Captivate Simulations

From FCTL eLearning Wiki

Adobe Captivate can be used to create multimedia simulations by capturing and recording computer screen processes. The Flash-based swf files produced by Captivate can be displayed within most internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.). Captivate is a powerful tool for demonstrating computer processes, such as how to convert documents/images, log on to Web services, or to introduce new software. Simulations allow learners to practice processes without having to first install software. Captivate simulations may be delivered via the Web, email, or on CD-Rom.

Contents 1 Simulations 1.1 Creating a new Software Simulation 1.2 Editing with Captivate 1.2.1 Deleting Slides 1.2.2 Editing Events On A Specific Slide 2 Interactivity 2.1 Adding a Click Box 2.2 Adding a Button 3 Importing PowerPoint 4 Narration 5 Question Slides

Simulations

Creating a new Software Simulation

1. Begin by opening the software application to be demonstrated.
2. Size the window and practice the process (to ensure the window is an appropriate size and shape).
3. Open Adobe Captivate
4. Click on "Record or create a new project"
5. Select "Software Simulation" >> Application >> Click the "OK" button
6. Select "Recording Mode(s)" and the Demonstration option
7. In the drop-down menu select the window you wish to record
8. Click on the Record button
9. When finished, click the "End" button on your keyboard

Other shortcuts you can use while recording:
*Pause - allows you to pause recording and resume recording
*Print Screen - allows you to manually capture a screen shot
*F9 - allows you to switch to full motion recording
*F10 - stops full motion recording

[see video]

Editing with Captivate

The edit tab in Captivate has three main panes, the storyboard view on the left, the timeline on the top, and the main area where you can edit individual slides.

Deleting Slides

1. Highlight the slide(s) to delete in the left pane
2. Hit the Delete key

Editing Events On A Specific Slide

1. To delete an event, select the event (mouse movement, caption, highlight box...) which you would like to edit by clicking on it in the timeline or on the slide itself, and hit the delete key.
2. To move an event, select it by single clicking on it, a box will appear around the object and you can drag it to a different location.
3. To change the event (change the text, change the length the event displays...), double click the event.
   1. A property box will open for the event you choose.
   2. If you are editing a caption, you can edit any property of the text in this box.

      

   3. To change the timing for an event, click on the Options tab of the properties box. There are two settings available, the length which the event will display, and the length of time before the event appears.

      

4. To add an event such as another text caption, click on the Insert Menu and select what you would like to insert or if the Objects toolbar is turned on you can select the icon of the item you want to insert from the bottom of the screen.

   

Interactivity

Captivate allows you to add buttons, text boxes, and click boxes which add interactivity to your movie as it requires the viewer to perform an action. The process to add buttons, text boxes, and click boxes is the same as adding text captions and other events, you can either use the Insert Menu or the Object Toolbar. The difference will come in the properties box of the interactive event you add, there are many more options and settings.

Adding a Click Box

1. Select the slide in which you want to add a click box, and click on the click box icon - - to add it to the slide.
2. The following properties box will pop-up:

   

3. On the first tab, there is a drop down menu to set the action that will be performed once the user successfully clicks the click box. You can have the movie continue, jump to a different slide, open a URL, and many other actions.
4. The second item on the first tab is to set how many failed attempts the user can have, by default captive will check the box next to infinite attempts, but if you uncheck that box you can enter a number of attempts in as well as determine what the movie will do after the user has used all the alloted attempts.
5. Next, click on the Options tab.

   

6. This tab allows you to set the timing and options for the click box. The options are the most important feature since this is where you select if you want to have captions for success or failure, a hint caption, and more. To select an option, just check the box next to it.
7. The other tabs available for a click box include audio, reporting (if you want to include this in a quiz), and size and position.
8. When all settings have been selected, click OK.
9. The click box and any captions you selected will appear on your slide. You may have to move the click box and resize it over the area you want the user to click on.

   

10. You will also need to edit the text of the captions as well as be sure to add or edit a caption to give your user the direction to click somewhere on the slide. Simply double click on any of the captions to edit the text.
11. Preview your movie to ensure the click box functions properly.

Adding a Button

1. Select the slide in which you want to add a click box, and click on the click box icon - - to add it to the slide.
2. The following properties box will pop-up:

Importing PowerPoint

Narration

Question Slides