").Range("A1").Offset(0, intActiveCol -1).Value

Here's a closer look at  the code for that section:

intActiveCol = ActiveCell.Column
strActiveColTitle = Sheets("Planning").Range("A1").Offset(0, intActiveCol - 1).Value

If Not strActiveColTitle = "Applications" Then
MsgBox strWrongCol
ClearBoxSelections
ActiveCell.Select
Exit Sub
End If

If the currently selected cell is in the wrong column (that is, not the "Applications" column), a message appears from Excel ("Please select a cell in the Applications column, and try again."), all the selected check boxes in the list box are cleared, and the user needs to start over. Here's that code:

If Not strActiveColTitle = "Applications" Then
MsgBox strWrongCol
ClearBoxSelections
ActiveCell.Select
Exit Sub
End If

The code uses a message box to display the "Please select a cell in the Applications column, and try again." text I defined as the variable strWrongCol. Then, my second subroutine named ClearBoxSelections runs, which clears all selected check boxes, re-selects the active cell and, finally, exits the main subroutine. In other words, the code helps things "fail gracefully."

If the selected cell is in the correct column, it's a go -- the code runs through the list box and acts on each selected value (that is, each selected check box). For each selected item (check box) in the list, the code sends Excel to the "Validate" worksheet where the range of values is stored, and finds the match in that range for the selected value in the list box. The values are stored in the range alphabetically, so "Access 2010" is the first item (0, not 1). The beginning of the loop is "0," so the code stops at the first value in the cell range, "Access 2010," and assigns that value to the variable strApps.

Then, the code offsets (moves) one cell to the column on its right (we're still on the "Validate" worksheet) and gets the value from that column, which is 1574. It assigns that value to the variable strAppCodeVal. The code then looks for the next selected value in the list box, and if it finds one, it adds the string ";#" as a separator, and then adds the next value it finds that matches the next selected check box. In this case, it finds "Excel 2010"  in the cell range and writes that value to the strApps variable. The code then does the offset action again, finding the numeric code 1576, and writes that to the strAppCodeVal variable, of course, writing the separator "#;" first. All this repeats until Excel finds no more selected check boxes. Since my example had three check boxes seleted (Access 2010, Excel 2010, and Word 2010), there will be three App values and three App codes in each variable:

strApps = Access 2010;#Excel 2010;#Word 2010

strAppCodeVal = 1574;#1576;#1691

If no values were selected in the list box, the subroutine displays the message "Select at least one application" and exits (after re-selecting the active cell).

Set selRange = Selection
For i = 0 To ListBox1.ListCount - 1
If ListBox1.Selected(i) = True Then
If strApps = "" Then
strApps = ListBox1.List(i)
intAppCodeOffset = i
strAppCodeVal = Worksheets("Validate").Range("G2").Offset(i, 0).Value
Else
strApps = strApps & ";#" & ListBox1.List(i)
intAppCodeOffset = i
strAppCodeVal = strAppCodeVal & ";#" & Worksheets("Validate").Range("G2").Offset(i, 0).Value
End If
End If
Next

If strApps = "" Then
MsgBox "Select at least one application."
ActiveCell.Select
Exit Sub
End If

Now, we're ready to write the values to the active cell (the top cell in the selected range -- suppose you've selected cells G10:G20 -- the "active cell" is G10, and the cell to its left in the same row -- and any other selected cells (the selected cells are represented by "selRange" in the code below).  I use the Value method to write the value of the strApps variable to the active cell, use the Offset method again to move one column to the left and then use the Value method to write the strAppCodeVal value to that cell.

Then the second subroutine, named ClearBoxSelections, runs. It clears the selections from the list box, and selects the original active cell.

With selRange
selRange.Value = strApps
End With

Set selRange = selRange.Offset(0, -1)

With selRange
selRange.Value = strAppCodeVal
End With

Set selRange = selRange.Offset(0, 1)

'Clear all of the box selections from the list box

ClearBoxSelections

ActiveCell.Select

And here's what an Application ID and Applications cell in our worksheet  look like after the selected values have been written to them. You may be wondering why the Word 2010 box is not checked? That's because the list selections are cleared right after the values are written to the cells.

Well, I hope you find this useful -- the people I work with sure did!

 

 -- Gary Willoughby

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Mobile Marketing Sessions

Mobile Marketing Sessions « Adobe Digital Marketing Summit function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} .recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}adobe.com      Adobe Digital Marketing Summit / Mobile Marketing Sessionsby Dariana Ross  

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What New Revenue Streams Can Be Gained With a Tablet App?

What New Revenue Streams Can Be Gained With a Tablet App? « Adobe Digital Publishing function clearSearch() {document.search_form.s.value = "";} adobe.com      Adobe Digital Publishing / What New Revenue Streams Can Be Gained With a Tablet App?by Adobe Digital Publishing Suite Team  

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Pioneering licensing agreements in Higher Education

It’s true what they say – education and self study has changed a lot, especially when I compare it to when I was studying! Gone are the days when you have to fight for a seat in the computer lab or the library ahead of deadlines and dissertations – well not exactly; but with greater accessibility to software and programmes, self study has very much become a private personal activity. One that people can now do at home, in the park, or a coffee shop.

 Ravensbourne, a specialist higher education institution in London, has taken this idea a step further.  Specialising in vocationally focused courses from fashion, television and broadcasting, to interactive product design, architecture and environment design, to name but a few, the University has placed pioneering technology within education at its core by introducing our Education Enterprise License Agreement (EELA).

 This enables the provision of industry-standard software to both staff and students from any device, at any time and any place – truly fantastic! A practical way of implementing Ravensbourne’s philosophy of open, applied, learning and the amalgamation of skills, the EELA agreement exposes its student community to technology and software used by disciplines other than their own. So for example, a fashion student now has access to tools traditionally used by their peers studying graphic design.

 Chris Thompson, director of enterprise and innovation, Ravensbourne said: “By working with Adobe, Ravensbourne enables students to express their ideas and knowledge through a variety of digital channels and media, building essential digital communication skills as well as ignite a new passion for learning.”  

 Ravensbourne is just one example of how higher education institutions are paving the way, helping their students to gain a wider skillset for their transition into the working world.

Liz Wilkins is Senior Marketing Manager for Education at Adobe Systems UK. Her involvement with Adobe Education products has seen her work closely with a range of educational institutions, championing the use of digital media tools in the curriculum, and their integration into a number of subject areas in order to better prepare students for the future demands of the workplace. Liz works closely with teachers and administrators integrating software, curriculums, and instructional resources as well as certification options and professional development tools. Through promoting digital literacy in cross-curricular education, teaching essential career skills, and streamlining administrative processes Liz has experience working in partnership with a diverse portfolio of schools and further education institutions.

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Designer Sally Cox Speaks About Adobe Touch Apps

Designer Sally Cox caught our eye with her work created using the Adobe Touch Apps, including Photoshop Touch. We got in touch with Sally to speak with her about her work, and how the apps have changed her workflow. Check out her interview below, along with a sample of her work using Adobe Touch Apps.

Description: I duplicated the layer, added brush strokes using the dark blue from the water (via the eyedropper) set to transparent. I built up the contrast using the strokes with hardness. I enlarged the stroke and added feathering for the top and bottom edges and then kept building the color. Finally, I used the brush with “Shadows and Highlights” effect to paint over the land in the background, adding details.

Description: I duplicated the layer, then used a brush set with the “Comic” effect applied, and I painted in details of the rocks and branches in the water. Next, I added two duplicated layers with blending modes applied – saturation and darken. A final layer using a brush with “Shadows and Highlights” effects was added to create more contrast.

Description: I used a brush set to “Comic” effect with high opacity and painted vertical strokes on the wall, picking up detail between the panels. A transparent red brush stroke on the floor, overlaid with brown opaque cross strokes. Same brown cross strokes on the top and ride side.  Strokes of “Darken” effect all over and finally text set to “Overlay” blending mode.

Description: I selected the dog (my Jack Russell, Lily) and deleted the background. On a duplicate layer, I chose “Saturate” to play with the color, and then “Graphic Pen” to create a cartoonish effect and flatten it out.

Creative Layer: How have the Adobe Touch Apps changed your creative workflow?

Sally Cox: I always took my laptop to visit a client, in case I needed to work up a quick comp. Opening Photoshop or another Adobe app in front of a client can be a troublesome process for me. They want to know what all the tools do, we end up getting sidetracked and I prefer not to “show my magic” in front of the clients.  Now I can take my tablet, which I use for jotting quick notes, and can open PS Touch for a quick comp or Proto to sketch up a website, right on the spot.

Of the different Touch Apps, which is most instrumental to your creative process and why?

I have two favorites. PS Touch has such depth, including layers and selection tools, blending modes and color adjustments. I can access Google and even my Facebook albums directly from within PS Touch, in addition to grabbing images and other files off Creative Cloud. I can easily create a realistic looking comp for a client or just play with images when I am stuck at the airport. I store my work directly on my tablet or upload it to the cloud to fine tune later.

I find Proto to be the best tool for quickly whipping up a website prototype. The touch gestures are not only fast but also fun to use. Within seconds, I can create a working navbar, header or body text. When I add multiple pages and link everything together, my client gets to see exactly what the working site will look like.

With the ability to use Adobe Touch Apps & create on mobile devices, we’re no longer chained to our desks. Tell us, where is your favorite place to create?

I do my best work with the Touch tools sitting in a coffee shop or waiting for my next flight. I like the fact that I no longer have to balance my laptop on my lap if space is limited. The tablet is much more maneuverable and lightweight.

As a designer you’re constantly being challenged to think outside the box. How have Adobe Touch apps assisted in this?

The ability to take my tablet anywhere is the first thing that comes to mind. I find I am taking my creative tools with me to places I didn’t before. Sometimes a laptop can be cumbersome, and sketching on a paper napkin doesn’t lend a professional touch.

If you had the opportunity to travel to anywhere in the world with your Touch Apps, where would it be and why?

Since we haven’t clarified there is any life on the moon, I would say anywhere in Europe. I was on a business trip to Germany last Fall, and ended up giving Photoshop lessons to the woman next to me on my Paris flight. And flying to Pennsylvania in January, I taught PS Touch and Revel to the woman next to me. Seems there are curious people everywhere!

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere I look! I hike a lot and take lots of photos out in the wild and at the beach. The colors of nature inspire me. On a recent hike to Sunol Regional Wilderness, I saw fungus growing on rocks that was the most vibrant shades of orange and green. And I like to study the arrangement of shapes in nature, and tie that in with my design work.

About Sally: Sally Cox is an Adobe Certified Instructor in the Bay Area, who also runs Creative Suite User Group of San Jose. She specializes in Adobe training and eLearning design and production for her company, kreatable.com. Sally regularly travels to teach Adobe software and currently is helping to spread the word on the new Adobe Touch Apps. A lap swimmer and dog lover, she also enjoys hiking, and pen and ink sketching.

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