Inserting SWFs into PDFs is all the rage these days. And why not? Users who can interact with what would otherwise be a static PDF are likely to be engaged by the content. Imagine that... content that the reader actually reads... and touches!
How would you import your Captivate published SWF's into today's "big three" print publishing applicatons (InDesign, FrameMaker and QuarkXPress)? Read on...
- Adobe FrameMaker 8: Choose File > Adobe Captivate > Insert Adobe Captivate Demo
- QuarkXPress 7.3: Draw a picture box and then choose Import > Picture
- Adobe InDesign CS3: Choose File > Place and select Media Files from the Files of Type drop-down menu
After the SWF has been added to your layout, you can easily create a PDF from all three of the print publishing applicatons.
- Adobe FrameMaker 8: Choose File > Save As PDF
- QuarkXPress 7.3: Choose File > Export > Layout as PDF
- Adobe InDesign CS3: Choose File > Export and select Adobe PDF from the Type drop-down menu
Well, that seems easy enough. Users who access your PDF over the internet will be able to click on the SWF and it will play. Cool!
However, prior to clicking the SWF, users might not have any idea that the SWF is interactive. In fact, the SWF would look like it's a picture.
Here is what a Captivate-published SWF might look like as seen in a PDF:
Here is what a Captivate-published SWF might look like as seen in a PDF:
While there's nothing wrong with the image of the SWF shown above, it doesn't exactly encouage the user to click it. You might elect to have an image with the words "Click here to start the lesson," or you might include your corporate logo. Fortunately, the image your users see can easily be changed in Captivate. Curious how to do it? Again, read on...
- Open a Captivate project
- Choose Edit > Preferences
- Select the Start and End category
- Click the Browse button to the right of Loading Screen
- You can select just about any animation format or image as your loading screen. However, if you select an image (such as a JPG or BMP), the image will serve as a splash screen and appear when the user comes across the SWF in the PDF. If you are planning to incorporate your SWFs into a print document, I encourage you to take this route.
- After selecting the appropriate image, click OK
- Publish the SWF
- Reimport the SWF into your print publishing tool and recreate the PDF
Do you have a Captivate production problem that's making you pull your hair out? Emailyour problem and let others learn solutions from your experience.
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