ToolBook

ToolBook is an e-learning content development application developed and published by SumTotal Systems.

ToolBook is the name of the product line which includes ToolBook Instructor and ToolBook Assistant. ToolBook allows users to develop web training, computer-based training ("CBT"), courseware, multimedia applications, simulations for software and other types of interactive content. ToolBook customers have used the solution to increase channel effectiveness, accelerate salesforce readiness, enhance customer service, increase customer satisfaction, educate geographically diverse workforces, and ensure regulatory compliance.

A team led by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, created ToolBook at Asymetrix Inc. which Paul founded after leaving Microsoft. ToolBook was launched in May 1990 at the New York Public Library. Microsoft Windows 3.0 included the ToolBook runtime and a couple of ToolBook applications.

After ToolBook's launch, it was found that a large majority of ToolBook users were using ToolBook to develop CBT applications. Asymetrix begin to enhance ToolBook to create computer based training in addition to providing various other ToolBook versions that focused on multimedia. Over time ToolBook has evolved to be one of the industry’s standard for creating online learning applications and CBT, in addition to its continued ability to create Windows applications and general-purpose interactive content. Asymetrix changed its name to Click2learn and then merged with Docent to form SumTotal Systems. SumTotal Systems continues to develop and market ToolBook.

Recent versions of the product not only enable development of content in so-called native format (denoted by .TBK extension) designed to function as a Windows based application, it more commonly is used to create browser based training content.

The products are oriented mostly towards the authoring of e-learning contents, supported by availability of numerous predefined objects in the catalog.

To make the development of the courses easier, other than the fully-programmable ToolBook Instructor, there is also ToolBook Assistant, enabling development of contents using drag and drop and configuration wizards, without the need (and possibility) of programming.

Version History

*1990 ToolBook 1.0
*1991 ToolBook 1.52, 1.53
*1994 ToolBook 3.0 and 3.0a
*1995 ToolBook 3.01
*1996 ToolBook 4.0
*1996 ToolBook 5.0, 5.01
*1998 ToolBook 6.0, 6.1, 6.1a
*1998 ToolBook 6.5
*1999 ToolBook 7.0
*1999 ToolBook 7.1
*2000 ToolBook 7.2
*2000 ToolBook 8.0
*2001 ToolBook 8.1
*2002 ToolBook 8.5
*2003 ToolBook 8.6
*2004 ToolBook 2004 (aka 8.9)
*2004 ToolBook 2004 SP1
*2005 ToolBook 2004 SP2
*2005 ToolBook 2004 SP3
*2007 ToolBook 9.0
*2008 ToolBook 9.01

External links

* [http://www.sumtotalsystems.com sumtotalsystems.com (SumTotal Systems)]
* [http://www.toolbook.com/learn_testdrive.php ToolBook trial (SumTotal Systems)]
* [http://www.toolbook.org toolbook.org (ToolBook community news site and portal)]
* [http://www.toolbook.com/blog ToolBook blog (SumTotal Systems)]
* [http://www.plattecanyon.com/list.aspx ToolBook list (hosted by Platte Canyon)]
* [http://www.toolbookhelp.com General Help Site (hosted by Denny Dedmore)]
* [http://www.toolbookconsulting.com/blog.aspx Unofficial ToolBook Blog (written by Tomas Lund, hosted by ToolBookConsulting.com)]