Shaun Cassells at MyITForum.com

Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) – The built-in Documentation Tool

Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) is a tool built into:

·         Server 2008 R2

·         Windows 7

The tool is designed for end users to provide feedback to help desks.  Tools can be reused for a different purpose:  in this case a documentation tool.

PSR automatically takes screen shots of each new window and click (up to 100) and then saves the file as an compressed HTML file: *.MHT.

Best Practices:

1)      Open PSR from your start window

2)      Click the help down arrow , and then click Run as administrator.

3)      Click the help down arrow , and then click Settings.

4)      You can change the following settings for Problem Steps Recorder:

a.       Output Location. If you don't want to be prompted to save a file after recording, click the Browse button to set a default output file name.

b.      Number of recent screen captures to store. While the default is 25 screens, you can increase or decrease the number of screen shots. Problem Steps Recorder only records the default number of screen shots. For example, if you took 30 screen shots during a recording but only had 25 screen shots as the default, you would be missing the first five screen shots. In this case, you would want to increase the number of default screen shots.

                                                               i.      Max value: 100

5)      Ok

6)      Select Start Record

7)      You can Pause Record at any time. 

8)      You can Add Comment to each click

9)      Select Stop Record and you will be prompted to save your new file

Gotcha’s:

·         The Settings are NOT saved and must be set each time you open PSR. 

o   Anyone know of a Registry Key for this?

·         You are not notified if you go over 100 clicks.  The tool will continue and you will probably become frustrated.

Enjoy

Other Documentation Tips:

·         You can use the keyboard combo Alt + Prnt Scrn to capture the focused window to your clip board

·         Snipping tool

o   Part of tablet edition and Windows 7

o   Think really cheap SnagIt

·         Windows XP tools:

o   http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2009.03.utilityspotlight2.aspx?pr=blog

o   http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/screenrecorder-screen-capture-utility/

Command Line:

·         C:\Windows\System32\psr.exe

·         C:\Windows\SysWOW64\psr.exe

·         No switches

Resources:

·         Microsoft walk through video: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd320286.aspx