How to Take a Screen Capture of your SmartSDR Screens

Often, while communicating with HelpDesk Support Staff, or with members of the FlexRadio Community or Social Media Pages, you will be requested to send a "Screen-shot" or "Screen Capture" of your entire SmartSDR screen, a subsection of the screen, or a window or tab from a 3rd party program so that others can better understand what is happening.  (A picture is worth a thousand words!)

    NOTE:  This document is targeted at users of the Windows operating system.

    (For directions when using MacOS, see this article:  Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support  )

Here is how to take a Screen Capture:

Using the Windows Clipboard:

1. Click on the SmartSDR Window (or other desired window) to be sure that it is the "Active Window."
2. Press and hold the "ALT" key and hit the "Print-Screen" key at the same time.
   (this will copy the Window into your Windows "Clipboard.")
3. Now put your cursor in the email text entry window in your HelpDesk email response.
   (or other media window) 
4. Hold the "CTRL" key and hit the 'V' key to "Paste" the image into your document.
   (Or right-click in the document and select "Paste.")
   
   

Using the "Paint" Program:

1. Click on the application you want to take a screen capture. Make sure it’s in the foreground and not behind other open apps.
2. Press <Alt> + <Print Screen> to copy the image to the Windows Clipboard.
3. Open MS Paint (the fastest way to do this is by entering "paint" in the Windows search box and selecting it when it is displayed).
4. Press <CTRL> + <v> to paste the image into MS Paint.
5. You should see the screen capture of the open window in Paint. You can save the screen capture anywhere you like.
6. Then send it as an attachment to your ticket, email, or other document.
   
   

Alternate Screen-capture Tool:

You can use a free software program “Greenshot,” available from www.greenshot.com

Greenshot allows you to capture whole windows, the entire monitor screen, or highlight and select a specific section of the screen.  It also has very convenient editing, marking, and annotation tools to make your images more helpful.