Adobe Captivate: Video Demos and the Mouse

by Kevin Siegel   

 

Captivate's Software Simulation and Responsive modes get all the glory. And why not? Interactive eLearning that works great on mobile devices is important. Nevertheless, there's room in world for a different mode that gets little respect among Captivate aficionados: Video Demo mode.

 

When you choose File > Record a New, you might see three choices: Software Demonstration Simulation (which results in a standard project), Video Demo (which results in a video project, a vastly scaled back interface when compared to a standard project), and Device Demo (which is only available on the Macintosh version of Captivate and allows you to capture a mobile device such as the iPad). When you choose File > New Project, you can also elect to create a Responsive Project (which takes you into Responsive mode… it is similar to the standard mode but includes features unique to a developer creating content for mobile learners).

 

 

 

As I mentioned above, simulations and responsive eLearning are both important. However, it takes a significant amount of time to create eLearning in either of those modes. In my experience, you can create Video Demos twice as fast as either simulations or responsive projects. Sure the resulting published lesson/course won't be interactive (no quizzes, no learner interactions, no variables, no buttons, not click boxes… none of that). However, if you're trying to quickly show concepts, video demos work great.

 

I'm not going to delve into how to create a Video Demo here (it's really easy… File > Record a New > Video Demo). Instead, I want to focus on some of the production nuances you'll encounter in this kind of project. Editing a video is very different than editing either a standard or responsive project. I'm not saying it's more difficult than those other modes, I'm just saying it's different.

 

For instance, there isn't a Filmstrip in a Video Demo. Instead, you're editing horizontally on a single Timeline. This is a very similar environment to TechSmith Camtasia so if you've used Camtasia before you'll feel right at home here.

 

I've written previously about some cool things you can do while editing a Video Demo such as Trimming videos, Panning & Zooming, and Publishing.

 

This time, let's delve into the mouse…

 

One of the things I'm happy to report is that even though you've recorded a video, you still have significant mouse controls (just like you'd see in a standard project). Of course, at first glance it does not appear you have any mouse controls at all. In the image below, notice the Timeline does not offer any clues as to where the mouse points might be.

 

 

 

However, if you choose Edit > Edit Mouse Points, each occurrence of the recorded mouse appears on the Timeline.

 

 

 

At that point, if you select the mouse point you can then use the Properties Inspector to double the size of the mouse, hide it, and even smooth out its path.

 

 

 

Another less than obvious feature is the ability to insert a mouse pointer where one wasn't recorded. Simply choose Insert > Mouse and a new Mouse Point appears on the Timeline.

 

 

 

Lastly, and perhaps the coolest, is the ability to alter that location of the recorded mouse pointer just like you can in a standard simulation. Simply drag the mouse pointer as shown in the image below.