How to Use Snag-it to Create Effective Training Documentation for Workday

Creating training documentation for Workday presents unique challenges. One big reason is the product’s interface design -- wide shots and open grey spaces (I call this the icy dungeon). 

As a positive, this means that it can fit a lot of information on one page, while giving the users’ eyes breathing room and the ability to skim easily for highlights. But this also means, it’s hard to make good screenshots. 

My job is to create training documentation regardless of whether its photogenic.

Snag-it is my go-to screenshot maker. It has a lot of great features, but here are my top 3 features specifically for creating smart screenshots for Workday. 

Selection Tool

This tool quickly removes anything you don’t want to see. While this includes unwanted cursors (or other fray accidentally caught in the shot), I use it to “empty” fields in cells or tables or remove sensitive information. So, if my screenshot has data in cells, but I want to make these cells generic and empty. I use the selection tool. I also use this tool to bring blocks of text closer together, minimizing the grey expanse. 

Text Tool

This is my go-to when I want to insert custom information in empty cells or tables. So, if you want to customize a table or cell, sometimes it’s easier to edit the screenshot using the text tool rather than changing it in Workday. Empty the cell using the selection tool and then fill the cell using the text tool. Remember, Workday uses Roboto Mono font.

Cut-Out Tool

This tool is the cure to icy dungeon disease. It’s like the crop tool, but it crops the image internally. Sometimes, a page will have text at the top followed by empty space and a button just below the fold (you have to scroll down to see it). The cut-out tool allows you to crop out this internal dead space. Alternatively, I use this tool to narrow columns. Ever notice how columns in Workday are quite wide even if void of text? Use the cut-out tool to crop out the excess width of the columns or remove columns altogether. 

BONUS - Tags

Tags are great for pulling up previously used screenshots quickly. They are 100% customizable. In my own account, I created a tag called “frequently used” and applied it to commonly used items, like “OK” and “Done” buttons, the “related actions” twinkie, and the plus/minus symbols used in tables. This way, I can quickly pull them up without having to actually take a new screenshot. 

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