Category: Adobe Captivate

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Adobe Captivate 2019: Error Message “Update required – Your browser or operating system is no longer supported”

I was mentoring someone on Adobe Captivate 2019 today and when attempting to start Captivate she received the alert message: "Update required – Your browser or operating system is no longer supported."

UpdateRequired

Here's what her IT team did to resolve the issue:

  1. Close all Adobe applications
  2. Use this link to download a file named AASIapp.exe
  3. Once downloaded, copy AASIapp.exe and paste/replace at this location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE\PDApp\P7
  4. Restart Captivate
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Taking Legacy Flash eLearning to HTML5

Adobe threatened to sunset Flash for years but each year, the death sentence was commuted.

Just when we thought that Flash would go on, along came December 2020. Adobe followed through and ended support for Flash on December 31, 2020. Many eLearning developers didn't panic because the end of Flash simply meant that, while the Flash output would continue to work, it would likely be blocked on more and more systems.

Like the lyrics from that song by the Rolling Stones, "Well, time is on my side, yes it is… time is on my side, yes it is…"

Ummm, no it wasn't.

In early 2021, Adobe started blocking Flash content from playing through most browsers, computers, and devices. Given that development, Captivate developers began scrambling to ensure their legacy projects continued to work.

One way to know if your Captivate project has Flash content is to run the HTML5 Tracker (Project > HTML5 Tracker). If anything shows up in the HTML5 Tracker, it needs to be remediated (deleted or replaced with something non-Flash). That sounds easy but, in reality, remediation might be impossible or take a bunch of time.

Adobe's Allen Partridge wrote an awesome article back in April 2020 titled "Migrating Legacy Flash eLearning Content to HTML5." Partridge's article is as relevant today as the day he wrote it.

Some of the big takeaways from Allen's article:

Factors to consider when updating:

  • Is the content still relevant?
  • Is the content appearance dated? Does it look old?
  • Does the content contain a lot of audio, video, animation, or custom complex interactions?
  • How important is updating this content to your overall learning strategy?
  • How much budget (in time and resources) do you have to handle the update?
  • Would conversion of older content to video suffice?
  • Should you leverage the conversion as an opportunity to unify the content with your newest brand standards and learning design strategy?
  • Should you take advantage of the update to add support for mobile devices?

Should you remove some of the content?

According to Partridge. "If your content is more than 24 months old, it is highly likely that you should consider seriously either replacing the content with more recently created content, or should revise the content to ensure that it is timely and addresses the actual needs of learners in your organization today. Content grows stale very rapidly. Laws and regulations change frequently, and more than ever before, technologies related to the workplace are substantially altered at an alarming rate."

Steps to Conversion Success

The article includes step-by-step instructions for migrating legacy SWF content to HTML5 including using a stepped approach to upgrading legacy projects, using SVG icons available in the Assets area instead of dated images, and a clever suggestion to make a video out of the project and make it an interactive video in Captivate 2019.

Here's a link to the full article,

And if you've got a project loaded with Flash content that needs to be replaced, send me an email (ksiegel@iconlogic.com). I've got experienced developers who can help!

 

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Adobe Captivate: Free 2019 Update For Mac OS Big Sur

I love keeping my Mac up-to-date, but I rarely install major software updates when they are first released. And when OS 11, otherwise known as Big Sur, became available, I waited. After several months, my Mac began pestering me to get the update. When 11.1 became available, I finally upgraded.
 
Did I mention that I always caution people against upgrading their operating systems until ensuring that existing software continues to work? Yeah, about that… after upgrading my Mac, this is what I saw when choosing Apple > About This Mac.
 
 
Everything worked on my Mac wonderfully after the upgrade… except Captivate 2019. The program would start and then immediately close. Upon checking the Adobe website that supports Captivate, I learned that Captivate would not work with Big Sur. Yikes.
 
Fortunately, Adobe now has a free update for Captivate 2019 that allows Big Sur users to continue using the software. You can download the update here: https://assets.adobe.com/public/ff298ded-060f-4ee3-48f8-6599d7b9cc11.
 
Before installing the update, Adobe recommends that you uninstall Captivate first. From the Applications folder, open the Adobe Captivate 2019 folder and open Uninstall Adobe Captivate 2019.
 
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ADOBE CAPTIVATE 2019: The Fastest Way to Start a New Project with Content and ID

 
Ksiegel3Adobe Captivate makes it possible to rapidly create new eLearning projects. The process is as simple as File > New Project > Blank Project.
 
If you go that route, you'll get a new project with a single slide that looks like this:
 
It's a simple thing to add text to the slide (double-click the placeholder and type the new text). And adding slides to the project is simple too (Insert > New Slide from). However, if you're not an instructional designer, it's likely that you're not clear on the structure of the course or that the project should include standard slides such as an overview slide and a lesson review slide. If you're not a graphic designer, adding some cool visuals to your project may be out of your comfort zone as well.
 
And that's where Captivate's Project Assets prove invaluable.
 
From the top right of the Captivate window, click Assets.
 
 
From the list at the left, click Projects. From here, you can add single slides to your existing project or create a whole project, complete with instructional design ideas.
 
In my example, I selected Projects. Then I selected the Earth project and clicked the Open as a New Project button.
 
 
The resulting project is as complete (45 slides containing images and placeholder objects) as it is visually stunning. There are instructional design suggestions, navigation slides, interactive slides… everything you need to get your new project out of the starting gate and moving at a full gallop.
 
In the image below I edited the text and replaced the placeholder image in about 10 seconds.
 
 
Give the free Captivate assets a try and I'm betting that you'll agree that there's no faster way to get new eLearning projects up and running.
 
***
Plant1If you're looking to learn Adobe Captivate, we've got a nice collection of live, online Captivate classes (all of the classes are taught by certified trainers who are also experienced eLearning developers).

 
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eLEARNING DEVELOPMENT: Dude, Watch Your Aspect… Ratio!

When creating eLearning in TechSmith Camtasia, Adobe Captivate, or Articulate Storyline, one critical consideration is the physical width and height of your project (also known as the canvas size).
 
The size of the project is measured in pixels and if you don't get this right from the start, changing your mind later could lead to some unintended consequences. (Objects being resized out of proportion is one of the biggest concerns.)
 
When I teach any of my eLearning courses, I encourage learners to consider their end-users when determining the size of the canvas. These days, most users access eLearning content on anything from a desktop computer to laptops to mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.
 
In my experience, most devices used to view eLearning are shaped more like rectangles than squares. For that reason, I think the eLearning canvas should be set up to use a 16:9 aspect ratio as opposed to 4:3.
 
The aspect ratio of an eLearning canvas designed to be viewed on its side, or in landscape mode, is the ratio of its longer side to its shorter side. If you go with a 4:3 aspect ratio (4 pixels across for every 3 pixels in height), you're working with a shape that is tending toward a square. If you go with 16:9 (16 pixels across for every 9 high), the shape is very much a rectangle.
 
Once you decide on the shape of your canvas (again, 16:9 is a strong rectangle shape), the exact size you use depends on your design and/or the needs of your users. Both 1024×576 and 1280×720 are 16:9 ratios. (Here's a handy list of 16:9 aspect ratios.)
 
So how do you ensure your aspect ratio is a 16:9 aspect ratio as opposed to 4:3. Read on!
 
Because eLearning often begins in Microsoft PowerPoint, let's start there. Go to the Design tab on the Ribbon and, from the Customize group, change the Slide Size to Widescreen (16:9).
 
 
In TechSmith Camtasia, click the drop-down menu just above the Canvas and choose Project Settings. From the Canvas Dimensions drop-down menu, choose a size from the Widescreen group. All of the sizes in this group are set to an aspect ratio of 16:9.
 
 
In Articulate Storyline, the default aspect ratio for new projects is 4:3. Go to the Design tab on the Ribbon and, from the Setup group, click Story Size.
 
From the Story Size drop-down menu, choose 720:405 (16:9) and then change the Width and Height as needed. Select Lock aspect ratio to ensure you're maintaining a 16:9 aspect ratio as you change the size.
 
 
In Adobe Captivate, when creating new projects, select Blank Project and then, from the Canvas drop-down menu, choose an appropriate 16:9 aspect ratio. If you need to change the size of an existing project, choose Modify > Rescale Project and change the Width and Height as appropriate.
 
***
 
Looking for training, consulting, mentoring, or development on all things eLearning? We've got you covered. Give us a call at 877.754.2662. You can learn more about our eLearning classes on the IconLogic website.
 
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ADOBE CAPTIVATE: Updating Images Project-Wide

Adding an image to an Adobe Captivate project is simple: use the Media tool on the toolbar or import the assets into the Library and then drag the imported assets onto Filmstrip slides.
 
But what if you've imported an image into Captivate and then the image is updated outside of Captivate. How can you get the updated image into your project and have the image update across the entire project?
 
In the image below, notice that I've imported an image of a city skyline. I'm using the image on multiple slides. The image's slide location and size are different on each slide.
 
 
I originally imported the image from my corporate server. The designer edited the image in Photoshop by adding a filter.
 
 
I received an email alerting me to the change and was instructed to use the updated image in my Captivate project. I opened the project. Sadly, the image did not update automatically on any of my slides. No worries. On the Library, I right-clicked the image and chose Update.
 
 
I then clicked the Update button.
 
 
And like magic, the image in the Captivate Library updated–and every instance of the image throughout the project updated too.
 
 
Looking for live, virtual Captivate training? We've got you covered with these classes (all guaranteed to run).
 
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ADOBE CAPTIVATE: Recording Screen Actions on a PC with a High-Density Screen

So, you got a fabulous new Windows laptop. It’s light! It’s compact! And it has a beautiful High-Density screen. The screen’s resolution is so sharp that you’ve got it set up to display at 150% or 200%, because otherwise the icons and text are so tiny and sharp that you can barely read them.
 
Then you try to do some screen-capture work in Adobe Captivate, and you are hit with an error message: Screen capture with high density monitor not allowed or perhaps something about DpiAwareness. The net result is that you cannot record the screen, either in software simulation or in video demo recording mode.
 
 
In the past, the fix was to manually update the AdobeCaptivate.ini file. You had to venture deep into the Adobe Captivate program files and find that .ini file. Then you had to edit it with a text editor and change the DPI setting to 1. Then you had to battle your Windows setup about permissions and file names and passwords even just to save your changes to the .ini file. Even after all that, many developers report that while recording works, the Captivate software itself becomes so teeny-tiny that it's impossible to use.
 
As an alternative to fighting with the .ini file, I've got two easy plans of attack for you (neither involve editing any sort of support file):
 
Plan A: Right-click your desktop and choose Display Settings. Change the size of text, apps, and other items to 100% (even if not recommended) and then close the Display Settings.
 
 
Restart Captivate and see if you can record a software simulation. If yes, all is right with the world. If you still cannot record the screen, it's time for plan B.
 
Plan B: Find the Captivate.exe file (it's usually in Program Files > Adobe > Adobe Captivate 2019), right-click and choose Properties.
 
 
 
From the Compatibility tab, click the Change high DPI settings button.
 
 
Check the checkbox for Override high DPI scaling behavior. Ensure that Application is selected in the Scaling performed by drop-down.
 
 
Click OK to each of the two dialog boxes to confirm your changes.
 
And that’s it. You should now be able to record screen actions on your high-density monitor with no problems.
***
 
Jennie Ruby, CMT, CTT, COTP, is a veteran eLearning developer, trainer, and author. Jennie has an M.A. from George Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer and Certified Online Training Professional. She teaches both classroom and online courses, and has authored courseware, published training books, and developed content for countless eLearning projects. She is also a publishing professional with more than 30 years of experience in writing, editing, print publishing, and eLearning.
***
 
Looking for Adobe Captivate training, consulting, mentoring, or development? We've got you covered. Give us a call at 877.754.2662. We've got an awesome collection of live, online classes. You can learn more about our Captivate classes on the IconLogic website.
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ADOBE CAPTIVATE 2019: An Alternative to Rollover Captions and Rollover Images

I have always loved using rollover captions and rollover images in my Adobe Captivate projects. The problem is that while I love them, HTML5 does not. In the images below, you can see a rollover caption in action (in the first image, there's no rollover caption; in the second image the hidden caption, which is attached to the image, appears when the learner rolls their mouse over the image of the number 2).
 
 
 
While they offer an awesome level of interactivity to your eLearning, rollover captions and rollover images are not HTML5 compliant. (They will not work correctly on mobile devices.) Sadly, if you run the HTML5 tracker (Project > HTML5 Tracker), the rollover captions will be flagged as Unsupported.
 
 
The good news is that you can still use rollover captions in your projects… you just can't use rollover captions. I know, I know… it's confusing, right? You can get the same functionality of rollover captions by deploying shapes as buttons and then using Inbuilt States. (This sounds complicated but it's super easy.)
 
To begin, I inserted a shape onto the slide (I used a rectangle shape).
 
 
I set the properties of the shape (on the Properties inspector) to a Fill of 0% Opacity and 0 Stroke.
 
 
Then I positioned the now transparent shape over the image I wanted learners to roll over.
 
 
My goal is to use a state in place of a rollover caption. To use states effectively, I need the shape to be treated as an interactive object. That's easy enough to take care of via the Properties inspector > Use as Button.
 
 
I didn't want the button/shape to actually do anything except allow for the state to kick in so I set its Action to No Action.
 
 
And now… the State!
 
With the shape selected, I accessed State View.
 
 
I selected RollOver, which is an Inbuilt State (meaning it's a State that exists in all projects by default).
 
 
I inserted a Text Caption onto the RollOver State and then exited State View.
 
 
 
 
The net result is the same as using a rollover caption: the caption appears only when learners roll over the transparent shape. However, when I open the HTML5 Tracker there are no longer errors about unsupported objects.
 
 
 
***
 
Looking for Captivate training? Check out our live, online (instructor-led) Adobe Captivate classes.
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ADOBE CAPTIVATE 2019: Copy/Paste Appearance
I've long trumpeted the benefits of using Object Styles in Adobe Captivate. However, there may be times when you don't want to work with styles but still want to quickly apply an object's formatting to other objects. In that case, you'll love Captivate's copy and paste appearance feature.
 
Before I show you how to use the copy/paste appearance feature, let me review Object Styles (using styles is truly the most efficient way to work in Captivate). If you'd like to follow along with the steps below, create a blank project in Captivate 2019 (update 11.5) and draw a few shapes similar to the image below.
 
 
On the Properties Inspector, notice that the shapes are all using the Default Smart Shape Style.
 
 
Using the Properties Inspector, change the appearance of one of your shapes (for instance, change the fill color).
 
 
On the Properties Inspector, notice the plus sign to the left of the style name. The plus sign indicates a formatting override. The change you made to the object is not part of the object style and the formatting was not applied to any other objects using the same style.
 
To update the style, go to the menu across from Style Name on the inspector and choose Save changes to Existing style.
 
 
Every object on every slide using the style gets updated instantly. That's cool stuff. However, if you want to format multiple objects and you don't want to use Object Styles, this next technique is for you.
 
Select and format a shape (use the Properties inspector to change the fill, color, stroke, etc).
 
 
Select the shape you just formatted and choose Edit > Copy Appearance (or right-click and choose Copy Appearance).
 
 
Select another shape and choose Edit > Paste Appearance (or right-click and choose Paste Appearance).
 
The selected shape is instantly formatted to match the previous object. You can use this technique to format multiple slide objects, even across project slides. If you'd like to see a video demo of this process, you'll find it on my YouTube channel.
 
***
 
Looking for Captivate training? Check out these live, instructor-led classes.
***

 
Kevin Siegel is the founder and president of IconLogic, Inc. He has written hundreds of step-by-step computer training books on applications such as Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, Adobe RoboHelp, Adobe Presenter, and TechSmith Camtasia. Kevin spent five years in the U.S. Coast Guard as an award-winning photojournalist and has three decades’ experience as a trainer, publisher, technical writer, and eLearning developer. Kevin is a Certified Master Trainer (CMT), Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+), Certified Online Professional Trainer (COTP), and a frequent speaker at trade shows and conventions. 
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ADOBE CAPTIVATE: Why Are Smart Shapes So Smart? Let Me Count The (6) Ways
ONE. You can change the shape.
 
Smart Shapes in Captivate are similar to some shapes in PowerPoint: you draw the shape, and then you locate the special yellow handle to change not the size, but the actual shape of the arrow.
 
In the image of the Captivate arrow shape below, left, notice the yellow handle. The handle allowed me to adjust the pointiness of the point and the thickness of the stem. (As shown in the second image.)
 
TWO. You can add text.
 
Double-click a Smart Shape, and you can type text on it. And you can format the text any way you like
 
THREE. You can use a Smart Shape as a button.
 
Select your Smart Shape, and in the Properties inspector, just below the Style Name drop-down, select the Use as Button checkbox.
 
 
 
After you check the Use as Button checkbox, the Actions tab becomes available, where you can assign an action such as Go to the next slide.
 
 
FOUR. You can use them as multi-state objects.
 
Once your Smart Shape has been turned into a button, it automatically has different “states”: a state is a different appearance that the Smart Shape assumes under certain conditions on screen: when a mouse pointer hovers over it, it assumes its “RollOver” state. Once it has been clicked, it assumes its “Down” state during the click, and then returns to its “Normal” state after the click is completed. 
 
 
You can format each state however you like. And even when a Smart Shape is not being used as button, you can create states for it and then program in events in your eLearning that cause the shape to change states.
 
FIVE. You can use Smart Shapes as Captions.
 
Sure, I already mentioned that you can type text onto a Smart Shape. But the caption functionality goes way beyond that. When setting up to record a software simulation, you can ask Captivate to generate Smart Shape captions instead of Text Captions—automatically.
 
In the Preferences dialog box (Edit > Preferences on Windows; Adobe Captivate > Preferences on the Mac), in the Recording Modes category, Under Captions, select the Use Smart Shapes instead of captions checkbox, and choose your Smart Shape Type.
 
 
Why would you want to use Smart Shapes instead of Text Captions? Because you can more fully format Smart Shapes. Let’s say you want your captions to mimic the colors in your company’s logo. Use the Fill and Stroke color pickers, and you’ve got fully branded training.
 
Take a look at these examples:
 
Text caption (not the right shade of green; limited choices):
 
 
Smart Shape used as caption (that’s much better, but still…):
 
 
Smart Shape formatted to match your logo (THAT’s what I’m talking about!):
 
SIX. Use as SFH Captions.
 
Wait, what? You know, SFH Captions—Success, Failure, and Hint captions that appear automatically when your viewers try to click through your eLearning lesson correctly. Often, these are connected with Click Boxes and other interactive elements. To ensure that your SFH captions come out as Smart Shapes, you have to go to the Preferences dialog box, Defaults category, and deselect—that’s right, UNcheck—the Use Text Captions for SFH Captions instead of Smart-Shapes checkbox.
 
 
And there you have it. Six ways Smart Shapes are, well, smart. (If you'd like to see a video of smart shapes in action, here you go.)
 
Learn more about states, and Smart Shapes, and many other nifty things about Captivate, in our Advanced Captivate class.

***
Jennie Ruby, CTT, COTP, is a veteran eLearning developer, master trainer (CMT), and author. Jennie has an M.A. from George Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer and Certified Online Training Professional. She teaches both classroom and online courses, and has authored courseware, published training books, and developed content for countless eLearning projects. She is also a publishing professional with more than 30 years of experience in writing, editing, print publishing, and eLearning.