It's been a while since I featured Rapidweaver, but it's still one of the most requested topics to cover. This week, I take a brief overview of Rapidweaver, followed by a section on a relatively new plugin for Rapidweaver - Stacks, finishing off with some very cool Stacks plugins from Joe Workman.

Rapidweaver is an extremely powerful web creation tool that allows you to create a full website without any HTML knowledge. Simply create blank pages within the application and enter your content. Rapidweaver comes with 10 pre-defined page types for different sorts of content. Add in the ability to completely change the design of your website with a single click, utilising one of 40 built in website themes, web creation has never been simpler. Complete flexibility is assured by the use of theme styles allowing you to tweak the website to your hearts desire - RapidWeaver - ScreenCastsOnline Affiliate Link

One of the main strengths of Rapidweaver is the rapidly expanding ecosystem of Rapidweaver related tools, utilities and themes, all created by third party developers. No need to be constrained to the built in themes, as there are literally hundreds of additional themes available for free or for purchase. As well as themes, developers have also created Rapidweaver plugins enabling the creation of many different types of web pages. The second part of the show focuses on "Stacks" by YourHead Software. This is an amazing plugin that allows you to create a special page in Rapidweaver with full control over the layout of text, images and html in a flexible layout - a truly WYSIWYG approach to web page design.

The show also covers some third party stacks, specifically the Fancy Image Stacks by Joe Workman, just one set of stacks from Joe's comprehensive portfolio. These stacks allow you to create sophisticated images effects just using drag and drop, effects that previously would have needed code changes and installation of Javascript and other complex tools and utilities. In this show I demonstrate the installation of the Fancy Image stacks and how easy it is to configure an image lightbox, allowing thumbnail images to pop out of your website in a smart lightbox panel.

This week's show also contains discount codes for ScreenCastsOnline members for both the Stacks Plugin and the Fancy Image Stacks.

Discussions: Forum

RapidWeaver - ScreenCastsOnline Affiliate Link

Extra! Members Version formats	1280x720 - Full HD Resolution 1280x720 - Full HD Resolution with overscan 960x540 - HD Resolution 640x480 - iPod and iPhone Resolution All versions with embedded chapter markings and available via iTunes, Miro or by direct download from the Extra! members site
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Watch the free trailer of this show from this web page by clicking on the videos below

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This week, the show takes a sneaky peak at an application we've previously covered on ScreenCastsOnline, but which is just about to be re-launched with some terrific new features.

Update: Circus Ponies Notebook V3.0 is now available from the Circus Ponies website

Circus Ponies NoteBook is a fully featured information manager which uses the metaphor of a familiar paper notebook interface complete with pages, tabs, sections and sub sections and now sticky notes and flags. It allows you to store text, outlines, to-dos, images, sketches, web clippings, email clippings, movies, PDFs or other documents on the pages of the notebook itself and then organise them with keywords, highlighting and even voice annotation.

Once you've got your information stored, NoteBook makes it really easy to search all of your information. A comprehensive indexing system is built right into NoteBook giving you instant access to all the information multiple index pages, just like the index in a book. In addition, all of a Notebooks unencrypted text is now also accessible via OSX spotlight searches.

As well as all this functionality, Circus Ponies NoteBook allows you to share your information easily and simply with other users and can even publish your notebooks to the web as fully functional websites directly to MobileMe or to any other Web Hosting Provider.

It's been quite a while since we covered v2.1 of Notebook, way back in April 2007 so I'll make no apologies for covering some old ground rather than just focussing on the new elements. The application has taken the notebook metaphor to a completely new level with this release and includes some stunning new features which we'll cover as we move through the tutorial.

Wherever possible, I've indicate new features by displaying this icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and added in additional chapter markers for easy navigation. Chapter markers are included in all Extra member versions of the shows but as this show has been sponsored by Circus Ponies, I've left them in the free version so you can try them out.

This weeks show covers:

• Introduction to NoteBook
• New - Info Flags
• New - Inspector Changes
• New - Toolbar Changes
• New - Detachable Pages
• Adding Pages and Media
• Adding media files to NoteBook
• New - Support for Sketching & Writing
• New - Support for Pen Devices
• New - Diagramming & Sticky Notes
• New - Sticky Notes
• Outlining and Annotation
• New - Date Popup
• Web and Email Clippings
• Multidex Indexing
• Sharing your NoteBook

Discussions: Forum

Extra! Members Version formats	1280x720 - Full HD Resolution 1280x720 - Full HD Resolution with overscan 960x540 - HD Resolution 640x480 - iPod and iPhone Resolution All versions with embedded chapter markings and available via iTunes, Miro or by direct download from the Extra! members site
Free Version Formats	960x540 - HD with overscan - Download 640x480 - iPod and iPhone Resolution - Download.

Become a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! Member
Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

To View the Full Free Show
Subscribe to either the free versions of the shows in iTunes, and have this show plus subsequent free shows delivered to your computer each week by clicking the links below!
Free High Definition version of the show in iTunes or Free iPod version of the show in iTunes

Watch a low resolution version of this show from this web page - Click on the video below
Please note: The chapter markers refered to are only available in the downloaded version available here

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Thought I'd break myself back in gently by putting together Part 2 of the mini series - Setting up your Mac.

In this weeks show, I make a couple of slight alterations from Part 1 as suggested by pman and wastern, then it's straight into a section on configuring your new shiny aluminium keyboard to get the most out of it.

Then onto a list of some of the top freeware and donationware applications to install on your brand new Mac (or existing Mac if needs be!)

A few suggestions on commercial software I can't live without, topped off with an announcement on the new ScreenCastsOnline 2007 DVD now available (members only - sorry!).

Finished off with news of a groovy prize draw for all those people who buy a DVD before the end of February.

You know what, I didn't break myself in gently at all!

Some links for products mentioned in the show:

iStat Menus - Website
VLC - Website
Adium - Website
Onyx - Website
AppTrap - Website
AppZapper - Website
Hazel - Website - ScreenCastsOnline Episode
1Password (Affiliate Link) Website - ScreenCastsOnline Episode
Launchbar - Website - ScreenCastsOnline Episode
Rapidweaver - Website - ScreenCastsOnline Episode
SpeedDownload - Website - ScreenCastsOnline Episode
SpamSieve - Website - ScreenCastsOnline Episode

Discussions: Forum

Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

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If you're a fan of Rapidweaver, you'll find lots of tutorials here on ScreenCastsOnline. In fact, the main ScreenCastsOnline site has been created with RapidWeaver so we're big fans of the software and delight in telling others all about it!




If you're reading this from the main tutorials page, then click on this link to jump to a special page listing all the Rapidweaver and related tutorials. If you came here directly from the Rapidweaver site, then just scroll down and see what tutorials are available.

Some of the tutorials are for ScreenCastsOnline members only but you can find details of a ScreenCastsOnline membership here.

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[Extra Members Show] It's been a good few months since I did a Rapidweaver related show so I thought I'd do one on a tool I get a lot of requests about.

We all know that Rapidweaver is one of the simplest, yet most powerful web creation tools available for the Mac but one of its strengths is also one of its weaknesses. It's a template based package and uses themes to give your Web site its look and feel. Now unless the theme developer gives you lots and lots of options, your creativity might be a bit stifled by sticking to a particular theme...."If only I could just insert my logo just there in that header!"

Well with RWMultiTool, the underlying graphics of virtually every theme are made available to you to alter or even replace if you want to!

Insert your own images or overlay extra graphics on your Rapidweaver theme headers or anywhere else in your theme really easily and quickly. No coding is required, just drag your images on to the existing theme elements, one click and your new graphic is instantly part of the theme. You can even see the changes instantly to your Web site in Rapidweavers Preview mode.

The best part is that RWMultiTool is available in both free and Pro versions and the show will give you a brief comparison between both versions.

RWMultiTool Site
SeyDoggy Rapidweaver Themes

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

This weeks show is an Extra Members show and is available in Apple TV HD format (1280x720), Enhanced Desktop ED Format (960x540) and iPhone/iPod resolution (640x360). For full details on how easy it is to become an Extra! member and get this show along with the next six months worth of weekly shows PLUS access to over 130+ Mac based tutorials, just follow this link.

Discussions: Forum

Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

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A break from iLife and iWork this week with a look at the spectacular additions to an already powerful RapidWeaver plugin.

This week I take a look at the latest release of the Blocks Plugin from Yourhead software. Blocks allows you to create free form pages within Rapidweaver turning it into a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web creation tool, limited only by your own creativity.

You can can check out the previous screencast on Blocks here (SCO0066) or check out all the Rapidweaver related screencasts via this page RapidWeaver Category

This new version of Blocks brings you:

• Blocks Library - Create your own library of Blocks and Blocks Pages to re-use and share
• Smart Blocks - Create and Install specially designed Blocks that prompt you for data.
• Master Pages - At last, a way to create dynamic master layout pages that are linked to child pages. Change the master page and all the linked child pages change automatically. This one you have to see!

YourHead have kindly extended a special discount to ScreenCastsOnline viewers of 25% off both the upgrade and full price of the Blocks plugin.

Visit the Yourhead store and use the code SCO25 to get your discount. The code is valid up to the 15th October 2007.

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Discussions: Forum

Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
The free show (or trailer) is at a much lower resolution.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

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Some significant updates have been released to applications I've previously covered on ScreenCastsOnline. Mix in a new website design on the ScreenCastsOnline website plus installing and configuring a cool Rapidweaver template to provide automated site maps and you have the basis of a pretty packed show this week! I'm pretty jazzed about the new website design so I thought I'd share it with you as I know the majority of ScreenCastsOnline viewers get all the shows via iTunes.

Objective Development have released a new version of one of my favourite Mac apps and that's Objective Development (actually 4.3.1 came out just after finishing recording). LaunchBar is much more than an application launcher as it enables you to search, switch and launch and gives you compete control over your mac with just a few simple keystrokes. LaunchBar has introduced some additional features in this release that extend its power considerably and without getting too much into the QuickSilver vs LaunchBar debate :-) I've found that LaunchBar is a killer app for the mac!

Yes, I know we only did the introduction of Rapidweaver 3.6 a short few weeks ago, but RealMac Software have just released RapidWeaver 3.6.2 which further extend the usefulness and ease of use of what already is an amazing product! A quick run through and demo of the new features in included in this week's show.

One of the new features I introduced with the new ScreenCastsOnline site is the introduction of some SiteMap pages. SiteMaps are great for allowing users to see the entire contents of your website on a single page and easily find and navigate to content. SiteMaps are also incredibly useful in ensuring that your SEO or "Search Engine Optimisation" is in good health. Google and other search engines use sitemaps to fully crawl through your website and ensure all your content is indexed and searchable. Rather than attempt to do this by hand, I stumbled on SiteMap by LogHound. This is an inexpensive RapidWeaver plugin that does it all for you with minimal configuration. It's also useful for finding pages that still have the default RapidWeaver settings. In this weeks show, I take you through an expalination on how to configure the product and demonstrate the results!

This week is also the start of the revised scheme for Extra! members in that there will now be an Extra! members show every two weeks instead of one a month, and this is the first such show. If you're not an Extra! member, you'll only get the first 5 minutes or so of this weeks show but as a consolation, it will be in HD. Back to a full free show next week but if you'd like to get all the shows in future plus get immediate access to a library over 100+ screencasts, just follow this link to get full details and instructions to sign up.


Discussions: Forum

Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
The free show (or trailer) is at a much lower resolution.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

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Yes, as alluded to last week (thanks Cynthia!), this week's show is all about the new release of RapidWeaver - version 3.6.

It's the first paid upgrade for a while, so this show takes you through the enhancements and new features of the premier template based web creation tool from RealMac software, the sponsors of this weeks show.

The show covers:

• Changes to the UI
• New Site and Page Inspectors
• New Theme Styles and Colour Pickers
• New Categories and Tags within Blog pages
• New InLine Comments within Blog Pages
• Signing up to HaloScan
• Enhancements to the Photo Album Pages
• Displaying EXIF data
• New Photo Slideshow Visual Effects
• Adding Sound to SlideShows
• Snippets
• HTML List Formats
• RapidWeaver Add-Ons

A pretty comprehensive list of new features and pretty much well worth the $25 upgrade from fully paid previous versions!

RapidWeaver can be obtained from : RealMac Software

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Discussions: Forum

Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
The free show (or trailer) is at a much lower resolution.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

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CMS = Content Management System! Another amazing plugin in for Rapidweaver this week and that's WebYep from Objective Developments. Whilst Rapidweaver is a fantastic Website creation tool (the ScreenCastsOnline website is a Rapidweaver based site), there are times I wish I could update it without using the Rapidweaver client. And wouldn't it be cool if you could have pages that users could create and edit content on using a normal browser?

Well WebYep allows you to do just that!

Yes, that's right, create WebYep pages in any Rapidweaver site that allows an authorised user to update and edit from any browser.

This weeks show takes you from download to installation of the plugin, the creation and publication of a WebYep page, activation and configuration of WebYep on a hosted account and finally shows you just how easy it is to update a WebYep page!

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Discussions: Forum

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Another Extra! only show this week and I complete the series on iLife 06 by covering iWeb.

iWeb is a very simple, template based, web creation tool which allows you to produce stunning results with very little effort.

I haven't given up on Rapidweaver as my web creation tool of choice but for someone looking to put together a very attractive website with the minimum of effort, iWeb could be just the job!

What is impressive is the amazing integration between iWeb and all the other iLife O6 applications. So rather than just look at the basics of iWeb, this screencast shows you how to publish enhanced and video podcasts with iWeb using iTunes, Garageband, iPhoto and iMovie HD. All these applications have their own screencasts available just look at the iLife 06 category iLife 06 categoryon the ScreenCastsOnline website.

Following on from the recent SiteGround episode, this show revisits publishing your iWeb website to a third party hosting provider.

Discussions: Forum

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Another popular request is addressed this week. How to configure an internet hosting account and how to use it to publish iWeb and Rapidweaver web sites. We also look at setting up FTP accounts and FTP clients to give you access to oodles of low cost storage.

This show builds heavily on my experiences with setting up ScreenCastsOnline to use a third party hosting provider (SiteGround)to host my website, forum and membership system. I've been a happy SiteGround customer for 12 months and thought it would be useful to people to see what goes on under the covers when using SiteGround as a hosting provider. They do a great job with ScreenCastsOnline and their prices and service are second to none so I have no hesitation in giving them a personal endorsement!

No Extra! section this week, it's a full show for everyone but ScreenCastsOnline Extra! members still get the show in HD (1280x720) or ED (960x540) whilst the free version is only 640x360.

The show covers:
Basic Features of a SiteGround Account
Signing Up
Managing your Account(s)
SiteGround Directory Structures
Configuring CyberDuck FTP Client
Configuring Transmit FTP Client
Publishing to SiteGround using iWeb
Publishing to SiteGround using Rapidweaver
Creating FTP Accounts
SiteGround Web Stats
Brief Introduction to Fantasico

The full show is available automatically to ScreenCastsOnline Extra! members in high definition as part of the 6 monthly membership along with another 7 Extra! only shows available for immediate download - over 3 hours additional content - See here for details




Discussions: Forum

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Some more Rapidweaver goodness this week, as I bring you up to speed on a brand new plugin called Accordion from YourHead Software, together with a significant upgrade to the Blocks plugin - it will blow you away!

These plugins expand the already fantastic capability of Rapidweaver 3.5 and turn it into a truly WYSIWYG web creation tool.

Existing Rapidweaver and YourHead customers will be pleased to hear that these are free upgrades if you already have the products (except for Accordion which is new) but if you haven't yet purchased Rapidweaver or YourHead plugins the show gives you a special ScreenCastsOnline only discount codes for 20% off both products.

The free show is in the the usual Desktop and iPod format of 640x360 so if you want to get the higher resolution versions of the full show, you need to sign up as a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member.

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Discussions: Forum

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This weeks show brings you up to speed with some of the new features in Rapidweaver 3.5 - The amazing web site creation tool from Realmac Software. The show is back to the usual Desktop and iPod format of 640x360 so if you want to get the higher resolution versions you need to sign up as a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member.

Links: Discussions: Forum

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

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This episode introduces eShox 4 - A new electronic catalogue and eCommerce solution which integrates with RapidWeaver. This is yet another special edition of ScreenCastsOnline as I'm delighted to announce the ScreenCastsOnline has secured our very first official sponsor - eShox.

eShox is a software company that has developed some exciting web based electronic catalogue services with eCommerce capability that integrate with Rapidweaver. A new version of eShox - eShox4 is due to launch next week, but I thought I'd give you a special preview of the new version.

The show covers...

Introduction to eShox 4 Application
eShox 4 Rapidweaver Template
eShox 4 Integration with RapidWeaver
eShox 4 Admin functions

Duration: 16:57
Size: 75MB
Show Links:
eShox Web Site
eShox Rapidweaver Theme

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Please send all queries on the eShox 4 launch and potential hosting to eshox@mac.com

Discussions on this weeks episode can be found on the ScreenCastsOnline forum here

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How to make Rapidweaver a WYSIWYG web creation tool!

I hadn't planned on doing anymore RapidWeaver tutorials until the next major release of RapidWeaver was launched, but these plugins changed my mind!

Although iWeb is very much a simple but basic web creation package, one of the main areas of contention between iWeb and RapidWeaver is that iWeb allows you to drag and drop on screen elements onto your web page and move them around, whereas Rapidweaver does not have this functionality.

These plugins from Your Head software add this extra functionality into Rapidweaver to create some stunning effects. In addition, there are also plugins to create multi column web pages and special image pages all with the same ease of use you've come to expect from RapidWeaver.

Keep watching until the end of the show for a special ScreenCastsOnline discount offer and also a special announcement to get you wondering!

If you want to check out the HD version of the show, I've included a link to a 60 second sample of the show at the bottom of this post. It will give you a good idea of what you are missing!

Please leave all comments about this ScreenCast on the SCO Forum Message Board. This link will take you straight to the thread discussing this show.



Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Links:
RapidWeaver
Your Head Software
Michael Kjeldgaard - Biller
SCO0038 Demo Site as per the Show

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This show followed on from the preceding trilogy of ScreenCasts on using the Rapidweaver web creation tool from RealMac software, the old site beening developed totally using Rapidweaver. The screencast will take you through some of the features of the website and gives an insight on which elements of Rapidweaver were used in its construction.

Please Note: This screencast is left in the archive for posterity! Obviously, the current website has had a complete revamp and although still using RW is now using a brand new theme and structure. It still might be interesting to look back on/

The old site was based on a Rapidweaver theme published by BlueBall design (Designer Blue)

If you want to learn more about Rapidweaver, check out the three screencasts already published on ScreenCastsOnline:

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Please leave all comments about this ScreenCast on the SCO Forum

Links:
Rapidweaver
BlueBall Designs

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This final episode completes the three part series on the basics of the excellent web creation tool - Rapidweaver by Realmac Software.

Rapidweaver is a fantastic website creation tool that allows you to create and publish professionally themed websites with no programming whatsoever.

This third part gives you a walkthrough of:

• Using Contact Forms
• iFrame Page
• HTML Page
• Movie Album

Please Note: The discount mentioned in this screencast has now expired!

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Please leave all comments about this ScreenCast on the SCO Forum Message Board

Links: Rapidweaver

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This episode further explorers the excellent web creation tool - Rapidweaver by Realmac Software.

Rapidweaver is a fantastic website creation tool that allows you to create and publish professionally themed websites with no programming whatsoever.

This second part gives you a walkthrough of the blog and podcast capabilities of Rapidweaver.

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Update The issue of inserting a link to a podcast audio file into a blog post has been addressed by Tom Beardmore on the RW forums and he has created a mini tutorial to help out. Cheers Tom!

Links: Rapidweaver

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This episode features Rapidweaver by Realmac Software.

Rapidweaver is a fantastic website creation tool that allows you to create and publish professionally themed websites with no programming whatsoever. This first part gives you a walkthrough of the basic functionality of Rapidweaver and future episodes will cover the more advanced features. The tutorial is available at the end of this section.

PS This site has been developed completely in Rapidweaver 3.5

Since publishing this original tutorial a further two episodes have also been published:

Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 1 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 2 is available here
Rapidweaver Tutorial Part 3 is available here
All Rapidweaver related tutorials here

Duration: 23:12
Size: Desktop:53MB iPod:72MB HiDef:116MB
Platform: mac
Level: Easy
Links: Rapidweaver

Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
The free show (or trailer) is at a much lower resolution.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

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