Eliminate inset window showing tutorial guy from Video Tutorials

I strongly suggest that the inset window in tutorial videos that shows the person giving the tutorial be removed. We don't need to see this person, only hear him. Most importantly, the inset window often blocks important information on the part of the video that shows the computer screen and what is being done there. Video tutorials are very frustrating as is, but this makes it even more frustrating. Can we just see the tutorial guy's computer screen in these tutorials? Please please please?

boyjahq wrote: I strongly suggest that the inset window in tutorial videos that shows the person giving the tutorial be removed. We don't need to see this person, only hear him. Most importantly, the inset window often blocks important information on the part of the video that shows the computer screen and what is being done there. Video tutorials are very frustrating as is, but this makes it even more frustrating. Can we just see the tutorial guy's computer screen in these tutorials? Please please please?

I am that guy

Thanks for your feedback - I will take it into account for future videos - sorry I will not go back and edit existing videos.

Why do you feel that video tutorials are frustrating?

I have gotten nothing but great reviews (not counting yours) on the video series.
People seem to appreciate that this sessions are personal and really go through real step by step scenarios.

Thanks for your reply and consideration for future videos. And no, I wouldn't expect you guys to go back and edit previously done videos. Just keep it in mind for future.

The thing that frustrates me about video tutorials vs. written (all such videos, not just the ones from Joomlapolis) is that we must watch a lot of irrelevant stuff (to each person and their situation and what they are seeking from the tutorial, of course) in order to find that bit of information that we need. I much prefer skimming over a written article to determine if it has the information I am looking for and then focusing on and reading and re-reading just that part to achieve my goals and move on. Also, we can't copy and paste code examples, for instance, from a video. And then there is the issue of inset windows of the tutorial person (this is found in the videos for most software tutorials) which blocks part of the screen so we can't see what is being referred to or clicked, after chasing an often wildly moving cursor all over the screen trying to figure out what is happening. I also like to copy bits and pieces from various written documentation to keep in my own reference manual to things that are pertinent to my case or my current project. Of course I understand that it is much easier to make a video than to write up documentation and probably many people prefer videos over text. I know that some people absorb information better when it is explained to them than when they read it.

In terms of content, I find it frustrating that most tutorial videos seem to simply summarize a particular feature or demonstrate with a couple of potentially useful use case examples. I personally would LOVE video tutorials that take on a particular plugin or feature and go through step by step EVERY setting or paramater for that particular item and explain what it does (or does not do), in exhaustive detail. I dread the words "I won't go into that in this tutorial...", as it invariably is THE thing I want to know about, having already searched the documentation and forums for the info and come up short of a satisfactory understanding and as a last resort turned to video tutorials.

The other thing about videos is that they inevitably become out of date, but they remain available because "the basic concepts are sound" even if the interface on screen and the names for certain things are different from current versions of the software, creating yet more of a challenge to apply what is being explained. With a printed version, it can always be updated to contain the newest information. And you can do a search through written documentation, whereas it is rather a nightmare trying to find what you are looking for amongst the 67 or so video tutorials available for Community Builder.

I appreciate very much all that you guys do and quality and integrity of your products. But they are VERY powerful and versatile and there are lots of pieces, so while one gets that sense that many many many desired outcomes are achievable, it is often frustrating not to have the information needed, in the most versatile format, to take advantage of so much power.

Thanks again for feedback.

Many valid points.

Our (my) experience is that people do not read.
If they did, they would have just read one by one the tooltips available for every parameter with descriptions.

Agree that the power is too much to document and in most cases the existing documentation does not do us justice (even though I would sy it is one of the better sets in Joomla land).

Judging by the many forum posts that I have struggled through it certainly does seem that people do not read all available materials. And yes, absolutely Joomlapolis offers a far better range of informational materials and documentation than almost any other Joomla addon software that I have used!

As for tool tips, I find them sometimes lacking, especially for more complex functions. For example, this tool tip, for an item that has disabled or enabled as the only options, tells me that I can disable or enable this function. What is more important to me at this point is: what is this function and when would I need to use it? Of course I will read the full documentation and watch the video tutorial to learn more about what is obviously a very powerful and complex capability, but the tool tip itself is frustrating in that it really tells me nothing about CB Query Field. It simply repeats the choices available.


The best tool tips so far are those found in Fabrik. They are so complete that I rarely need to seek further explanation for usage and functionality.

I strongly agree with Nick. Over the many years I've been here people flat out just don't read. Whether it's parameters, documentation, or text based tutorials. I honestly can't tell you how many times I've linked users the substitution tutorial then for them to ask a question literally answered in the first 2-3 paragraphs. It's frustrating to say the least. Does this mean the tutorial is bad or not engaging? I don't know as no one provides feedback regarding them. More particularly what would people like to see improved. This post for example is a good example of feedback to help us improve our documentation and am very grateful for it!

In terms of content, I find it frustrating that most tutorial videos seem to simply summarize a particular feature or demonstrate with a couple of potentially useful use case examples. I personally would LOVE video tutorials that take on a particular plugin or feature and go through step by step EVERY setting or paramater for that particular item and explain what it does (or does not do), in exhaustive detail. I dread the words "I won't go into that in this tutorial...", as it invariably is THE thing I want to know about, having already searched the documentation and forums for the info and come up short of a satisfactory understanding and as a last resort turned to video tutorials.

Instead of re-explaining each parameter I'd much rather improve those parameter descriptions to be of more use. No one should have to read a tutorial to understand a parameters description. The best tutorials we can provide are usecase tutorials that explain various ways a plugin can be used as the enduser can more realistically get an idea of what can be done with the plugin. A simple showcase of the plugin it self is already handled extremely well with our demosite so a tutorial for that would never be able to compete with being able to actually use and experience it.

The other thing about videos is that they inevitably become out of date, but they remain available because "the basic concepts are sound" even if the interface on screen and the names for certain things are different from current versions of the software, creating yet more of a challenge to apply what is being explained. With a printed version, it can always be updated to contain the newest information. And you can do a search through written documentation, whereas it is rather a nightmare trying to find what you are looking for amongst the 67 or so video tutorials available for Community Builder.

This has been our biggest struggle regarding tutorials. Whether video or text based. We're 3 people with 2 full time. We're not a large team. Maintaining the code base as is takes significant time, but also to maintain hundreds of tutorials would likely just be impossible. We're currently exploring our options on how we can accomplish providing more tutorials and documentation that we are able to maintain.

As for tool tips, I find them sometimes lacking, especially for more complex functions. For example, this tool tip, for an item that has disabled or enabled as the only options, tells me that I can disable or enable this function. What is more important to me at this point is: what is this function and when would I need to use it? Of course I will read the full documentation and watch the video tutorial to learn more about what is obviously a very powerful and complex capability, but the tool tip itself is frustrating in that it really tells me nothing about CB Query Field. It simply repeats the choices available.

I agree the parameters could use much better descriptions. I've now added a feature ticket to each project to improve all their parameter descriptions to better describe what they're doing for later releases and will work to provide better descriptions for all future parameters.