Preparing and linking video tutorials for SAP tcodes

One of the difficult things about learning any new software system is understanding how to use it. SAP is no exception, especially custom tcodes which each customer organization develops based on their custom requirements. To know about standard SAP tcodes, we can SCN-SAP it or GOOGLE it. But for the custom tcodes, unless the ABAPer/Functional guy prepares a pretty decent user manual, it becomes difficult for the end-users to understand how to use them. Also end-users/clients tend to forget the usage method if they don't use the tcode often.This prompted me with an idea of developing video help tutorials for tcodes instead of preparing lengthy user manual documents. I have made use of open source software CamStudioto prepare video tutorials and linked it to the tcodes.

Steps:

1) Start the recorder and create demo of the tcode by simulating user actions.

2) Once the complete demo is over, stop the recorder and the video will be saved as an .avi format file.

3) Using the SWF producer that comes with the above software package, convert the .avi format file into flash file .swf.

    Flash files are comparatively smaller in size and can be viewed clearly using a web browser.

4) Once the flash file is prepared, host it in a document server and link it to the Z tcode (Eg:.via a button/hyperlink) by making use of the following function:

      CALL FUNCTION 'CALL_BROWSER'

         EXPORTING

           URL                               = 'URL of the flash file'

         EXCEPTIONS

           FRONTEND_NOT_SUPPORTED = 1

           FRONTEND_ERROR                   = 2

           PROG_NOT_FOUND                  = 3

           NO_BATCH                                 = 4

           UNSPECIFIED_ERROR             = 5

           OTHERS                                    = 6.

Sample screen shots of CamStudio software and a video recorded using it:

1) CamStudio software screenshots

2) Calling video URL on button click

3) Screen shots of a recoded video

So far this has saved enormous time for our functional guys here as they don't have to teach the functionality of tcodes again and again to clients/end-users.

This has assisted new end-users to come into terms with the custom tcodes pretty quickly (END USER TRAINING).

This can be very handy for facilitating change in the mindset of users on migration from legacy systems to new SAP implementation.

This will enhance your customer/end-user satisfaction (CUSTOMER SATISFACTION).

Cheers.