How I Made Screenshot Program and Learned a Programming Language. Part 3

Fast Screener: learning C# and creating a program

Part 2

I have done little programming and have never programmed in C#. I had some experience with scripting and markup languages. That’s All.

I started googling how such an application could be made quickly. I came across a series of dotnet tutorials - “What is C#”.

I looked. I liked the guys who were talking, and the programming language seemed friendly. I also saw a lot of information and documentation on C# on the Internet.

Result: I decided to write a program in C#.

Everything was new. Syntax, rules, etc. Almost every week I came to a dead end - I couldn’t figure out how to implement the functions I needed. I looked for tips on the Internet (https://stackoverflow.com/). Most of the fuss was with the settings (GUI, saving). I didn’t do a lot of things the way I wanted.

Slowly, over a couple of months, in my free time, I did what I needed. In the process, I understood what other functions I wanted, added them, and tested them.

I named the program “Fast Screener” or “FS”, because... it allows me to quickly take screenshots. It runs on Windows x64 (NetFramework required).

The result was 3 iterations of appearance and functionality. Because you must design first 😊

Stages of development.

What the program allows you to do:

• 4 size presets that can be changed
• Adding arrows (you can set color, length, and direction)
• Adding numbering (you can set color and size)
• Proportional (3x3, 4x4) and custom grid
• Copying the image to the clipboard + saving to a PNG file on disk.
• Settings are saved when you close the application.

Fast Screener is an application that sits on top of all windows. In the frame window, like in the viewfinder, you can place what you want to see in the screenshot. Making the most of the given size.

The grid is necessary for convenient positioning of objects. For example, you want all images to be about 10 pixels from the edge. Or build some kind of composition based on a 3x3 proportional grid.

Summary

I actively use the program at work. I quickly get screenshots of the required size, which contain everything that is important. Got used to it. It did not completely replace all other programs, but that was not the goal either...

Current process:

1. Size selection (FS)
2. Adding graphics (FS)
3. Screenshot (FS)
4. Saving or immediately inserting into a document (in difficult situations I use PS)

What was interesting in the process of creating the program:

• Learn something new and unknown
• Programming
• Make a tool for the job yourself and be able to improve it in the process
• Solve problems and find a way out
• Feel the importance of design. At least minimal. I spent a lot of time on things that should have been thought through first and only then done.

Is size 4 enough for me? – Yes, but it would be cool if the user could add new ones himself. Or presets of 3, 4 or 5 resolutions. For different documents.

Is there anything that can be improved in Fast Screener? - Oh yes! I wouldn't call it the final program, but rather a working prototype. From a programming point of view, it's crazy)

Write who uses what for screenshots or what tools they make or want to make, not only for documentation. Interesting to hear your stories :)

Thank you for your attention!

Links

https://github.com/Ivanou-Dzmitry/fast_screener

Google Drive. ZIP with exe.

P.S. NetFramework is required to operate and run the application. He will offer to download and install himself.