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1. What is a sprout and what can I do with it?

A sprout is a multi-media flash web site that can be created without knowing a stitch of flash or HTML. This sprout (also called a widget, mini-site, mashup) can be embedded in other websites, blogs or social networking profile pages. When you update your content, all sprouts (wherever they are) will update instantly.

Just like a traditional web page, a sprout can be used for promotional, informational or personal purposes.

2. Do I need to have previous graphic experience or to have design skills?

No. Sprout Builder is for all skill levels - novice to pro. It is simple drag and drop construction with an occasional click.

3. Is there a cost? What if I want to try it out?

It is free. Here are the steps, if you want to try it out:

1. Click on the blank slate under "create a new project". 2. Type in a "title", "project description" and select the "canvas size" (size of the page). 3.Click on "create project", which will take you to the "stage" to create your first sprout.

4. What if I want an account?

You can get an account one of two ways - either click on "register my account" in red type or click on "save" in gray type, both at the top of the page. A registration window will pop-up. Fill it out, and then click on "create an account". An authorization number will be sent to your email address. After receiving the number, type it into the box to confirm. You're in!

5. How do I get started?

1. When you log into Sprout Builder you will see several templates and a single blank slate.

2. Click on the blank slate icon and type in a title and description.

3. Select a canvas size from the drop-down menu. The drop-down menu contains a list of pre-built sizes you can choose from or you can specify your own custom size.

4. Click on the create project button.

5. The white square in the center of the screen is the canvas. This is what your visitors will see when your sprout is embedded in a web page. The area around the canvas is the work area. Your visitors will not see the work area when you publish.

6. The Tools Panel contains drawing tools, the text editor, lock and unlock, undo and redo, and the alignment tools.

7. The Components Panel contains a Media section that lets you access any images, video, and audio files you want to include in your sprout.

8. The General section contains components such as the slideshow, iCalendar, countdown and progress bar, the frame tool, the RRS New Feed, the thumbnail menu and the button tool.

9. The Services section lets you access 3rd party services, such as Google Charts and Forms, Yahoo! Maps, PollDaddy, Ribbit, Seesmic Video, and Twitter.

10. The History Panel lets you go back in time (up to 20 steps) or you can undo your actions with the undo tool in the Tools Panel.

11. The Properties Panel contains settings for adjusting the size, position, and rotation of objects, the appearance, various effects and animation, and links and tracking.

12. The Pages Panel contains setting for adding/copying/deleting/naming your pages, for creating transition effects between pages and for adding page fills and gradient fills. You can also change the size of your canvas in the Pages Panel.

13. When you are finished, save your work, preview your work, and publish. Your sprout lives.

6. Is there a limit on size?

The largest recommended dimension is 800 x 600 for your project. Assets limits are: images (1 MB max), video (15 MB max), audio (15 MB max).

7. How do I add or delete a page?

On the "pages" bar in the lower-middle section of the builder, either click "new" for a blank new page, or click "copy" to make a copy of the selected page. To delete a page, simply highlight the page in question and click "delete".

8. What do I do when I've finished?

After reviewing and saving, you click on the "publish" button. You have two choices: you can copy the code provided and embed it into any website that you have editing rights to or you can "quick post," which automatically embeds it into your blog or social networking profile page (as long as they are shown on the quick post list).

9. How do I edit my sprout and after editing do I need to re-embed the code?

After returning to Sprout Builder, click on the thumbnail image of your sprout under "open a recent project". (If you do not see this screen, click the gray new/open button in the top right.) Edit your pages (content or master pages). When you are satisfied go to the very top of the page and "preview" your sprout, "save" your sprout and then "publish". Publishing your sprout will update your content instantly.

If you want to edit the title of your project or edit the project description, click on the "projects" tab near the top of the page. All your projects will be displayed. Next to the thumbnail image of a project, click on the title itself to edit and click on the words "click to edit" to change the project description.

No, you do not need to re-embed the code unless you have changed the dimensions of your project. Once the edits are complete, click "publish" and all copies of your sprout will be instantly updated.

10. How do I delete my entire sprout project?

After login, click on the "projects" tab at the top of Sprout Builder. Here you will see a list of all your projects, along with "open", "view assets" and "delete". Click on "delete". All copies of your sprout will be gone but there will be an empty space on all the pages your sprout once appeared on.

It is best to add a text notice of your "intent to delete" on the home page of your sprout (such as, "Please note that this sprout will be deleted in date/month, and once deleted you can remove the embedded code").