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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. What are the steps in making a sprout?

Create "Master Pages". Your master foreground page and master background page will appear on all the pages, unless turned off for a given page.

Create "Content Pages". Content pages are a series of one to twenty pages.

Add "Assets" and "Text". Assets are images, audio, video or flash files while the text tool is a little editor.

Add "Components". Components available in sprout are media, which include audio, video, images and jukebox; general components, which include a countdown clock, calendar, progress bar, calendar, news feed; and services, which include Yahoo! Maps, Google Charts and Forms, ChipIn, and PollDaddy. We continue to add components.

Adjust "Properties". The properties bar allows you to adjust the size, location, appearance and other attributes of your content. You can also add navigation and linking in properties.

"Preview", "Save", "Save As", "Publish". These allow you to preview and save or preview and make a template. When you are satisfied with your sprout, you click publish and the code appears that can be embedded in any website, blog or social networking profile page.

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").