NeoBook

Some projects are easier to work on with different applications. You may try to create an interactive book or something similar, but if you do it in MS Office, you will waste precious time and the book will not come out as well as you plan. Instead of using multiple programs, you can try NeoBook. It lets you create and publish a wide range of Windows apps, which can be educational games, training material, tests, quizzes and much more.

The size of the setup kit is close to 10 Mb, but this should not be a problem for any modern day Internet connection. To install the software on your computer, you will have to go through a standard setup process, during which you may choose to install additional components, like sample buttons, tutorial files or sample publications.

At a first glance, you would agree that NeoBook's interface is similar to an advanced image editor in many ways. The central editing area is surrounded by various elements, including a tool pane, toolbar, an objects list and different windows which contain options for filling an object with a color or pattern, adding borders, adjusting its size and position of an object and more. These items can be moved anywhere on the screen, closed or docked with the main interface.

You may insert additional pages, in the editing area and switch from one to another with Next and Previous buttons, located on the toolbar. A master page is available as well and you can access it with a different button. The options on the tool pane allow you to insert numerous objects, such as buttons, scrolling articles, images, text, radio buttons, check boxes and more. These are just basic items. You can also insert Flash movies, animated GIFs, media players or web browsers.

After inserting an object, you can set up its behavior in a properties window, which can be accessed with a toolbar option or by double clicking an object. Depending on the object, you can make different configurations in the properties window. For example, if you insert a button, the properties window will contain options for placing text over the button, associating it with a shortcut key, setting its initial state, customizing its appearance and more.

Some options are available for all objects. It is possible to set up automated actions, which can be triggered when the object is clicked with the left or right mouse button, when the cursor is placed over it or vice versa. The actions are defined by typing one or more instructions in the properties window. To make it easier, you may select and insert one of many pre defined actions and variables, which are categorized in separate lists.