As an alternative to usual methods to describe an issue (screenshots, long step by step descriptions, etc.) you may want to consider using a free tool available on Windows installations, the Problem Steps Recorder.
This tool allows you to automatically record each action you perform on screen and at the end it provides a clear and illustrated output similar to the one below, where I tried to launch AutoCAD 2013 without having a network license available, simulating a communication problem or else during a standard client-server license checkout).
This example is also showing, at the beginning, how to start the recorder.
Or, you can type “steps recorder” in the Windows search field.
You can save the recording to a zip file that contains a .mht file that you can open on a Browser.
Here is the exemple of my recorded actions:
Recorder output:
Recorded Steps
This file contains all the steps and information that was recorded to help you describe the recorded steps to others.
Before sharing this file, you should verify the following:
• The steps below accurately describe the recording.
• There is no information below or on any screenshots that you do not want others to see.
Passwords or any other text you typed were not recorded, except for function and shortcut keys that you used.
You can do the following:
• Review the recorded steps
• Review the recorded steps as a slide show
• Review the additional details
Steps
Step 1: (4/12/2013 5:09:14 PM) User keyboard input on "Desktop (pane)" [... Win]
Step 2: (4/12/2013 5:09:17 PM) User keyboard input on "Start menu (pane)" in "Start menu" [...]
Step 3: (4/12/2013 5:09:19 PM) User keyboard input on "Search (pane)" in "Search" [...]
Step 4: (4/12/2013 5:09:27 PM) User left click on "Steps Recorder (text)" in "Start menu"
PreviousNext
Step 5: (4/12/2013 5:09:31 PM) User left double click on "AutoCAD 2013 - English (list item)" in "Program Manager"
PreviousNext
Step 6: (4/12/2013 5:09:37 PM) User left click on "Next> (button)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
PreviousNext
Step 7: (4/12/2013 5:09:39 PM) User left click on "Enter the Computer Name of the License Server System. (Contact your System Administrator if you do not know this.) (edit)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
PreviousNext
Step 8: (4/12/2013 5:09:40 PM) User keyboard input on "Enter the Computer Name of the License Server System. (Contact your System Administrator if you do not know this.) (edit)" in "FLEXnet License Finder" [...]
PreviousNext
Step 9: (4/12/2013 5:09:46 PM) User left click on "Next> (button)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
PreviousNext
Step 10: (4/12/2013 5:09:48 PM) User left click on "Finish (button)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
PreviousNext
Step 11: (4/12/2013 5:09:54 PM) User left click on "Licensing Error (window)" in "Licensing Error"
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Additional Details
The following section contains the additional details that were recorded.
These details help accurately identify the programs and UI you used in this recording.
This section may contain text that is internal to programs that only very advanced users or programmers may understand.
Please review these details to ensure that they do not contain any information that you would not like others to see.
Recording Session: 4/12/2013 5:09:11 PM - 5:09:58 PM
Recorded Steps: 11, Missed Steps: 0, Other Errors: 0
Operating System: 9200.16384.amd64fre.win8_rtm.120725-1247 6.2.0.0.2.4
Step 1: User keyboard input on "Desktop (pane)" [... Win]
Program:
UI Elements: Desktop, #32769
Step 2: User keyboard input on "Start menu (pane)" in "Start menu" [...]
Program: Windows Explorer, 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247), Microsoft Corporation, EXPLORER.EXE, EXPLORER.EXE
UI Elements: Start menu, CHostElement, Start menu, ImmersiveLauncher
Step 3: User keyboard input on "Search (pane)" in "Search" [...]
Program: Windows Explorer, 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247), Microsoft Corporation, EXPLORER.EXE, EXPLORER.EXE
UI Elements: Search, SearchPane, Search, SearchPane
Step 4: User left click on "Steps Recorder (text)" in "Start menu"
Program: Windows Explorer, 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247), Microsoft Corporation, EXPLORER.EXE, EXPLORER.EXE
UI Elements: Steps Recorder, LauncherText, Steps Recorder, GridListTileElement, Steps Recorder, GridGroup, GridContent, TouchScrollViewer, All Apps, GridRoot, SemanticZoomToggle, Start menu, CHostElement, Start menu, ImmersiveLauncher
Step 5: User left double click on "AutoCAD 2013 - English (list item)" in "Program Manager"
Program: Windows Explorer, 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247), Microsoft Corporation, EXPLORER.EXE, EXPLORER.EXE
UI Elements: AutoCAD 2013 - English, Desktop, SysListView32, SHELLDLL_DefView, Program Manager, Progman
Step 6: User left click on "Next> (button)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
Program: AutoCAD Application, R19.0.55.0.0, Autodesk, Inc., ACAD.EXE /PRODUCT ACAD /LANGUAGE EN-US, ACAD.EXE
UI Elements: Next>, Button, FLEXnet License Finder, #32770
Step 7: User left click on "Enter the Computer Name of the License Server System. (Contact your System Administrator if you do not know this.) (edit)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
Program: AutoCAD Application, R19.0.55.0.0, Autodesk, Inc., ACAD.EXE /PRODUCT ACAD /LANGUAGE EN-US, ACAD.EXE
UI Elements: Enter the Computer Name of the License Server System. (Contact your System Administrator if you do not know this.), Edit, #32770, FLEXnet License Finder, #32770
Step 8: User keyboard input on "Enter the Computer Name of the License Server System. (Contact your System Administrator if you do not know this.) (edit)" in "FLEXnet License Finder" [...]
Program: AutoCAD Application, R19.0.55.0.0, Autodesk, Inc., ACAD.EXE /PRODUCT ACAD /LANGUAGE EN-US, ACAD.EXE
UI Elements: Enter the Computer Name of the License Server System. (Contact your System Administrator if you do not know this.), Edit, #32770, FLEXnet License Finder, #32770
Step 9: User left click on "Next> (button)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
Program: AutoCAD Application, R19.0.55.0.0, Autodesk, Inc., ACAD.EXE /PRODUCT ACAD /LANGUAGE EN-US, ACAD.EXE
UI Elements: Next>, Button, FLEXnet License Finder, #32770
Step 10: User left click on "Finish (button)" in "FLEXnet License Finder"
Program: AutoCAD Application, R19.0.55.0.0, Autodesk, Inc., ACAD.EXE /PRODUCT ACAD /LANGUAGE EN-US, ACAD.EXE
UI Elements: Finish, Button, FLEXnet License Finder, #32770
Step 11: User left click on "Licensing Error (window)" in "Licensing Error"
Program: Autodesk component, 5.0.39.0, Autodesk, Inc., LMU.EXE LMU.EXE3460, LMU.EXE
UI Elements: Licensing Error, QWidget
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