A better Problem Steps Recorder

[Karl-WE]

Status Quo:

• Currently Windows Feedback Hub is using Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) to record screenshots to gather examples on issue report, see screenshot below.
• Microsoft Support (or external contractors as Convergys) for on-premises products and M365 / Azure does rely on PSR all the time.

Problem:

• PSR is creating MHT files only
• PSR by default set to record only 25 steps (can be adjusted but not very visibly to the user
• it is a quite unreliable tool, especially with multiple screens and recognition
• MHT files are not supported (due security reaons I have read) by modern browser like Edge Chromium, Firefox or other Chromium based Browsers
• Internet Explorer is the only Browser able to open MHT files but this one is deprecated as well and should be phased out soon
• PSR and Internet Explorer are already on the list of "optional features" in Windows Settings, and IE is actively removed in home and business.

Proposal:

• include a PSR like tool
• make it compatible to save as animated gif or other formats
• make it possible to select one or more screens and areas, similar to snip and sketch
• if PM find this unsuitable for Powertoys, as Feedback Hub needs it and so insiders and W10 users would need to install Powertoys only for the matter of recording steps, please consider to pass this idea on to Windows Team around Jennifer G. to include this feature into Snip and Sketch directly.

Technical Requirements: it is important that the new tool does work with Windows Server 2019 or later, Windows Server for Azure Stack HCI, Hyper-V Server it is important that the new tool does work with Windows Server 2019 Core or later

Because otherwise steps could not be recorded for infracstructure services, VMs, Microsoft Server Products just as Exchange.

Reasons: Store based Apps do not exist such as Snip and Sketch app, as well as Windows Feedback Hub app does not exist on Windows Server. Therefore the integration into Powertoys as an MSI based application might be a good solution.

• tool feature references:

Carnac Screen2Gif

• remote related discussion (twitter) https://twitter.com/tweet_alqamar/status/1301259072168235008

• related screenshots reproduce / record where PSR is used in Feedback hub legacy PSR Tool

legacy PSR Tool rather hidden options to record more steps

If you'd like to see this feature implemented, add a 👍 reaction to this post.

[voronoipotato]

It would be nice if more than a powertoy, if this was simply included in windows. There's so many scenarios where a video is extreme overkill, so people just use the snip and sketch over and over. It's a lot of wasted man hours.

[Karl-WE]

Via the Windows Insider Programme have proposed and discussed with Jen Gentleman that it would be great to include a screen2gif like feature in snip and sketch. No idea if this is still considered. Of course I would love to see a native solution rather PowerToys, question is if this is maintainable as an app via store, because if it is part of the OS we have the limits of this cadence. Having a feature in PowerToys offers the opportunity to maintain it and also bring it to Windows Server and LTSC versions.

[voronoipotato]

The problem steps recorder is even better than a gif because it records many steps, what the actions were, with very very little space taken up. I recommend you try it out!

[Karl-WE]

PSR now dark mode in Windows Dev, compatibility with Edge is still broken. Edge can open mht files now but screenshots are not included. So far :)

[Jay-o-Way]

1. What's the difference between this issue and #143?
2. Latest version of Snipping app on W11 includes a video recorder. Does that make this issue obsolete?
3. Are there no other software that can do this? Like MS Power Automate, or AutoHotkey?

[voronoipotato]

1. Problem steps recorder is not a video recording. It takes screenshots when you interact with things and describes specifically what you clicked, which is much, much more useful. It also arranges them in a single file html so that it's easy to go through the "recording" in order.
2. No, Problem steps recorder is not video
3. No

[Karl-WE]

I agree to 100% with @voronoipotato.

Still kindly ask for a new PSR.

Here's the situation after a SR with Microsoft App Assure.

On Windows Client IE calls are now redirected to Edge. Exception: COM based calls still may invoke IE directly due yet unsolved compat issues, but work in progress in the PG.

If you run PSR (manually or via Insider Feedback App) the output is an active mshtml.

Now with the redirection to Edge IE we have the following situation, being confirmed in the SR:

• Edge can handle mshtml files meanwhile
• Edge will not open mshtml in IE mode by default and cannot recognize it is "legacy" content that needs to be opened in IE mode.
• the active content will not be rendered in Edge, so pictures won't Show up opening the mshtml PSR file.
• the user has to specify group policy or CSP, or manually Set Edge to "Allow" IE mode, in the Default Browser Settings section. The default mode, and setting won't help There is no indication for the user how to solve the issue, ex. popup notification.

summary At the end it's debateable if PowerToys team should integrate a new PSR in their suite or the Windows OS (Client and Server!) need to create a new tool.

We need a better PSR for Client and Server with the fewest dependencies. It's unlikely PowerToys will become a preinstalled app on Windows Client, like they managed with Microsoft Terminal. You might want to ask the Terminal owners how they managed to get preinstalled.

I would like it. With this in mind no solution for Windows Server.

Situation over there:

• IE mode enforcement isn't yet in place due compatibility issues.
• there's likely lower dependencies due to no insider app being present by design.
• Terminal isn't preinstalled, not even in Windows Server vNext, guess due to LTSC policies, so PowerToys are unlikely to become a part.

Cc @crutkas

[bagusnl]

Now that PSR is getting deprecated, we quite need the solution now. Especially knowing the fact that alternative to steps-by-steps screenshot taking is not freely available, as most other uses GIF or Video recording, which might not be feasible on some uses (ex: creating a step-by-step tutorial for printout)

[Karl-WE]

Mind that snipping tool can do now lot more and even record videos but the catch is

1. PSR is currently intertwined for Windows 11 / 10 feedback hub which is crucial with no replacement in sight
2. PSR is available on Windows Client OS and Windows Server and the new snipping tool including recording is NOT available at the same time on Windows Server release or Windows Server vNext.

I am meanwhile hesitant about the idea that @crutkas and the team should integrate it into PowerToys as that would require to install PowerToys on Windows Server, especially not so handy on Window Server Core. Maybe we need a different approach worked by PGs for PowerToys, Windows Server and Windows Client that is unified and does not require PSR (which still has bounds to IE - while Edge now understand and can open the recordings of PSR).

[Karl-WE]

any news on this? Still feel urged by the PSR deprecation. Snipping tool making huge progress and the newer Snipping tool is now also part of Windows Server 2025 preview. Still Feedback hub (also part of Windows Server 2025 preview) still relies on PSR.

[voronoipotato]

They're gonna deprecate it and then immediately un-deprecate it once they realize they now can't receive reports from users. If only a project lead at microsoft could get involved, but they're basically unreachable. I imagine we'll see a fix within the next 4 years so hold tight.

[ayitinya]

I know this doesn't belong here but my snipping tool been refusing to record screen and i've left a feedback in feedback hub, for quite some time now

[voronoipotato]

I think it belongs in here if you're using it for evidence as to why we need a new PSR.

[ayitinya]

I think it belongs in here if you're using it for evidence as to why we need a new PSR.

Unintended consequences then.

[Karl-WE]

PSR has now a clear deprecation notice.

@ayitinya I have just tested it but see no regression as you do. found this feedback in the hub https://aka.ms/AAq9yyo reporting a similar issue. Wonder why. Try to update the tool. I am on 11.2403.8.0 here.

[voronoipotato]

Thanks for considering this in the backlog @ethanfangg

[Karl-WE]

@ethanfangg with the new semester do think this backlog item could be reconsidered? We had a good move that Windows Server 2025 would receive the new snipping tool but dependencies prevented that, so we are back on the old PSR and reduced functionality for Snipping Tool.

My main question is if the proposed tool could be integrated into snipping tool, or being standalone or becoming part of PowerToys. The last one at least would make it possible to provide a way to get it into the OS, also on LTSC versions like Client or Windows Server, while naturally the stake is higher to install additional product for this matter (which does more than).

Imagine that providing an inbox tool as replacement and in addition to Snipping tool is rather complicated and could also cause sprawl / UX friction.

In every case I am concerned about PSR being tied with Feedback Hub app, and a very crucial part of it. Now being available on Windows Client and Windows Server 2025. Wonder how these dependencies could be addressed across teams.

[Kargoneth]

It is possible to use Python 3.12 to cobble together a program that converts an MHT file into a series of separate files that can be opened by any web browser.

import os

# Import the email modules we'll need.
from email import policy
from email.parser import BytesParser

def explode_mht(mht_filename, mht_output_files_path):
    with open(mht_filename, 'rb') as mht_file:
        mht = BytesParser(policy = policy.default).parse(mht_file)

    if mht.is_multipart():
        try:
            os.mkdir(mht_output_files_path)
            print("Folder %s created!" % mht_output_files_path)
        except FileExistsError:
            print("Folder %s already exists" % mht_output_files_path)

        for part in mht.iter_parts():
            mht_output_file_name = part['content-location']
            mht_output_file_type = part.get_content_type()

            mht_output_file_pathname = os.path.join(mht_output_files_path, mht_output_file_name)

            print(mht_output_file_pathname, mht_output_file_type)

            if mht_output_file_type in ('text/html', 'text/css'):
                with open(mht_output_file_pathname, 'w') as mht_output_file:
                    mht_output_file.write(part.get_payload())
            elif mht_output_file_type in ('image/jpeg'):
                with open(mht_output_file_pathname, 'wb') as mht_output_file:
                    mht_output_file.write(part.get_payload(decode = True))

# In a real program you'd get the filename from the arguments.
# In this program, we pre-extract the MHT files from the ZIP files output by the steps recorder and put their names  (without their extensions) into this list.
mht_filenames_without_extensions = (
    'Problem_20240516_1029',
    'Problem_20240516_1317',
    'Problem_20240516_1413',
    'Problem_20240528_1507',
    'Problem_20240531_0913',
)

for mht_filename_without_extension in mht_filenames_without_extensions:
    # Store the output files for this MHT in a directory with the same name (but without the prefix) as the MHT.
    mht_output_files_path = os.path.join(mht_filename_without_extension)

    if not os.path.exists(mht_output_files_path):
        # if the MHT output files path already exists, then assume that we extracted the output files to it successfully already, otherwise...
        explode_mht(mht_filename_without_extension + '.mht', mht_output_files_path)

[voronoipotato]

This is good information, but the problem is that PSR is deprecated, so even though there's ways to open MHT files it doesn't change the issue. Thank you though for sharing this.