Copyright: ® TechSmith Corporation


Help Contents
Contents

Overview

What does SnagIt do?

SnagIt system requirements

SnagIt support

Registering SnagIt

How to register SnagIt

About shareware

A note to shareware vendors

Using SnagIt

Starting SnagIt

SnagIt default settings

Invoking SnagIt with <Ctrl><Shift><P>

Using the mouse to select images

SnagIt configuration options

Input options

Output options

Format options

Other options

Keyboard commands

Command-line arguments

Using SnagIt to capture DOS boxes

Capturing full-screen DOS boxes

Capturing windowed DOS boxes

Using the inverse option with DOS box captures

Adding SnagIt to Other Applications

Using SnagIt as a DDE server

Installing the SnagIt Word for Windows macro

Activating SnagIt from Word for Windows

SnagIt Message Reference

SnagIt messages


What does SnagIt do?

SnagIt provides Microsoft Windows users with an easy way to capture and print Windows screens.

SnagIt allows Windows users to capture an entire screen, a portion of the screen, or a single window or icon.  SnagIt also accepts input from the Windows clipboard, or a Windows bitmap (BMP) file.

Once captured, SnagIt sends the image to the printer, the clipboard, a BMP file or a monochrome TIFF file, depending on the output option specified.

Captured images can be pasted into other Windows applications such as word processors or desktop publishing programs via the Windows clipboard, or by saving the image to a graphic file and later importing the file into the desired application.


SnagIt system requirements

SnagIt requires the following:

•	An IBM PC or compatible that meets the minimum hardware requirements of Microsoft Windows.

•	Microsoft Windows 3.0 or later.

•	A mouse or other pointing device.

•	If printed output is desired, any printer supported by Windows that is capable of printing bitmaps may be used.  This includes most laser, dot matrix and ink jet printers supported by Windows.  Note that plotters, because they do not support printing bitmaps, may not be used to print images captured with SnagIt.


SnagIt support

TechSmith is committed to the quality and usability of  SnagIt.  If you have any problem with the use or operation of this product, we want to know about it.  There are four ways to contact TechSmith:

•	By mail:  Write to TechSmith Corporation, Attn:  SnagIt Support, 3451 Dunckel Road, Suite 200, Lansing, Michigan 48911-4216.

•	By fax:  Fax TechSmith's support department at 517-393-0885.

•	By BBS:  Leave a message for TechSmith's support department on our BBS, at 517-393-0966.   Use a modem supporting up to 9600 baud, no parity, 8 bits, and 1 stop bit.  Please leave your message in the SnagIt SIG.

•	Via CompuServe:  Send a message for TechSmith at CompuServe address 75226,3136.

In any communication with TechSmith regarding a problem with SnagIt, please clearly state the following:

•	The product name and version number (SnagIt 2.1), and your serial number, displayed on the Help, About box.

•	Your name, address and telephone number.

•	Your hardware configuration.

•	A description of the problem, and what you were trying to do when the problem occurred.


How to register SnagIt

Please register your copy of SnagIt if you find the program useful and decide to continue using it beyond the 30-day evaluation period.  By registering you will support receive the following:

•	The latest 'retail' version of SnagIt, with the shareware reminder removed.

•	A printed SnagIt manual.

•	Notification of SnagIt version upgrades.

•	Telephone support for SnagIt questions.  For information on other support options, see SnagIt support.

To register SnagIt, click on SnagIt 2.1 Registration Form below.

Related Topics:

SnagIt 2.1 Registration Form


SnagIt 2.1 Registration Form

To register SnagIt, print and complete this form (choose File, Print Topic from the menu).  Then mail, fax or telephone your order to:

TechSmith Corporation
3451 Dunckel Road, Suite 200
Lansing, MI  48911-4216
Telephone:  517-393-0800
Fax:  517-393-0885

PURCHASER

Name:	_________________________________________________
Title:	_________________________________________________
Company:	_________________________________________________
Address:	_________________________________________________
City, State, Zip:	_________________________________________________
Country:	_________________________________________________
Phone:	_________________________________________________
Fax:	_________________________________________________
Diskette Size:	[   ] 3.5"          [   ] 5.25"
ORDER

	Quantity	Amount
SnagIt 2.1 retail package -- $59 US (includes ground shipping in continental U.S.)	__________	__________
Sales tax for Michigan residents only  -- 6%		__________
Shipping outside continental U.S. -- $12		__________
Overnight shipping in continental U.S. -- $12		__________
Second day shipping in continental U.S. -- $7		__________
COD shipping in continental U.S. -- $5		__________
	TOTAL	__________
PAYMENT

[   ]  Check or money order enclosed (must be in U.S. funds drawn on U.S. bank)

Credit Card:          [   ] Visa          [   ] MasterCard

Credit Card Number:	______________________________________________
Card Holder Name:	______________________________________________
Expiration Date:	______________________________________________
Signature:	______________________________________________
Credit card orders may also be E-mailed to TechSmith's CompuServe address, 75226,3136, if all of the information requested on this form is included.  (CIS)


About shareware

SnagIt is shareware.  Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it.  You may use SnagIt, subject to the license agreement and warranty disclaimer listed below under Related Topics, for a 30-day trial period.  If you find SnagIt useful and wish to continue using it, you must register (see SnagIt 2.1 Registration Form) it after this 30-day trial period.

Before using SnagIt, you should read carefully the terms and conditions discussed in the SnagIt Shareware License Agreement and SnagIt Shareware Warranty Disclaimer.  Use of this software indicates your acceptance of these terms.  If you cannot accept these terms and conditions, do not use the software.

Related Topics:

SnagIt Shareware License Agreement

SnagIt Shareware Warranty Disclaimer


SnagIt Shareware License Agreement

You are hereby licensed to use the shareware version of SnagIt for a 30-day evaluation period; to make as many copies of the SnagIt shareware package as you wish; to give copies of the original SnagIt shareware package to anyone; and to distribute the SnagIt shareware package in an unmodified form by electronic means.  There is no charge for any of the above.


SnagIt Shareware Warranty Disclaimer

TechSmith Corporation makes no warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, with respect to the performance, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of the SnagIt shareware package.


A note to shareware vendors

This program and its associated files are part of a shareware evaluation package that is copyrighted by TechSmith Corporation and is not in the public domain.  If this program is used longer than a 30-day evaluation period, it must be registered.  The files that comprise the SnagIt shareware package, or the SnagIt archive file, may be freely distributed or listed by shareware vendors as long as files in the package are kept together and are not modified.  Distribution fees may be charged for this program, but should not exceed $10.

Refer to the SnagIt 2.1 Registration Form for pricing and other specific information about registering SnagIt.

TechSmith Corporation actively supports SnagIt by providing technical support, bug fixes, and upgrade versions.

For additional information about SnagIt, please contact TechSmith Corporation.


Starting SnagIt

To start SnagIt, double-click on the SnagIt icon in the Accessories group.  (If you specified a group other than Accessories during SnagIt installation, look in that group for the SnagIt icon.)

Double-clicking on the SnagIt icon will execute SnagIt and bring it to the foreground in its maximized form.  When SnagIt is maximized,  you may change any of the setup options (input, output, format, etc.) from the SnagIt menus.

You may also invoke SnagIt (that is, instruct SnagIt to capture something) while it is maximized, though it will usually be more convenient to minimize SnagIt before doing your screen captures.

If you selected the "Load when Windows starts" checkbox during installation, or if you put SnagIt in your Windows Startup group, SnagIt will start automatically the next time you start Windows.


SnagIt default settings

When SnagIt is first installed, the following options are set by default:

•	Input is set to "Screen".  This means that when SnagIt is invoked, it will capture the entire Windows desktop.

•	Output is set to "Printer".  This means that when SnagIt is invoked, the captured image will be sent to the Windows default printer for printing.

•	Format is set to "Color".  This means that the image will be captured with the screen colors intact.  (In most cases you will be able to print color images, even if your printer is not a color printer.  For more information, see Color.)

•	Scale is set to "1.00".  This means that the image will be output at the same pixel size as it appears on the Windows screen.  This setting may result in a printed image smaller than you prefer; you will need to experiment to determine an appropriate scaling factor for your printer.

You can tell which settings SnagIt is using by looking at the bottom of the SnagIt window when SnagIt is maximized.


Invoking SnagIt with <Ctrl><Shift><P>

Once you have SnagIt's parameters set as you want them, you are ready to perform screen captures with SnagIt.

The hot-key sequence for invoking SnagIt is <Ctrl><Shift><P>.  Pressing these keys will cause SnagIt to perform a capture based on what you have specified as the input option, and send that image to the device you have specified as the output option.


Using the mouse to select images

A mouse of other pointing device is required for use with SnagIt.  The functionality of the left and right mouse buttons with SnagIt is as follows:

Left Button:

The left mouse button is used to select SnagIt menu options, and to select screen regions and windows to capture.

Right Button:

The right mouse button may be used to cancel a region or window selection, if pressed while the left mouse button is still depressed (before the selection is completed).


Input options

The SnagIt input options allow the user to define the type of image -- either the part of the screen, the clipboard, or a bitmap file -- that should be captured.  The input option is selected on the SnagIt Input menu.

Related Topics:

Screen

Entire Window

Window Client Area

Last Active Window

Region

BMP File

Clipboard


Screen

Select the Screen option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture the entire Windows desktop (everything visible on the screen).

After setting the input parameter to Screen, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.


Entire Window

Select the Entire Window option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture an entire window, including the border, title bar, menu bar, scroll bars and caption line.

After setting the input parameter to Entire Window, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.

•	The mouse pointer will change to a finger pointer.  Select the desired window by positioning the finger pointer inside the window and clicking the left mouse button.

Window Selection Tip:  To ensure that you are capturing the desired window, position the finger pointer in the window's title bar before clicking the left mouse button to select the window.

Items within a window, such as the OK and Cancel buttons, are actually smaller windows.  If you click on one of these items while intending to select the entire window, only that item will be captured.


Window Client Area

Select the Window Client Area option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture the client area of a specific window.  The client area is the main body of the window inside the window borders.  The client area does not include the window borders, title bar, menu bar, scroll bars or caption line.

After setting the input parameter to Window Client Area, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.

•	The mouse pointer will change to a finger pointer.  Select the desired window by positioning the finger pointer inside the window and clicking the left mouse button.

Window Selection Tip:  To ensure that you are capturing the desired window, position the finger pointer in the window's title bar before clicking the left mouse button to select the window.

Items within a window, such as the OK and Cancel buttons, are actually smaller windows.  If you click on one of these items while intending to select the entire window, only that item will be captured.


Last Active Window

Select the Last Active Window option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture the last active window (the window that has the focus on the Windows desktop when SnagIt is invoked).

After setting the input parameter to Last Active Window, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.


Region

Select the Region option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture a specified rectangular portion of the screen.

After setting the input parameter to Region, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.

•	The mouse pointer will change to a hand holding cross hairs.  Position the cross hairs in the upper left corner of the region you want to capture.

•	Press and hold the left mouse button, while dragging the pointer to the lower right corner of the region.  A rectangle outlining the region will follow the pointer as you define the region.

•	Once the region is defined as you wish, release the mouse button.

If SnagIt's title bar is visible on the Windows desktop while a region is being captured, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the region will be displayed, in pixels, in the title bar.


SnagIt configuration options - Input options - BMP File
BMP File

Select the BMP File option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture an image stored in a Windows bitmap file.

After setting the input parameter to BMP File, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.

•	When the "Input BMP file" dialog box appears, enter the name of the file containing the image you wish to capture.

•	Press the Open button.


SnagIt configuration options - Input options - Clipboard
Clipboard

Select the Clipboard option from the SnagIt Input menu to capture the contents of the Windows clipboard.

After setting the input parameter to Clipboard, do the following to perform the capture:

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P>.


Output options

The SnagIt output options allow the user to choose what the destination of the captured image should be -- whether the image should be sent to the printer or to the Windows clipboard, or saved to a BMP or monochrome TIFF file.  The output option is selected on the SnagIt Output menu.

Related Topics:

Printer

Clipboard

BMP File

TIF Mono File


Printer

Select the Printer option from the SnagIt Output menu to send the captured image to the default Windows printer.  While SnagIt is printing, a message box displaying the percentage completed will be displayed.


SnagIt configuration options - Output options - Clipboard
Clipboard

Select the Clipboard option from the SnagIt Output menu to send the captured image to the Windows clipboard.  Once an image is in the clipboard, it can be pasted into a Windows application or saved as a clipboard file (.CLP).


SnagIt configuration options - Output options - BMP File
BMP File

Select the BMP Mono File option from the SnagIt Output menu to save the captured image to a Windows bitmap (.BMP) file.

When the "Save BMP File" dialog box is displayed, you should:

•	Change to the directory where the file should be saved, if the Windows directory is not appropriate.

•	Enter the file name under which the image should be saved.

•	Press the Save button.


TIF Mono File

Select the TIF Mono File option from the SnagIt Output menu to save the captured image to a TIFF, or tagged image file format (.TIF) graphic file.

When the "Save TIFF File" dialog box is displayed, you should:

•	Change to the directory where the file should be saved, if the Windows directory is not appropriate.

•	Enter the file name under which the image should be saved.

•	Press the Save button.

The TIF Mono File output option is available only when Format is set to Monochrome or Dithered Grayscale.  For more information, see Format options.


Format options

The SnagIt format options allow the user to choose the format of the captured image -- monochrome, color, or dithered grayscale.  The format option is selected on the SnagIt Format menu.

Related Topics:

Monochrome

Color

Dithered Grayscale


Monochrome

Select the Monochrome option from the SnagIt Format menu to convert the captured image to monochrome (black and white).

With monochrome images, the intensity threshold level determines the amount of black and white that will appear in the output image.  When the captured image consists of predominantly one color, or a small number of similar colors, the converted image can end up looking too dark or too light.

The "Gray Cutoff" dialog box, displayed when Monochrome is the selected format, allows the intensity threshold to be customized for a particular image.  In general, you should not need to change the intensity threshold; simply press the OK button to accept the default setting.

However, if a captured image ends up looking too dark or too light, adjusting the intensity threshold may help.  Try adjusting the intensity threshold for the image, according to the following guidelines:

•	If the image is too dark, lower the intensity threshold percentage.

•	If the image is too light, raise the intensity threshold percentage.

To revert to the default intensity threshold setting, press the Default button.


Color

Select the Color option from the SnagIt Format menu to retain all of the screen color information with the captured image.

If you are outputting the captured image to the Windows clipboard or a BMP file, the image will be in color.  If you are printing to a color printer and using an appropriate Windows color printer driver, the image will be in color.

When the format option is set to Color, the output option TIF Mono File is unavailable.

Color Format Tip:  Even if you are using SnagIt to print captured images to a standard, non-color printer, you can still leave the format option set to Color.

Although SnagIt preserves the color information associated with the image, the Windows printer driver for your printer will convert the image to grayscale-type output.  In fact, the printed image will probably look best if the format option is set to Color.

Unless you have a specific need to capture monochrome or dithered grayscale images, leave the format option set to Color.


Dithered Grayscale

Select the Dithered Grayscale option from the SnagIt Format menu to convert the captured image to a dithered grayscale (various shades of black, white and gray).

This option is useful primarily for printing to printers which do not have the inherent capability of printing color images in black and white.  (These printers are generally older models, and are relatively rare.)


Other options

Additional features and options, including those which allow users to size captured images and to save SnagIt's setup, are available under the SnagIt Options menu.

Related Topics:

Alert

Clipboard Chain

Color Boost

Scale

Save Setup


Alert

Select the Alert option from the SnagIt Options menu to have SnagIt signal you with one or more beeps when it has completed input or output processing.

When the "Completion Alert" dialog box is displayed, you should:

•	Enter the "Input # Beeps" (the number of beeps SnagIt should use to alert you that input processing is completed).

•	Enter the "Output # Beeps"  (the number of beeps SnagIt should use to alert you that output processing is completed).

•	Press the OK button.


Clipboard Chain

Select the Clipboard Chain option from the SnagIt Options menu to have SnagIt capture the contents of the Windows clipboard each time new information is received by the clipboard.

The Clipboard Chain option is a toggle, which is either on or off.  This option is available only when the following two conditions are met:

•	The input option is Clipboard, and

•	The output option is anything other than Clipboard.

The Clipboard Chain option is useful for capturing screens from a full-screen DOS box.  When you are working in a full-screen DOS box, pressing the <Print Screen> key causes Windows to copy the screen to the clipboard.  If you have selected the Clipboard Chain option, SnagIt automatically copies the DOS screen image to the specified output device (printer, BMP file, or TIF file) after it is received by the clipboard.

For more detailed information about capturing screens from full-screen DOS boxes under Windows, see Capturing full-screen DOS boxes.


Color Boost

Select the Color Boost option from the SnagIt Options menu to adjust the color palette of a captured image.  This option, designed to provide custom control of the RGB (Red/Blue/Green) values of the captured image, may be used to:

•	Lighten or darken the captured image by altering its color palette;

•	Invert the colors of the captured image; or

•	Separate an image into its RGB components.

When you select the Color Boost option, the Color Boost dialog box will be displayed.  From the Color Boost dialog box, you may control the RGB pixel color  intensity in two ways:

•	Control color saturation by increasing or decreasing the intensity level of individual colors by a percentage of the original value.  This is accomplished by adjusting the values of the three slider bars.

The value for each bar (color) adjusts from -100% to 1000%.  The default value for the three slider bars is 100%, which means no change to the color value of the original image.

•	Control hue by adding or subtracting intensity levels for each color range.  This is accomplished by entering an offset amount, ranging from -255 to 255, in the Red, Green and Blue Color Enhance fields.

The default value for the three Color Enhance values is 0, which means no change to the color range of the original image.

Once you have modified the RGB values, (in either or both the percentage slider bars or the Color Enhance additive value fields), you must select the Use Color Boost checkbox if you want SnagIt to use these values when outputting the captured image.

Pressing the Default button in the Color Boost dialog box will return the RGB values in the slider bars and in the Color Enhance fields to their default values.

Pressing the Inverse button will set the RGB slider bar and Color Enhance values to the values required to invert captured images.  (The Inverse button is just a short-hand way to enter these values:  -100% for each of the RGB slider bars, and 255 for the RGB Color Enhance fields.)  With the Inverse button pressed and the Use Color Boost checkbox selected, captured images will be output with inverted light and dark values.  (See also Using the inverse option with DOS box captures.)

Pressing the OK button will activate the specified Color Boost values for the current SnagIt session.  If you want SnagIt to recall these values the next time it is started, you must save SnagIt's setup (see Save Setup).


Scale

Select the Scale option from the SnagIt Options menu to enter a real scaling factor that is applied before outputting the captured image.

When you select the Scale option, the Scale dialog box will be displayed.  From the Scale dialog box, you may:

•	Enter the desired scale value, either by typing in the value, or by using the spin box arrow controls to raise or lower the scale value.  The minimum, and default, value is 1.00.

•	Select or de-select the Correct for aspect ratio checkbox.  When selected, this will ensure that the aspect ratio of the captured image is maintained when the image is printed.  The default value is selected, and it should be left selected in most cases.

The scale factor is the number by which the size of the captured image will be multiplied, to produce the output image size.

•	A scaling factor of 1.00 means the output image will be the same size as the captured image, in dots per inch (dpi).  A factor of 1.00 will usually be appropriate for captures to the Windows clipboard or to BMP or TIF files.

•	A scaling factor of 3.50 means the output image will be three-and-a-half times as large as the captured image, in dpi.  A factor of 3.50 is a good place to start with a 300 dpi laser printer, such as an HP LaserJet II or III.  A factor of 7.00 is a good place to start with a 600 dpi laser printer such as an HP LaserJet 4.

Unless you have a special need, the Correct for aspect ratio checkbox should remain selected.  De-selecting it will have the effect of direct one-to-one mapping of source pixels to destination pixels, which will result in printed images looking out of proportion on some printers.  For example, an Epson FX-80 printer prints 120 dots per inch horizontally and 72 dpi vertically.  With Correct for aspect ratio enabled, SnagIt will map two printer dots horizontally for each screen pixel, resulting in a printed image that looks much more like the original on the screen.


Save Setup

Select the Save Setup option from the SnagIt Options menu to save SnagIt's current configuration options to default each time SnagIt is executed.

Selecting Save Setup will save all of SnagIt's current settings to your WIN.INI file, under a section labeled [SnagIt].  Settings that are saved include:

•	Input option (Screen, Entire Window, etc.)

•	Output option (Printer, Clipboard, etc.)

•	Format option (Color, Monochrome, Dithered Grayscale), including Monochrome intensity threshold, if applicable

•	Alert settings

•	Clipboard chain toggle

•	Color boost settings

•	Scale settings

The Save Setup option is also available on the SnagIt control menu, accessible by pressing <Alt><Spacebar> when SnagIt is maximized, and by clicking the SnagIt icon once when SnagIt is minimized.


Keyboard commands

<Ctrl><Shift><P>:  Invoking SnagIt

<Ctrl><Shift><X>:  Hiding the SnagIt window


<Ctrl><Shift><P>:  Invoking SnagIt

The hot-key sequence for invoking SnagIt is <Ctrl><Shift><P>.  Pressing this key combination will cause SnagIt to perform a capture based on what you have specified as the input option, and send that image to the device you have specified as the output option.


<Ctrl><Shift><X>:  Hiding the SnagIt window

The hot-key sequence for toggling the display of the SnagIt window or icon is <Ctrl><Shift><X>.  Pressing this key combination will make the SnagIt window or icon disappear from the Windows desktop, but leave SnagIt running.  Pressing it again will make the SnagIt window or icon reappear on the Windows desktop.


Command-line arguments

SnagIt accepts two command-line arguments:

/hide or /h	Hides the SnagIt window at startup.

/nokey or /n	Disables keyboard input to SnagIt.  For use with DDE.


Capturing full-screen DOS boxes

SnagIt is a Windows program, and as such, has no inherent ability to capture DOS screens.  Because Windows supports full-screen DOS boxes, however, SnagIt is able to capture the contents of DOS application screens running in DOS boxes under Windows.

You can't capture full-screen DOS boxes directly, however, because SnagIt's hot-key sequence, <Ctrl><Shift><P>, isn't recognized in a DOS box.  You can capture full-screen DOS boxes indirectly, because of Windows' ability to copy the DOS box screen image to the Windows clipboard when the <Print Screen> key is pressed.

Here's what you need to know to capture full-screen DOS boxes with SnagIt:

•	The Input menu option must be set to Clipboard.

•	The Output menu option can be set to anything other than Clipboard ∼ Printer, BMP File, and TIF Mono File will all work fine.

•	You will probably want to select the Clipboard Chain option from the Options menu.  Selecting this option will cause SnagIt to capture the image in the Windows clipboard each time new information is received by the clipboard, and send the image to the specified output device.

Once SnagIt is set up correctly, follow these steps to capture full-screen DOS boxes:

1.	Start the DOS application you want to take screen shots from in a full-screen DOS box.

2.	When the image you wish to capture is on the screen, press the <Print Screen> key.

3.	If you selected the Clipboard Chain option, at this point you will be returned to Windows, with your DOS session minimized to an icon.  You will receive a message that SnagIt is printing if you selected printer output, or you will be prompted for a file name if you selected file output.  (Once SnagIt has finished processing, you can double-click on the DOS icon to re-enter your DOS session.)

If you did not select Clipboard Chain, and you want SnagIt to capture the image you sent to the Windows clipboard by pressing <Print Screen>, you must follow these steps to tell SnagIt to capture the image manually:

•	Exit or escape out of the DOS session (typing "exit" at the DOS prompt will exit you; pressing <Alt><Escape> will return you to Windows with your DOS session minimized).

•	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P> to capture the contents of the Windows clipboard and send the image to the specified output device.

You can use this method to capture any number of full-screen DOS boxes; you will simply need to re-enter your DOS session after every screen capture.

Please note that you may not be able to capture DOS screens if your DOS application uses a proprietary video mode.  (When a DOS application uses a proprietary video mode, Windows is unable to capture the image to the clipboard when <Print Screen> is pressed, and thus, the image is unavailable to SnagIt.)


Capturing windowed DOS boxes

SnagIt is a Windows program, and as such, has no inherent ability to capture DOS screens.  Because of Windows' support for DOS boxes, however, SnagIt is able to capture the contents of DOS application screens running a windowed DOS box.

Here's what you need to know to capture windowed DOS boxes with SnagIt:

•	The DOS window must be on top of the Windows desktop, but must not have the focus.

(In Microsoft Windows, the window which has the focus is the one that will receive the next keyboard or mouse input.  Also, the title bar of the window with the focus will typically be a different color than the title bar of other windows.)

•	The Input menu option must be set to Screen, Entire Window, Window Client Area or Region, depending on your need:

∼	Screen will capture everything on the Windows desktop, including the windowed DOS box.

∼	Entire Window will capture the DOS window, including the border, title bar, etc.

∼	Window Client Area will capture only the contents of the DOS window, without the border, title bar and other Windows elements.  Capturing the Window Client Area will give you much the same effect as capturing a full-screen DOS box.

∼	Region will allow you to specify a rectangular portion of the screen to capture, and may include the windowed DOS box.

(The Last Active Window input option won't work because the DOS window can't have the focus, and the BMP File and Clipboard options are not applicable.)

•	Any Output menu option will work.

•	Do not select the Clipboard Chain option; it will not work when capturing windowed DOS boxes because input is not coming from the Windows clipboard.

Once SnagIt is set up correctly, follow these steps to capture windowed DOS boxes:

1.	Start the DOS application you want to take screen shots from in a windowed DOS box.

2.	Position the image you wish to capture in the DOS window.

3.	Move the focus off the DOS window, but leave the DOS window visible on the desktop.  To do this:

•	Click once on any icon on the desktop.  This will shift the focus from the DOS window to the icon, but will also open the control menu associated with the icon.

•	Click once on a "blank" portion of the Windows desktop to close the icon's control menu.

4.	Press <Ctrl><Shift><P> to capture the image, as specified by the input and output options.

You can use this method to capture any number of windowed DOS boxes images.


Using the inverse option with DOS box captures

Setting up SnagIt to invert captured images is particularly handy when you're capturing Windows DOS box screens.  Because DOS command line screens and DOS applications often appear as white or light-colored letters on a dark background, it may improve the appearance of your screen captures to activate SnagIt's inverse option, changing the captured image to dark letters on a light background.

To activate SnagIt's inverse option, follow these steps:

•	From SnagIt's Options menu, select the Color Boost option.

•	On the Color Boost dialog box, press the Inverse button, and select the Use Color Boost checkbox.

•	Press the OK button.


Using SnagIt as a DDE server

SnagIt is a fully functional Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) server.  SnagIt may be invoked from other Windows programs capable of sending SnagIt messages as DDE clients.

Because of SnagIt's DDE support, SnagIt functionality may be incorporated into custom or commercial Windows programs that support DDE.  For example, you could write a Microsoft Excel macro to print a portion of the screen using SnagIt.

Following is a reference for the DDE commands that may be used to communicate with SnagIt from a DDE client application.  For additional information about using DDE in Windows programs and macros, refer to the DDE section in the Windows Software Developer's Kit reference, Windows Guide to Programming.  If you wish to incorporate SnagIt functionality into a commercial Windows application, also refer to the macro language documentation for your application.

Please note that the syntax of specific DDE commands (DDE_INITIATE, DDE_EXECUTE, etc.) will vary slightly from one application to another, depending on the implementation of DDE commands in the application's macro language.  The parameters required for accessing SnagIt, however, will not vary.

Related Topics:

Initiating a DDE session with SnagIt

Setting SnagIt configuration options

Invoking SnagIt

Determining SnagIt's status


Initiating a DDE session with SnagIt

To initiate a DDE session with SnagIt, you must send a DDE_INITIATE message with the application parameter of "snagit" and the topic parameter of "system":

[DDE_INITIATE command] snagit system


Setting SnagIt configuration options

SnagIt configuration options -- the input, output, format and other options typically set via the SnagIt menus -- may be set in one of two ways:  with the DDE_EXECUTE set command, or with the DDE_POKE command.

Related Topics:

Setting options with DDE_EXECUTE

Setting options with DDE_POKE


Setting options with DDE_EXECUTE

The general syntax of the DDE_EXECUTE set command is:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] set("parameter_value")

With the DDE_EXECUTE set command, the parameter_value may be any one of the following:

Parameter Value	Result
input screen	Set the Input parameter to Screen.
input window	Set the Input parameter to Entire Window.
input client	Set the Input parameter to Window Client Area.
input last	Set the Input parameter to Last Active Window.
input region	Set the Input parameter to Region.
input file	Set the Input parameter to BMP File.
input clipboard	Set the Input parameter to Clipboard.
output printer	Set the Output parameter to Printer.
output clipboard	Set the Output parameter to Clipboard.
output file	Set the Output parameter to BMP File.
output tiff	Set the Output parameter to TIF Mono File.
format mono,nn	Set the Format parameter to Monochrome, and the Monochrome intensity threshold to the value specified as nn. Note that no spaces are allowed in the "mono,nn" portion of the string, and that if a numeric value is not specified, SnagIt will use its current intensity threshold value as the default.
format color	Set the Format parameter to Color.
format gray	Set the Format parameter to Dithered Grayscale.
inalert n	Set the Input # Beeps for the Alert parameter to the value specified as n.
outalert n	Set the Output # Beeps for the Alert parameter to the value specified as n.
chain	Toggle the Clipboard Chain parameter.
boost red_nnn,blue_nnn, green_nnn	Enable SnagIt's Color Boost option (equivalent to selecting the "Use Color Boost" checkbox on the Color Boost dialog), and set the RGB color saturation multipliers (the three slider bars on the Color Boost dialog) to red_nnn for red, blue_nnn for blue, and green_nnn for green. Note that the specified RGB multiplier values must be separated by commas, with no spaces before or after the commas.
boost off	Disable SnagIt's Color Boost option (equivalent to de-selecting the "Use Color Boost" checkbox on the Color Boost dialog).
add red_nnn,blue_nnn, green_nnn	Enable SnagIt's Color Boost option (equivalent to selecting the "Use Color Boost" checkbox on the Color Boost dialog),, and set the RGB color hue additive values (the three Color Enhance fields on the Color Boost dialog) to red_nnn for red, blue_nnn for blue, and green_nnn for green. Note that the specified RGB additive values must be separated by commas, with no spaces before or after the commas.
scale n	Set the Scale value to the value specified as n.
aspect on	Maintain image aspect ratio when printing.
aspect off	Do not maintain image aspect ratio when printing.
window hide	Hides the SnagIt window or icon.
window show	Displays the SnagIt window or icon.
Examples:

Use DDE_EXECUTE to set the input parameter to clipboard:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] set("input clipboard")

Use DDE_EXECUTE to set the format parameter to Monochrome and the intensity threshold to 85 percent:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] set("format mono,85")

Use DDE_EXECUTE to enable Color Boost's color saturation multipliers and set the RGB values:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] set ("boost 200,250,200")


Setting options with DDE_POKE

The general syntax of the DDE_POKE command is:

[DDE_POKE command] "parameter", "value"

With the DDE_POKE command, the parameter and value strings may be one of the following combinations:

Parameter	Values	Result
input	screen	Set the Input parameter to Screen.
	window	Set the Input parameter to Entire Window.
	client	Set the Input parameter to Window Client Area.
	last	Set the Input parameter to Last Active Window.
	region	Set the Input parameter to Region.
	file	Set the Input parameter to BMP File.
	clipboard	Set the Input parameter to Clipboard.
output	printer	Set the Output parameter to Printer.
	clipboard	Set the Output parameter to Clipboard.
	file	Set the Output parameter to BMP File.
	tiff	Set the Output parameter to TIF Mono File.
format	mono,nn	Set the Format parameter to Monochrome, and the Monochrome intensity threshold to the value specified as nn. Note that no spaces are allowed in the "mono,nn" portion of the string, and that if a numeric value is not specified, SnagIt will use its current intensity threshold value as the default.
	color	Set the Format parameter to Color.
	gray	Set the Format parameter to Dithered Grayscale.
inalert	n	Set the Input # Beeps for the Alert parameter to the value specified as n.
outalert	n	Set the Output # Beeps for the Alert parameter to the value specified as n.
chain		Toggle the Clipboard Chain parameter.
boost	red_nnn,blue_nnn, green_nnn	Enable SnagIt's Color Boost option (equivalent to selecting the "Use Color Boost" checkbox on the Color Boost dialog), and set the RGB color saturation multipliers (the three slider bars on the Color Boost dialog) to red_nnn for red, blue_nnn for blue, and green_nnn for green. Note that the specified RGB multiplier values must be separated by commas, with no spaces before or after the commas.
	off	Disable SnagIt's Color Boost option (equivalent to de-selecting the "Use Color Boost" checkbox on the Color Boost dialog).
add	red_nnn,blue_nnn, green_nnn	Enable SnagIt's Color Boost option (equivalent to selecting the "Use Color Boost" checkbox on the Color Boost dialog), and set the RGB color hue additive values (the three Color Enhance fields on the Color Boost dialog) to red_nnn for red, blue_nnn for blue, and green_nnn for green. Note that the specified RGB additive values must be separated by commas, with no spaces before or after the commas.
scale	n	Set the Scale value to the value specified as n.
aspect	on	Maintain image aspect ratio when printing.
aspect	off	Do not maintain image aspect ratio when printing.
window	hide	Displays the SnagIt window or icon.
	show	Hides the SnagIt window or icon.
Examples:

Use DDE_POKE to set the input parameter to clipboard:

[DDE_POKE command] "input", "clipboard"

Use DDE_POKE to set the format parameter to Monochrome and the intensity threshold to 85 percent:

[DDE_POKE command] "format", "mono,85"

Use DDE_POKE to enable Color Boost's color saturation multipliers and set the RGB values:

[DDE_POKE command] "boost", "200,250,200"

(Microsoft Windows SDK programmers:  Note that the data format for DDE_POKE commands must be the valid clipboard format CF_TEXT.)


Invoking SnagIt

SnagIt's capture process is invoked with the DDE_EXECUTE snag command.

The general syntax of the DDE_EXECUTE snag command is:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] snag("input_parameter")

With the DDE_EXECUTE snag command, an input parameter value may be specified.  If specified, this input parameter will override SnagIt's current input setting.  Note that some of the input parameters available at capture time are not available as pre-set options, either via the SnagIt menus or with DDE commands.

The input parameter used with the DDE_EXECUTE snag command may be any one of the following:

Input Parameter	Result
empty or null	Capture image using current input and other parameters (equivalent to pressing <Ctrl><Shift><P>).
clipboard	Capture image in the Clipboard.
screen	Capture the image on the Screen.
[file_name]	Capture the image in the specified BMP File.
x_nnn y_nnn	Capture the Entire Window containing the point at the x and y coordinates, specified as x_nnn and y_nnn (equivalent to using the finger pointer to specify the window to capture). (Note that the x,y screen coordinate 0,0 is the point in the upper left corner of the screen, and that the x coordinate represents the point on the horizontal axis, and the y coordinate represents the point on the vertical axis.  The value of the x,y screen coordinate in the bottom right corner of the screen depends on your screen resolution.)
client x_nnn y_nnn	Capture the Window Client Area containing the point at the x and y coordinates, specified as x_nnn and y_nnn.
handle [window_ handle]	Capture the Entire Window of the window specified by window_handle.  (The window_handle is established by Windows and is ascertained by a source other than SnagIt.)
client handle [window_ handle]	Capture the Window Client Area of the window specified by window_handle.
x1_nnn y1_nnn x2_nnn y2_nnn	Capture the rectangular area bounded by the first set of xy coordinates (specified as  x1_nnn and y1_nnn) and the second set of xy coordinates (specified as x2_nnn and y2_nnn).   The result is the same as capturing a Region with SnagIt.
exit	Terminate SnagIt.
Examples:

Capture an image using the current SnagIt input, output, format and other parameters:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] snag()

Capture the bitmapped image stored in the file CAR.BMP in the C:\WINDOWS directory, using the current SnagIt input, output, format and other parameters:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] snag("c:\windows\car.bmp")

Capture the rectangular screen area bounded by the xy coordinates at 0,0 and 350,500:

[DDE_EXECUTE command] snag("0 0 350 500")

Capture the window client area for the window with handle "0x43B":

[DDE_EXECUTE command] snag("client handle 0x43B")

NOTE:  Numbers used in SnagIt DDE commands may be in either decimal or hexadecimal format.  Hex values must begin with "0x".


Determining SnagIt's status

You may query SnagIt about its availability to process another command with the DDE_REQUEST status command.

The general syntax of the DDE_REQUEST status command is:

[DDE_REQUEST command] status

SnagIt will return either "Ready" or "Busy":

•	Ready means SnagIt is available to process another command.

•	Busy means SnagIt is currently processing a command.

The ability to query SnagIt's status is particularly useful if more than one application is accessing SnagIt.


Installing the SnagIt Word for Windows macro

The Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 macro included with SnagIt will install SnagIt as a menu option in WinWord.  When selected, this option will allow you to do screen captures of another Windows application running in the background, and insert those screen captures into your WinWord document.

Follow these steps to install the SnagIt macro in Word for Windows (WinWord) 2.0:

1.	Start SnagIt, and then start WinWord.

2.	Load the file SNAGWW.DOC from the SnagIt diskette.  Choose File, Open from the WinWord menu, and type the following in the File Name field:

a:\snagww.doc

(If necessary, substitute the appropriate diskette drive letter for your system.)

3.	Select the entire document by choosing Edit, Select All from the menu.  Then choose Edit, Copy from the menu to copy the document to the clipboard.

4.	Choose Tools, Macro from the menu.

5.	In the Macro dialog box, type "ScreenCapture" in the Macro Name field (with no spaces between the words), and "Activates SnagIt" in the Description field.

6.	Press the Edit button to open the macro.

7.	Choose Edit, Paste from the menu to paste in the body of the SnagIt macro.

8.	To assign the SnagIt macro to a WinWord menu item, choose Tools, Options from the menu.  This will bring up the Options dialog box.

In the options dialog box, do the following:

•	Choose the Menus option from the Category list.

•	In the Menu field, select "&Insert" from the list.

•	In the Macros field, select "ScreenCapture" from the list.

•	Verify that the text in the Menu Text field reads "&Screen Capture".

9.	Press the Add button, and then the Close button.

10.	Choose File, Close from the menus.  When you receive the question box asking "Do you want to keep the changes to Global: ScreenCapture?", answer "Yes" by pressing the Yes button.

11.	Choose File, Save all from the menus.  When you receive the question box asking "Do you want to save the global glossary and command changes?", answer "Yes" by pressing the Yes button.

From now on, the Screen Capture option will appear on your Word for Windows Insert menu, providing you with SnagIt functionality from within WinWord.


Activating SnagIt from Word for Windows

Once the SnagIt Word for Windows macro is installed, follow these steps to activate SnagIt from WinWord:

1.	Start SnagIt, if it has not been started.  SnagIt must be started before you can successfully access the Screen Capture option on the WinWord Insert menu.

2.	Set up the other Windows application of which you wish to take screen shots.  (If you are merely testing to see how the macro works, the Windows desktop will work fine.)

3.	Return to WinWord, and position the cursor in your WinWord document at the point where you want the screen capture inserted.

4.	Select Insert, Screen Capture from the WinWord menus.

5.	When prompted, select the type of screen capture you wish to perform:  Screen, Window Client Area, Entire Window, or Region.

6.	Press the OK button.  SnagIt will minimize WinWord, allow you to specify which window or region should be captured (unless you specified that the entire screen should be captured, in which case you won't need to specify a window or region), and then capture the specified area.

When SnagIt is done with the screen capture, it will maximize WinWord and return you to WinWord, and then insert the captured image at the insertion point.

Once the screen capture is inserted into your document, you may move, format or delete it, just like any other picture object in Word for Windows.


SnagIt messages

Each SnagIt message has one or more numbers associated with it.  Following the message text is a number or group of numbers; the explanation and actions associated with this group of numbers is listed below it.

Be sure to note the message number when contacting SnagIt Technical Support for assistance.

Related Topics:

No default printer

Output canceled by user

Output device error

Output exceeds printer capabilities

Out of memory

Printer does not support bitmaps

Windows system error


No default printer

#9:

SnagIt is not able to print the captured image because no Windows default printer has been specified.  Set up a default printer in the Windows Control Panel, under Printers.  Refer to your Windows User's Guide for additional information.


Output canceled by user

#5:

SnagIt canceled the output of the capture image, because the user pressed the Cancel button.


Output device error

#1, #4, #8:

SnagIt is not able to print the captured image.  Check your printer to be sure it is on-line and operational.

#13, #14:

SnagIt is not able to write the specified output file.  Check disk space, file permissions and attributes.  If you are outputting the captured image to diskette, ensure that the diskette is not write-protected, and that it is a working diskette.


Output exceeds printer capabilities

#11:

The SnagIt scale factor has been set to a value so large that the image cannot be printed on one page.  Either decrease the scale factor, or select a smaller screen region to be printed..


Out of memory

#3, #17:

The scale factor for the captured image may be too large for the amount of available memory.  Try reducing the scale factor.

Close any unnecessary applications which may be using up Windows resources or memory.

Delete the contents of the clipboard.

#6, #12, #15:

Windows cannot allocate the memory required for SnagIt to perform this capture.  Exit and restart Windows; reboot your computer if necessary.  Contact SnagIt Technical Support for assistance.


Printer does not support bitmaps

#2:

SnagIt is not able to print to the Windows default printer because that printer does not support graphics.  You must use a printer that supports graphics with SnagIt.


Windows system error

#7, #10, #16, #18, #19:

A basic Windows system function has failed.  Exit and restart Windows; reboot if necessary.

#20, #21:

One or more Windows system functions are not supported by your video card driver.  Obtain and install the latest driver from your video card manufacturer.  Contact SnagIt Technical Support if this does not solve the problem.


Glossary of Terms

TechSmith Corporation

TIF

BMP


TechSmith Corporation

Contact TechSmith at 3451 Dunckel Road, Suite 200, Lansing, Michigan 48911-4216 USA.  Telephone 517-393-0800; Fax 517-393-0885; CompuServe 75226,3136; BBS 517-393-0966.


TIF

Tagged image format files (TIFF) is a graphic file format supported by a wide variety of application programs on a number of platforms.  SnagIt supports monochrome TIFF files only.  TIFF files have a file extension of .TIF.


BMP

Windows bitmap files are graphic files generated by Windows paint programs or other graphics programs.  Most Windows word processing and desktop publishing programs easily import bitmap files into documents.  Bitmap files have a file extension of .BMP.