How to Take a Screenshot (illustrated Guide)

[Mr Red Bull]

This guide has been tested on a PC using Windows XP operating system. Any other operating system, Notebooks and Macs may differ.
Please advise me on this and add comments for those systems so I can update accordingly if needed

Contents:-


1) Taking a Screenshot within Toontown

2) Finding your Screenshot on your PC

3) Alternative way to take Screenshot

4) Loading your Screenshots to Toontown Central Forums

5) Using Gallery on TTC (Link to Guide)

6) Credits




Taking a Screenshot within Toontown.

To take screen shot while playing in fullscreen mode you press F9 on keyboard *(alternate Mac keys below)


Only indication that it has worked is a half second freezing of screen, this is so picture is still when shot is taken.



Finding your screenshot on your PC

All screenshots taken from Toontown are stored in it's main Directory.
C:Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline **(Check below for alternate UK Launcher and Test locations)


As you can see from pic above, your taken shots start with the word screenshot. Do not try to open or alter any of the other files in this directory as this could make Toontown stop working, and you will have to reinstall. This will however not affect your stored toons, they will be safe. .

You may want to make finding your pics easier next time. To do this you can make shortcut to desktop.


* F9 is for PC, Notebooks and Macs may use another key. See Below for alternative keys on Mac, botton of next section.

Also:Vista on a Mac the function keys also serving as hotbuttons on the keyboard, you need to go to your Boot Camp control panel, go to the keyboard tab, and select the option to use the F1, F2, etc. keys as normal function keys. That way, the F9 key will work for screenshotting.

** This is based on standard installation using XP on PC, if you chose somewhere else like different hard drive, or using a Mac it may be stored somewhere else, in which case you'll need to locate it yourself. (If you know of any difference with Mac or other operating system install, please let me know below. Thankyou).


Alternate locations :-

If you have UK Account the location will be ToontownOnline_UK
Test Account Holders will find test pics in folder labelled Toontown_TEST or ToontownOnline_TEST

Best way to locate yourself would be to use search feature and look for directory called Toontown.

Note:- Moving your shots to another directory may be useful at this point. I move mine to My Documents\My Pics, this makes it easier and safer to alter them and change names etc. Just remember to move only the ones labelled screenshot, moving anything else could stop Toontown from working properly. It is easier to identify shots by changing directory viewing to Thumbnails, this shows small version of pics instead of file name.




Not working? What Now?

There is another way to take a screenshot, this is done by getting Windows or your operating system to take a shot for you.

Pasting to Buffer
You will need to put Toontown into windowed mode first. To do this :-

1. Open Shticker book
   
2. Goto Options
3. Select Display and change to windowed, and choose size *

Ok making sure you have window on screen and current most forward (Click on it once).
Press PRTSCN, PRTSCR or PRTSCRN (varies on keyboards) **

This will take a screenshot of your desktop, including Tootown window and stores it in your computers buffer.

* I would suggest choosing a window size that is smaller then current desktop. I have found tool bar gets in the way of Tootown window and sometimes blocks gag selections. If you make window one size smaller, it is easy to resize to make bigger.

** 1) This key may differ on other operating systems, Notebooks and Macs. In which case refer to help section for your system for taking screenshots.
.....2) Using CTRL + ALT + PRTSCN takes shot of just the window you are using, just click window you want before using. This is usefull as can save time trimming picture of unwanted image material or sensitive stuff that may be on desktop in background.


Alternate Keys :-

For Mac Users :-

Command-Shift-3: takes a screenshot of the screen, and saves it as a file on the desktop.
Command-Shift-4, then select an area: takes a screenshot of an area and saves it as a file on the desktop.
Command-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: takes a screenshot of a window and saves it as a file on the desktop.

Command-Control-Shift-3: takes a screenshot of the screen, and saves it to the clipboard.
Command-Control-Shift-4, then select an area: takes a screenshot of an area and saves it to the clipboard.
Command-Control-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: takes a screenshot of a window and saves it to the clipboard.

Pasting From Buffer and saving to file

You now need to paste into a Art or Graphics program, Mspaint is where I paste it usually, this is on most copies of Windows and can be found :- By Clicking on Start then selecting Programs then Acessories then choose Paint. Then once loaded choose Paste from the Edit menu.

Other programs may vary, but most should have paste option in edit menu.

Now all you need to do is save to file. JPG or PNG is best for size.



Loading your screenshots to Toontown Central Forums

There are a couple of ways to put your shots on to the Forums.

Firstly you can load from the your computer directly to end of post via post attachment system. You do this as follows :-

1. Scroll to bottom of your post creation page and select Manage Attachments
   
   
   
2. Then open search for pictures option by clicking on Browse and navigate to place where your shots are kept.
   
   
   
3. To make selection easier and distinguish between screenshots that are in the Directory, you can change view to Thumbnails, this will show small versions of each shot.
   
   
   
4. Now select your shot for upload
   
   
   
5. Then select Upload, to load in your shot. To add more then one shot repeat steps 2-5
   
   
   
6. Now close the Attachment Box and then Preview and Save post to complete the addition of picture of shots in post.

This is a quick and easy way to add your shots or any picture to end of your post, especially if you suddenly decide to do so. However strict limitations to shot picture sizes and the fact you can only insert pictures at end of post makes this not the best way to put your shots on to the Forums.

A better way is to upload your shots to another place then use picture links to insert them into your post. These other places are called hosting sites, these store pictures for you online and you can create links to the pictures that you can include in your post.

You may already have a hosting site in mind, however I would check this thread <LINK> to see if your hosting site is accepted by this forum, as some hosting sites break G-Rated requirements this site uses.

If your site is not listed this could be either because it is banned or not been included, you could try using it (if your picture link is broken then it is banned), or contact a Mod and ask for advice on this.

The best way to insert your shots is via the Insert Image icon just above where you create/edit your posts.


The advantage of using this method allows you to insert pictures within the text of the post, making them link to particular sentences and stand out more. Just like I have done with this very guide.

I however recommend using the Picture Gallery(TTC's own hosting place) rather than an external one. This has a generous enough allowance of space for plenty of pictures, I currently have numerous pictures and shots for several guides and there is still pleny of space for more. This also is guaranteed to be safe to use within this site under the G-Rated Rules.

For a full guide on how to make the best of the Gallery, check out Dogfathers Guide <LINK>

Again:- If you know of any alternative keys or processes that differ on other systems, please let me know below. All info given correctly will be credited below. Thank you.



Extra Credit :-

Kit T. Kat: for suggesting a note about not touching other files in Tootown Directory and for mentioning different folders for test accounts.

Squiddy:- For alternative folder name for new Vista launcher installation.

Anita Nap:- For alternative Mac Keys for Screen Shot taking

Augie Doodle:- For suggestion of changing Function Key Hotkeys on Vista Macs, so they work as normal Function Keys

[Kit T. Kat]

Good Job

Also it is in the same area in Windows Vista

And i would reccomend Not touching any file in that are other then the screenshots
It could make you re-download TT, but you will not lose your toons

[Squiddy22]

For me (and I have the new launcher installed), the location of the TT folder is:

C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline

You can easily go to Start > Run, and type or paste this in.

[Kit T. Kat]

Yep
C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline

Test photos are at
C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline_TEST

(both with new launcher)

Also i would suggest moveing them to different folders and organizing them, Right now 99% of my TT pics are at
C:\Users\My Name\Pictures\Toontown Pictures

[Mr Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Kit T. Kat

Yep
C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline

Test photos are at
C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline_TEST

(both with new launcher)

Also i would suggest moveing them to different folders and organizing them, Right now 99% of my TT pics are at
C:\Users\My Name\Pictures\Toontown Pictures

I assume then also that there is
C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\Toontown_TEST
for test accounts without launcher?

'Keep it Kool '

[Kit T. Kat]

Yes and also TT Wanadoo for French toons i believe :-P

[PkmnKnight]

Kit T. Kat be wrong it be Toontown_FR .
Copied and pasted from my own folder.

[Kit T. Kat]

I downloaded TT France on my mom's pc and i have 3 things there

Open, Test and Wanadoo

I was on the US Open, Test, and French Open and it was a long time ago, but when i had TT France trial, it came up as Wanadoo

[-Queen Candy-]

Nice guide! It is very helpful!

-Bella

[BayouGirl]

Very comprehensive. Nice layout.


If you would rather use a full size window to take your print screens, there is a way to change the settings for the toolbar at the bottom of the screen so it won't get in the way of your gag selections, and you don't have to change the size of the window to a size smaller. The toolbar will then automatically drop out of the way any time you are using the Toontown window as your main window, and only come back when you hover over the toolbar area. Therefore it will disappear when you take your screenshots and not show in them.

To do this, just right-click on the toolbar, select Properties, and check the box that says 'Auto-hide the taskbar'.

[Mr Red Bull]

Originally Posted by BayouGirl

Very comprehensive. Nice layout.


If you would rather use a full size window to take your print screens, there is a way to change the settings for the toolbar at the bottom of the screen so it won't get in the way of your gag selections, and you don't have to change the size of the window to a size smaller. The toolbar will then automatically drop out of the way any time you are using the Toontown window as your main window, and only come back when you hover over the toolbar area. Therefore it will disappear when you take your screenshots and not show in them.

To do this, just right-click on the toolbar, select Properties, and check the box that says 'Auto-hide the taskbar'.

Yes tried that, it does work, altho it got irritating it poping up whenever mouse pointer go to near, like when opening book. I usually resize to 3/4 screen with mensenger bar right side, thats plenty large enough.

'Keep it Kool '

[Princess Cuddles l/ll]

Nice guide especially for new comers. =]

[MasterFish]

I have a question, when you take a screenshot how do you make sure it goes into another folder besides C:\Program Files\Disney\Disney Online\ToontownOnline? Thanks just asking!

[Kit T. Kat]

You cant

I move mine like every week or month

[Mr Red Bull]

Now updated Guide to include ways of loading pictures into Toontown Central Forums.

Any futher comments or suggestions on this section of guide would be welcomed please post below.

Thank you.

'Keep it Kool '

Edit 1: Added extra ways of taking shots on Mac, altho Mac alternatives still sketchy and any more info would be usefull. Thx.

Edit 2: This should be on first page.... Oh look it is